Lesson on Pets and their Parasites 1: Fleas€¦ · Lesson on Pets and Parasites 1: Fleas Activity 1: PowerPoint Introduction - ~10 mins. This activity aims to introduce the idea

Please note, this lesson is the first 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.

Activity Length Content included from the KS2 Maths/Science curriculum

Building on the KS2 curriculum

1.Introduction ~10 mins Thinking about living things that are very small

Introducing the topic of parasites and the specific topic of the lesson: Charlie the dog and his fleas

2. Guessing how high fleas can jump

~5 mins Working scientifically How parasites are transmitted

3. Fun flea facts ~5 mins Working scientifically Establishing why parasites are a problem

4. Flea detectives ~20 mins Working scientifically Investigating fleas around the home

5. Perfect Paws Veterinary Surgery

~15 mins Collecting results; decimals; using money; rounding; converting lengths; addition; subtraction; multiplication; division

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

Optional extra activities

6. Making an origami jumping flea

~15 mins Reinforcing the idea of how fleas are transmitted

7. Origami flea jumping contest

~10 mins Reinforcing the idea of how fleas are transmitted

8. Flea frenzy 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 1: Fleas

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 a PowerPoint presentation (suggested commentary is included). Please note, all PowerPoint slides mentioned later in the lesson are also in this same file.

- 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, paper-based folding exercise to make a “flea” which can jump across the table.

- Activity 7 uses the fleas made in Activity 6. The children engage in a competition to see whose flea can jump the furthest.

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

Lesson on Pets and Parasites 1: Fleas

Activity 1: PowerPoint Introduction - ~10 mins.

This activity aims to introduce the idea of parasites, and the specific topic of the lesson: Charlie the dog and his fleas.

This is a whole class activity. The PowerPoint slides are available in an uploaded file, and can be modified if necessary.

Materials needed: PowerPoint presentation slides 1-9 (for the suggested commentary, please refer to the notes underneath each individual slide in the PowerPoint presentation) Optional extra materials: nit comb; ‘Charlie’, a soft toy dog; a microscope slide of a real flea; magnifying glass.

[A microscope slide of a real flea can be purchased from most microscopy suppliers (which can be found via conducting an internet search), or borrowed from a local museum/university].

Go through slides 1-9 of the PowerPoint as a class.

Activity 2: Guessing how high fleas can jump - ~5 mins.

This activity aims to illustrate the problem of fleas by demonstrating the surprising height to which fleas can jump.

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: 9cm, 20cm, 34cm

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 20cm.

Other interesting points you may wish to discuss:

o 20cm is 150 times the height of the flea itself, an idea which is

extended in Activity 4, ‘Flea Detectives’.

o Fleas can also jump long horizontal distances (up to 33cm).

Activity 3: Fun flea facts - ~5 mins

This activity aims to establish why fleas 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 fleas.

Some of these facts are intended to stimulate further discussion:

o Fleas may lay 50 eggs per day.

o Although human fleas do exist, they are very rare in the UK.

o Fleas can spread disease.

o How do you think fleas make pets feel?

Itchy, sore.

(These facts will be needed (and solidified) in later activities.)

Fleas live outside the

body, on skin or fur.

Fleas feed on

your pet’s blood!

They drink so much that they become 15 times heavier

than when they started!

How do you think this makes pets feel?

Fleas move from

pet to pet by

jumping… and lay eggs whenever they get a chance to!

Fleas can’t live

on people.

(But they might bite us)

For a long time, no one knew how fleas could jump so high…

Fleas have springy

pads above their

back legs. (And push off from the ground using their toes.)

A bit like this: (attach a small spring here)

Fleas are very

different from

nits! (But both fleas and nits are parasites.)

Activity 4: Flea detectives - ~20 mins.

This activity aims to investigate the problem of fleas around the home.

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 around the classroom, along with an associated number.

Materials needed: a ‘Flea Detectives’ worksheet per child [see next page]; 5 A4-sized number markers [see the uploaded PDF document]; PowerPoint slides 9-10 (instructions and answers); 5 PROPS: described below.

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

around the room. The props demonstrate:

o How fleas can be passed on – from infected pets (object 1); via

jumping (object 3).

o How fleas (and eggs) hide around the home – in carpets (object 2); in

pet beds (object 5).

o How you can find evidence of fleas – black specks (object 4).

Explain that these black specks are flea poo. They might be

found in an infected pet’s fur, or around the home.

Each group should discuss their object and then fill in a ‘Flea 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 table 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 PowerPoint presentation

reveals the correct answers one at a time.

The 5 props for use during this activity:

1. A soft toy cat (‘Jess’)

2. Small square of carpet

3. Miniature 3D skyscraper

(This can be made from

card before the lesson)

4. Sealed tube of ‘black

specks’ (e.g. made from

gravy granules).

5. Pet bed

1

2

3 4

5

Flea Detectives!

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

lines to match each one to the correct description.

Jess th_ c_t

C_r_et

If a flea was the size of a

human, it could jump as high

as a real one of these!

This is Charlie’s friend. Any

fleas she has can easily jump

on to Charlie instead.

You walk on this everyday. But

look closely and this might be

full of baby fleas, which look

like tiny maggots!

Finding this on pets or around

the house is a warning sign

that fleas are about…

Warm and cosy – a perfect

place for fleas to call home.

P_t b_d

S_ysc_ap_r

B_a_k sp_cks

What is

this?

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

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

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’ Fleas worksheet per child [see next pages]; plastic money (i.e. enough for each child to have, or share, around £10); PowerPoint slide 11 (answers).

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. The

PowerPoint presentation reveals the correct answers one at a time.

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 fleas.

