ABSTRACT
Given a choice of topics to study—animals, plants, or space—the students in Mrs. Martinez’s first grade selected animals. They decided to design a veterinarian’s office in the dramatic play area of their classroom. The class visited a veterinarian to gain some background knowledge to help with their plan, They agreed that there should be a waiting room with chairs and a table filled with magazines and books. Mrs. Martinez suggested hanging some posters and pamphlets about good health practices for pets, which she had obtained from the veterinarian. The children placed reading materials in the waiting room and made posters that listed the doctors’ hours, a “No Smoking” sign, and a sign that read, “Check In With The Nurse When You Arrive.” The nurse’s table contained forms for patients to fill out, as well as a telephone, telephone books, appointment cards, and a calendar. The veterinarian’s office was supplied with patient folders, prescription pads, white coats, masks, gloves, cotton swabs, a toy doctor’s kit, and stuffed animals. Blank paper, a stapler, pencils, markers, colored pencils, and crayons were placed in the area as well. The classroom computer was relocated to the dramatic play area for the purpose of keeping patient records and other files in the veterinarian’s office. The center design was a collaborative effort on the part of the teacher and children.
