lesson on pets and their parasites 2: worms · please note, this lesson is the second of two on the...

Please note, this lesson is the second of two on the topic of ‘Pets and Parasites’ (Lesson 1: Fleas; Lesson 2: Worms). While it is recommended that both lessons are delivered, each lesson can also standalone (although this lesson [lesson 2] lacks a general introduction to the concept of parasites). This lesson on worms can be carried out either indoors or outdoors, as it does not require access to IT equipment.

Activity Length Content included from the KS2 Maths/Science curriculum

Building on the KS2 curriculum

1.Introduction ~10 mins Working scientifically Introducing the specific topic of the lesson: Charlie the dog and his worms

2. Guessing the length of the longest worm in pets

~5 mins Working scientifically How parasites are transmitted

3. Squirmy worm facts

~5 mins Working scientifically Establishing why worms are a problem

4. Worm detectives ~20 mins Working scientifically Investigating worms around the home

5. Perfect Paws Veterinary Surgery

~15 mins Decimals; using money; rounding; converting lengths; addition; subtraction; multiplication; division

Understanding how to prevent / treat worms; applying maths to science-based problems

Optional extra activities

6. Making a modelling clay worm

~15 mins Understanding worm body parts

7. Egg throwing contest

~10 mins Reinforcing the idea of how worms are transmitted

8. Wormy world card game

~20 mins Converting lengths; addition; subtraction; multiplication; division

Summarising lesson; applying maths to science-based problems

It is recommended that the first five activities are completed in the order given above. However, the last three activities can be considered optional extras, as they do not introduce new information, and instead serve to reinforce the information already given.

Title Lesson on Pets and their Parasites 2: Worms

Authors Lucy Welch (BSc Hons Zoology), Heather Vincent

Contact [email protected]

Target level KS2 Primary (specifically aimed at Year 5)

Publication date September 2013

mailto:[email protected]

- Activity 1 is an introduction which uses printed out images (suggested commentary is included).

- Activity 2 is more practical and involves using a few pieces of pre-cut string.

- Activity 3 is also practical and requires class participation.

- Activity 4 is a worksheet which asks the children to match an object to a description.

- Activity 5 is another worksheet which has some maths-based problems.

Optional extra activities:

- Activity 6 is a practical modelling exercise to make a worm.

- Activity 7 is a throwing contest. The children engage in a competition to see who can get their polystyrene eggs to land on a picture of a pet.

- Activity 8 is a card game to summarise what has been learnt.

Lesson on Pets and Parasites 2: Worms

Activity 1: Paper Introduction - ~10 mins.

This activity aims to introduce the specific topic of the lesson: Charlie the dog and his worms.

This is a whole class activity. Before the lesson, it is recommended that the images for Activity 1 in the uploaded PDF are printed (and laminated), ready for use.

Materials needed: 2 A3 laminated worm ‘body parts’ (suggested commentary is in the uploaded PDF document) Optional extra materials: ‘Charlie’, the soft toy dog; a sample of real parasitic worms; magnifying glass.

[A sample of real parasitic worms can be borrowed from a local museum/university.]

Show two A3 laminated pictures of close-up ‘body parts’ of various types of

worm (i.e. features which help these worms to live inside the body).

Activity 2: Guessing the length of the longest worm in

pets - ~5 mins.

This activity aims to illustrate the problem of worms by demonstrating the surprising length some worms can grow to.

This is a whole class activity. The lengths of string required should ideally be cut to the right lengths prior to the lesson.

Materials needed: 3 lengths of string: 35cm, 1m, 8.8m.

Three volunteers are needed, each to hold one length of string. Everyone in

the class then votes on how high they think fleas can jump (e.g. by raising

their hands).

The correct answer is 1m.

Another interesting point you may wish to discuss is that some of the longest

worms can be 8.8m long in humans (but they are not quite this long in pets).

Activity 3: Squirmy worm facts - ~5 mins

This activity aims to establish why worms are a problem.

