Part of Lesson Plan: Introduction to Veterinary Medical Terminology-Directional Terms

Activity Overview / Details

Anticipatory Set

1. Have students take a seat.

2. For their "Mind Moover," have students answer the following. "There is an exchange student who is new to this school. Please write a specific set of directions to let them know how to get from the Agriculture Building to the Main Office."

3. Students will participate in a Think-Pair-Share Activity. Students will write their own answers, share with the students at their table and then share with the class. Have students determine the best set of directions from their group (4 individuals.)

4. Then have the person who wrote the best directions from each group share with the class.

Discuss with students what makes directions effective. Discuss details, specifics, delivery, etc. Also ask them what was common to each of the best sets of directions: terms, landmarks, etc.

Tell them, "Imagine navigating around campus as a new student, or traveling around the world, not knowing points of reference, north, south, east, west or points of latitude or longitude. It would be very difficult.

Discuss with students the importance of having universal terms and ideas so that everyone can be successful in a given task.

Ask students why it might be important in the animal science industry.

Veterinarians use specific terminology when describing the location of a wound of an animal or producing radiographs (x-rays). A veterinary professional who finds a tumor will use directional terminology to guide the surgeon to the tumor for effective removal of the the mass.