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

2. You decide to buy some flea drops from our surgery to put onto

Charlie’s skin. It says on the box that 1 tube will kill fleas for 1

month.

a. How many tubes of flea drops will you need for 6 months?

______________________________________________

b. How much will it cost to buy this many tubes?

______________________________________________

3. You are also thinking about buying a box of flea tablets.

a. How many flea tablets are in a box?

______________________________________________

b. How much does each flea tablet cost?

______________________________________________

4. You also look at the household flea spray.

a. How much does household flea spray cost?

______________________________________________

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

______________________________________________

5. In the end, you realise you only have £10 in your pocket. You decide

to buy a flea comb, a dog flea collar and some flea shampoo from

our surgery.

a. How much will this cost?

______________________________________________

b. How much change will you get?

______________________________________________

Vets

Shopping list

Use the

plastic money

to help you to

work out the

answers!


Activity 6: Making an origami flea - ~15 mins.

This activity aims to reinforce the idea of jumping as the main way that fleas are transmitted from pet to pet.

For this activity, children work independently, but each step should ideally be carried out as a class. Before the lesson, it is advisable to pre-cut enough 21cm2 sheets of paper for each child to have one. The easiest way to do this is to fold the corner of an A4 page over until it meets the opposite edge.

Materials needed: a 21cm2 sheet of white paper per child; PowerPoint presentation slides 12-22 (Step-by-step instructions with pictures); a few ready-made origami fleas, for those who might struggle.

Each child should be given one 21cm2 piece of paper.

Follow the on-slide instructions to make the jumping fleas.

If there is sufficient time, the children can decorate their completed origami fleas to

look more flea-like!


Activity 7: Origami jumping flea contest - ~10 mins.

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

For this activity, children compete in pairs/small groups. Before the lesson, it is recommended that the animal shapes are cut out and taped together, ready for use.

Materials needed: a large, laminated dog (‘Charlie’) [see uploaded PDF document], a large, laminated cat [see uploaded PDF document]; an origami flea per child; PowerPoint presentation slide 23 (contest scoreboard); rewards, e.g. stickers

Position the two laminated pets so that they are approximately 1m apart (the fleas

‘jump’ well on either carpet or a table surface).

A few at a time, the children should then position their fleas on the edge of the

laminated cat. These children should then compete to reach the other pet in the

lowest number of jumps (i.e. not the fastest). If the fleas fall over or land facing the

wrong direction, they can be turned around to face the right direction.

The winner in each pair/group of children (i.e. lowest number of jumps) wins a

sticker. After having a go, the children then write their names on the contest

scoreboard (on the Powerpoint presentation slide 23).

Once all the class have had a go, the overall winner gets another sticker as their

‘prize’.


Activity 8: Flea Frenzy card game - ~20 mins.

Aim of activity: to summarise the lesson by bringing together knowledge about fleas 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 ‘Flea Frenzy’ 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. Each envelope contains 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.

A full set of ‘Flea Frenzy’ game cards to be used by a group of three children.

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 has

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).

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.

Flea frenzy!

Shhh!

Pretend to hoover up.

Flea frenzy!

Can fleas live on people?

Flea frenzy!

Charlie has 5 fleas on his tail, 7 on his body

and 1 on each leg. How many does he have

altogether?

Flea frenzy!

Fiona the flea is 1.6m away from Charlie.

How far is this in cm?

Answer: 16 fleas Answer: 160cm

Answer: No – not the type that live on pets, but

they can bite us.

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

Flea frenzy!

Shhh!

Pretend to wash Charlie with flea shampoo.

Flea frenzy!

Think of 2 places that fleas hide around the

house.

Flea frenzy!

Charlie meets Rufus on his walk. If Charlie

has 44 fleas and 14 of them jump on to

Rufus, how many fleas are still on Charlie?

Flea frenzy!

Fred the flea has very springy legs. He can

travel 20cm in one jump! If Fred jumps 3

times, how far has he travelled altogether?

Answer: 60cm Answer: 30 fleas

Answer: Anywhere that they can! Carpets, beds,

blankets, sofas…

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

Flea frenzy!

Shhh!

Pretend to comb Charlie to get rid of his

fleas.

Flea frenzy!

Think of 3 ways that you could help Charlie

to get rid of his fleas.

Flea frenzy!

Charlie has 24 fleas in his bed. Jess the cat

likes to sleep in Charlie’s pet bed when he’s

not around. If half of the fleas jump onto

Jess, how many fleas does she have on her?

Flea frenzy!

Fiona the flea lays 50 eggs in 1 day. How

many eggs does she lay altogether in 3 days?

Answer: 150 eggs Answer: 12 fleas

Answer: Lots of ways! flea shampoo, flea collar, flea

drops, flea tablets, household flea spray, flea comb,

hoover up, wash his bed…

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

Flea frenzy!

Where do fleas live on your pet?

Flea frenzy!


Flea frenzy!


Flea frenzy!


Answer: On the skin or fur




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

Flea frenzy!

What is a sign that a pet might have fleas?

Flea frenzy!


Flea frenzy!


Flea frenzy!


Answer: Itchy skin, black specks (flea poo),

or you might see the fleas jumping around! Answer: Itchy skin, black specks (flea poo),

or you might see the fleas jumping around!





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

Flea frenzy!

What do fleas feed on?

Flea frenzy!


Flea frenzy!


Flea frenzy!


Answer: Blood Answer: Blood

Answer: Blood Answer: Blood

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

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

Documents

Lesson on Pets and their Parasites 1: Fleas€¦ · Lesson on Pets and Parasites 1: Fleas Activity 1: PowerPoint Introduction - ~10 mins. This activity aims to introduce the idea