This is a whole class activity. Prior to the lesson, it is recommended that the next 6 pages are printed into A3 paper, so that children can be asked to hold them up.

Materials needed: 6 A3 sheets [next 6 pages]

Six volunteers are needed to hold up one A3 sheet each. Each sheet contains

a fact about worms.

Some of these facts are intended to stimulate further discussion:

o Pets have the same body organs as humans do.

o Worm eggs are too small to see with the naked eye, and so it is

possible to swallow them without realising.

o One worm can lay millions of eggs in a day.

o How do you think having worms makes pets feel?

If the worms are living in the gut, some types eat the food

passing through, meaning pets can get very hungry and, as a

result, may become very thin.

Some types of worm can cause pets to ‘scoot’ across the floor

(drag their bottom to relieve itching).

They may also get diarrhoea or become very tired.

Worms

live

inside

the

body.

Heart and

blood Lungs

Worms live in:

Intestines

Worms living inside pets

are very different from

the type of worm you

find in your garden! (Garden earthworms are not parasites!)

Some worms feed on

your pet’s blood, but

some steal the food your

pet has eaten!

How do you think this makes pets feel?

Some types of worms are

really long and flat

(like ribbon),

but some are small and

round (like string).

(Attach piece of ribbon

here)

(Attach piece of string

here)

Some types of

worm can live

inside people! (So make sure you wash your hands!)

Worms move from

pet to pet by

laying eggs…

Activity 4: Worm detectives - ~20 mins.

This activity aims to investigate the problem of worms.

This is a group activity, and ideally children should be split into 5 equally-sized groups. Before the children can begin, it is recommended that the props described below are set up, along with an associated number.

Materials needed: a ‘Worm Detectives’ worksheet per child [see next page]; a completed worksheet with answers [see next pages]; 5 A4-sized laminated number markers [see the uploaded PDF document]; 5 PROPS: described below.

*‘Poo’ can be made before the lesson by mixing one cereal biscuit (e.g. Weetabix),

one teaspoon of coffee granules, and one tablespoon of warm water. This can then

be moulded into a realistic shape.

Each of the five ‘props’, along with a laminated number, should be placed in

different locations. The props demonstrate:

o Sources of worm eggs – infected pets (object 1); infected wild animals

(objects 2 & 4).

When food/water bowls are left outdoors, slugs and snails can

often be found in them. Pet owners should always make sure

that bowls are kept clean and slug/snail-free.

o Where worm eggs can be found – in poo (object 3); anywhere that

infected animals have had a poo (object 5).

o How to prevent further infection – clear up pet poo (also object 3).

1

2 3

4

5

The 5 props for use during this

activity:

1. A soft toy cat (‘Jess’)

2. Laminated pictures of

a slug and snail [see

uploaded PDF] in a bowl.

3. Dog/cat ‘poo’* and poo

bags.

4. Laminated picture of a

fox [see uploaded PDF].

5. Soil and sand

Another point to mention is that eggs might not just be in poo, soil and sand,

but also in infected meat. This is one of the reasons why it is important to

cook meat properly.

The children should be split into five equal-sized groups. Each group should

discuss their object and then fill in a ‘Worm Detectives’ worksheet. The

worksheet has five boxes on the left hand side containing names of the

objects, with some missing letters. They should fill in any missing letters and

then match the objects to their descriptions on the right hand side of the

worksheet. About two minutes per object should be enough time for the

children to do this. They will then move on to the next object.

Once each group has visited all five objects, the correct answers [see next

pages] will be discussed as a class.

Worm detectives! Working together in groups, decide what the objects are and draw

lines to match each one to the correct description.

Fo_es Dogs eat these, but they contain

parasites which are very dangerous

and might even kill pets.

She’s back again! She might be cute,

but she keeps pooing in the garden,

leaving millions of worm eggs all over

the place!

They might be wild animals, but they

visit our gardens and leave worm

eggs which can infect pets!

