Eye Health & Good Vision Message Nine

There are several different kinds of eye health personnel.
Some treat eye diseases, others test eyes and find ways to help a person see better.

Children will know and feel able to share the message on Eye Health Personnel.
Children know what each type of eye health workers does and who is responsible for eye health and vision in their community.
Children have reflected on the session.

Preparation: Print out, or have ready, the picture of Eye Health Personnel to show the children.

Introductory activities, e.g. an icebreaker, game or The Memory Line.
Repeat the message in chorus. You may need to help the children pronounce the more difficult words. Use pair work to practice saying the three types of eye health workers. Add actions to this message to make it more memorable.
In pairs or threes, children practice the message. In the whole group say the message out loud with actions. Here are some suggestions:
- Optician – make circle ‘spectacles’ around the eyes with the thumb and index finger (the finger next to the thumb). Start the action by holding the arms out and bring the circle shape slowly in to fit around your eyes as you say the word OPTICIAN – as if the action looks like fitting spectacles. An Optician is someone who organises and fits the right spectacles.
- Ophthalmologist – make two lines from the back of your neck down to the chest with the index fingers as if you are making the shape of a stethoscope as you say the word OPHTHALMOLOGIST. The reason for this is that the Ophthalmologist is an Eye Doctor.
- Optometrist – make an E shape with the middle three fingers of both hands touching the thumb and little fingers in front on each hand. Put both ‘E’ shapes in front of both eyes and then move the hands away together as you say, OPTOMETRIST. An Optometrist is someone who checks vision and eye health.

In a circle, the children say in turn what they learned and enjoyed about this session.

Repeat the message together and ask those that know the message to share it with classmates, friends and family.