Learning Objectives
Students will use appropriate language skills to identify, inquire and respond to pet needs and problems.
ELL Levels
Expanding and Bridging
Materials Needed
Optional: Canine Ambassador can assist with role-playing a vet on the other end of the phone, answering and asking appropriate pet health care questions.
Dog Body Parts worksheet.
Lesson
Introduction
• Review human body parts: eyes, ears, nose, mouth, stomach/tummy, legs, arms, hands, feet, front, back.
• Review body parts of dogs (see sheet). Students work in pairs to match words to body parts.
Explicit Instruction/Teacher Modeling
• Brainstorm different problems a dog may have. List on board: He has______, She feels _______. She is ___________. My dog’s _________ is ___________.
• Model how to call the vet, following the script below if desired. Canine Ambassador may assist here.
Script
Vet: Hello, this is Happy Pet Veterinarian Office. How may I help you?
Pet Owner: Hi! My dog doesn’t want to eat. It’s been two days. What should I do?
Vet: Let’s make an appointment for you to bring him in. What is your dog’s name?
Pet Owner: It is Piper Garcia.
Vet: Ok. When can you bring him in?
Pet Owner: We can come tomorrow afternoon.
Vet: I have an opening at 3:00. Is that good?
Pet Owner: Yes, that’s good. Thank you.
Vet: All right. We’ll see you tomorrow at 3:00 with Piper.
Pet Owner: Thank you. Goodbye.
Vet: Goodbye.
• Discuss with students what the key parts of the conversation include. For example, they need to be ready to tell the dog’s name and describe the dog’s symptoms. They need to know when they can come in, and have a backup time available in case the one they want isn’t open.
• Depending on student level, they may want to take notes in order to have a reminder of what key topics they will be expected to talk about.
Independent Working Time
• Students take turns with a partner as either the pet owner or vet’s office person.
Review and Closing
• Discuss with students what they feel they have mastered and what they still need to work on with vet conversations.
References
When Should I Call the Vet. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/vets-corner/should-i-call-my-dogs-vet/