Fun to play in, but also where Jess

likes to have a poo…

This may have up to 1 million worm

eggs in it! But these eggs are usually

too small to see.

What is

this?

Do_ or c_t po_

_ess th_ c_t

_lug_ and s_ai_s

Soi_ and s_n_

Worm detectives! Working together in groups, decide what the objects are and draw

lines to match each one to the correct description.

Foxes

Dogs eat these, but they contain

parasites which are very dangerous

and might even kill pets.

She’s back again! She might be cute,

but she keeps pooing in the garden,

leaving millions of worm eggs all over

the place!

They might be wild animals, but they

visit our gardens and leave worm

eggs which can infect pets!

Fun to play in, but also where Jess

likes to have a poo…

This may have up to 1 million worm

eggs in it! But these eggs are usually

too small to see.

What is

this?

Dog or cat poo

Jess the cat

Slugs and snails

Soil and sand

A worm head

Activity 5: Perfect Paws Veterinary Surgery - ~15 mins.

This activity aims to collect results and begin to solve the problem of worms.

For this activity, children can either work alone or in pairs.

Materials needed: ‘Perfect Paws Vets’ Price Lists (enough for 1 per child, or 1 between 2) [see next page]; a ‘Perfect Paws Vets Shopping List’ Worms worksheet per child [see next pages]; Answers to worksheet [see next pages]; plastic money (i.e. enough for each child to have, or share, around £10).

As a whole class, read through the blurb at the top of the ‘Perfect Paws Vets’ price

list. Each child can then be given a worksheet to fill in. Plastic money can be supplied

to help any children who may need it to work out the answers.

After about 10 minutes, the correct answers can be discussed as a class [see next

pages].

Welcome to Perfect Paws Veterinary Surgery. We have everything

you need to keep pets free from parasites!

Here is a price list for all the items that we sell. These items all help

pets to stay parasite-free. The treatments for fleas and worms are

mixed up, so make sure you check the list carefully!

Follow the instructions on your worksheet to find out which items

you need to buy.

Flea comb 79p

Worming syrup £4.90

Cat flea collar £2.59

Poo bags £1.49 (pack of 50 bags)

Worming tablets £6.43 (box of 4 tablets)

Household flea spray £6.25

Flea tablets £6.60 (box of 6 tablets)

Flea drops (for skin) £9.80 (box of 3 tubes)

Worming drops (for skin) £8.21 (box of 2 tubes)

Dog flea collar £3.59

Flea shampoo £3.35

Cat litter tray £2.55

Vets

1. List all the items you think might help to get rid of Charlie’s worms.

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

2. You decide to buy some worming tablets from our surgery. It says

on the box that 1 tablet will kill worms for 6 weeks.

a. How many worming tablets are in 1 box?

______________________________________________

b. How many weeks will 1 box kill worms for?

______________________________________________

3. You are a responsible dog owner and so you buy some poo bags.

a. How many bags do you get in a pack?

______________________________________________

b. The poo bags are on special offer and cost you half the price

that it says on the price list. How much do you pay for them?

______________________________________________

4. You realise that you need to stop Jess the cat from pooing in the

garden, so you also buy a cat litter tray.

a. How much is a cat litter tray?

______________________________________________

b. What is the price of this rounded to the nearest whole £?

______________________________________________

5. In the end, you realise you only have £9 in your pocket. You decide

to buy some worming syrup, a pack of poo bags and a cat litter tray

from our surgery.

a. How much will this cost?

______________________________________________

b. How much change will you get?

______________________________________________

Use the

plastic money

to help you to

work out the

answers!

Vets

Shopping list

1. List all the items you think might help to get rid of Charlie’s worms.

Worming syrup, poo bags, worming tablets, worming drops (for skin),

cat litter tray .

2. You decide to buy some worming tablets from our surgery. It says

on the box that 1 tablet will kill worms for 6 weeks.

a. How many worming tablets are in 1 box?

4 tablets .

b. How many weeks will 1 box kill worms for?

