Going to the Doctor Activities for Kids
In this set of activities adaptable for grades K-3, parents and educators will find ideas for helping student understand doctors and prepare for a visit to the doctor. These activities are designed to complement the BrainPOP Jr. Going to the Doctor topic page, which includes a movie, quizzes, online games, printable activities, and more.
Classroom Activities for Teaching About Going to the Doctor
Lighten Your Load
For a math activity, divide your students into groups. Have each student record the weight of his or her filled backpack in pounds. You can bring in a bathroom scale or spring scale so students can measure. Then have students in each group add the weights of their backpacks together. How much did each group’s backpacks weigh? You can write their measurements on the board or on a chart.
To extend the activity, students can research at the library or on the Internet to learn how to maintain a healthy spine. Students may learn that carrying heavy backpacks can lead to bad posture. Have students discuss if their backpacks are too heavy and what they can do to lighten their loads and keep their backs healthy.
Family and Homeschool Activities for Teaching About Going to the Doctor
Planning for Good Health
Together with your child, set up weekly and monthly goals to stay healthy. You can use a calendar or start a health journal to organize these goals. You can even establish goals you and your child can meet together, such as exercising three times a week, watching less television, or eating more fruits and vegetables. Each week, you can both write in a journal about what you did to meet your health goals. These entries can detail what you ate or did for exercise or how much television the family watched.
Make a Health Record
Though your child’s doctor maintains health records, it is a good idea for your child to keep his or her own records. These can contain information about height and weight. Your child can see how his or her health has progressed over time. How fast does your child grow? You can measure your child’s height and keep track on a large line graph along the wall.
Thump, Thump, Thump
Teach your child how to record his or her heart rate. This can be done by taking the index and middle fingers and pressing them lightly against the carotid artery in the throat. Have your child count the number of heart beats in one minute (or in ten seconds and multiply the number by 6). Do the activity again after your child does an aerobic activity such as jumping jacks or jogging in place. Compare the heart rates together.