24 weeks .

3. You are a responsible dog owner and so you buy some poo bags.

a. How many bags do you get in a pack?

50 bags .

b. The poo bags are on special offer and cost you half the price

that it says on the price list. How much do you pay for them?

74p or 75p .

4. You realise that you need to stop the Jess the cat from pooing in

the garden, so you also buy a cat litter tray.

a. How much is a cat litter tray?

£2.55 .

b. What is the price of this rounded to the nearest whole £?

£3 .

5. In the end, you realise you only have £9 in your pocket. You decide

to buy some worming syrup, a pack of poo bags and a cat litter tray

from our surgery.

a. How much will this cost?

£8.94 (or £8.19/8.20 if they buy the poo bags for half price)

b. How much change will you get?

6p (or 81p/80p if they buy the poo bags for half price) .

Vets

Shopping list

Use the

plastic money

to help you to

work out the

answers!


Activity 6: Making a modelling clay worm - ~15 mins.

This activity aims to reinforce the idea of the variety of sizes and shapes of worm that can be found inside a pet’s body.

For this activity, children work independently. Before the lesson, it is advisable to make a worm body part as an example of what it expected.

Materials needed: 2 pictures of close-up worm body parts (the same ones that were used in Activity 1); at least 1 strip of modelling clay per child; a pre-made modelling clay worm ‘body part’ (for demonstration); reward stickers.

Each child should be given a strip of modelling clay and asked to mould it into a

worm of whatever size they want to, e.g. long and flat-bodied, or small and round-

bodied.

Each child is then told to use their strip of modelling clay to make a replica of one of

the worm body parts shown on the two laminated pictures previously used. The best

attempts can receive a sticker.


Activity 7: Egg throwing contest - ~10 mins.

This activity aims to reinforce eggs as an important method of transmission between pets.

For this activity, children compete in pairs. Before the lesson, it is recommended that the laminated animal shapes are cut out and taped together, and a scoreboard printed out, ready for use.

Materials needed: a large, laminated dog (‘Charlie’) [see uploaded PDF]; a large, laminated cat [see uploaded PDF]; several polystyrene eggs; a scoreboard [see next page]; rewards, e.g. stickers.

[Polystyrene eggs can be purchased from most craft shops.]

Position the two laminated pets on an even surface. Two at a time, the children

should be given an equal number of eggs each; the aim is to throw the eggs so that

they land on one of the pets. The winner in each pair of children (i.e. the person who

got most eggs in their pet) wins a sticker. After having a go, the children then write

their names on the contest scoreboard, while another two have their go.

Once all of the children have had a go, the overall winner gets another reward

sticker.

1

2

3

4

5

6

Worm Egg Challenge

Write your name next to your score


Activity 8: Wormy World card game - ~20 mins.

This activity aims to summarise the lesson by bringing together knowledge about worms and ways to get rid of them, and also to use this knowledge to solve some mathematical problems.

An activity for groups of 3 children. Before the lesson, it is recommended that enough game cards are prepared for each group of children (i.e. printed onto coloured card, cut and put into envelopes).

Materials needed: a set of ‘Wormy World’ cards per group of 3 children (i.e. each set has 15 cards) [see next pages]; rewards, e.g. stickers.

Each group can be given an envelope containing three different colours of card.

There are five cards of each colour; the children should split the cards out so that

each person has all of one card colour.

Some cards contain quick maths, some use knowledge acquired from earlier and

some are ‘Shhh!’ cards. The ‘Shhh!’ cards must not be read out – instead, they must

be acted out. (The cards can be in any order in each player’s pile.)

The children should then take it in turns to read out (or act out) the question written

on the card at the top of their pile, while the other two children listen.

After hearing the question/watching the mime, the two listening children must then

compete against each other to be the first to answer the question. The child who

read the question out asks whoever raises their hand first to give the answer. If they

get it wrong, the other child gets a chance to answer. Whoever gets the answer right

first is given the card they have just answered a question from, which they put to

one side as a way of keeping track of their ‘score’; make it clear that they don’t read

this question out after the card has been won. If no one gets the answer right, the

correct answer is read out, but then the card gets put to the back of the pile and

read out again at the end of the game (to see if the children can remember the

answer).

A full set of ‘Wormy World’ game cards to be used by one group of three children.

The person to the left then gets to read out their card and the game continues in this

way until all questions have been asked and (eventually) answered correctly.

Each child should then count up the number of cards they have ‘won’. The winner in

each group receives a reward, e.g. a sticker.

[Game cards on next 6 pages]

Wormy world!

Shhh!

Pretend to clean up Charlie’s poo.

Wormy world!

Can worms live inside people?

Wormy world!

Charlie has 6 worms in his intestines, Jess

has 4, and Rufus has 10. How many worms do

they have altogether?

Wormy world!

Winnie the worm lays 2000 eggs in 1 day.

How many eggs does she lay altogether in 2

days?

Answer: Yes, some types can - to make sure you don’t get

them, wash your hands after touching your pet, cleaning up

poo, or playing in any of the places you might find eggs.

PRINT ON GREY CARD, THEN CUT OUT INTO INDIVIDUAL PLAYING CARDS.

Answer: 20 worms Answer: 4000

Wormy world!

Shhh!

Pretend to give Charlie a worming tablet.

Wormy world!

Think of 2 places that worm eggs can be

found?

Wormy world!

William the worm is 8cm long. How long is

this in mm?

Wormy world!

Charlie has 18 worms inside him. If Jess has

7 less than this, how many does she have?

Answer: Poo, soil, sandpits, pet fur

PRINT ON GREEN CARD, THEN CUT OUT INTO INDIVIDUAL PLAYING CARDS.

Answer: 11 worms Answer: 80mm

Wormy world!

Shhh!

Pretend to wash your hands.

Wormy world!

Think of 3 ways that you can help Charlie get

rid of his worms.

Wormy world!

Yuk! You accidentally stand in some dog poo

left on the pavement. The poo has 1000

worm eggs in it. If half of these eggs get

stuck to the bottom of your shoe, how many

eggs are there now on your shoe?

Wormy world!

One dog poo can have up to 1 million worm

eggs in it! If Charlie does 1 poo every day

for 4 days, how many eggs have come out in

his poo altogether?

Answer: Lots of ways! Worming syrup, worming tablets, worming

drops, making sure he doesn’t eat poo, slugs and snails, making sure

Jess uses her cat litter tray…

PRINT ON PINK CARD, THEN CUT OUT INTO INDIVIDUAL PLAYING CARDS.

Answer: 4 million Answer: 500 eggs

Wormy world!

Where do worms live in your pet?

Wormy world!


Wormy world!


Wormy world!


Answer: Inside the body. Most live in the

intestines, but some might live in the heart, lungs

and blood.



and blood.

PRINT ON GREY CARD (THIS IS THE FIFTH CARD IN “GREY” SET OF CARDS, REPEATED FOUR TIMES FOR ECONOMICAL PRINTING).



and blood.



and blood.

Wormy world!

What is a sign that a pet might have worms?

Wormy world!


Wormy world!


Wormy world!


Answer: being very thin, having diarrhoea (runny

poo), being tired, being very hungry, “scooting”



PRINT ON GREEN CARD (THIS IS THE FIFTH CARD IN “GREEN” SET OF CARDS, REPEATED FOUR TIMES FOR ECONOMICAL PRINTING).





Wormy world!

What do worms feed on?

Wormy world!


Wormy world!


Wormy world!


Answer: the food an animal eats, or blood.


PRINT ON PINK CARD (THIS IS THE FIFTH CARD IN “PINK” SET OF CARDS, REPEATED FOUR TIMES FOR ECONOMICAL PRINTING).



****** End of lesson ******

lesson on pets and their parasites 2: worms · please note, this lesson is the second of two on the...

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