Kathy & Ernie’s

Activity Book

Includes the My Ears story, colouring- in sheets and activities

My EarsStorybook

Care for Kids’ Ears resources are based on the Recommendations for Clinical Care Guidelines on the Management of Otitis Media in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Populations (updated 2010), prepared by the Darwin Otitis Guidelines Group in collaboration with the Indigenous Health Division for the Australian Government Department of Health, Canberra, ACT.

ISBN: 978-1-74241-607-6 Online ISBN: 978-1-74241-608-3 Publications Approval Number: DT000895

© Commonwealth of Australia 2020

This work is copyright. You may reproduce the whole or part of this work in unaltered form for your own personal use or, if you are part of an organisation, for internal use within your organisation, but only if you or your organisation do not use the reproduction for any commercial purpose and retain this copyright notice and all disclaimer notices as part of that reproduction. Apart from rights to use as permitted by the Copyright Act 1968 or allowed by this copyright notice, all other rights are reserved and you are not allowed to reproduce the whole or any part of this work in any way (electronic or otherwise) without first being given the specific written permission from the Commonwealth to do so. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights are to be sent to the Communication Branch, Department of Health, GPO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, or via e-mail to corporatecomms@health.gov.au.

Ernie and Kathy are best friends.

They see each other every day.

Together they laugh, play and tell stories.

Ernie looked over to Kathy and said:“Kathy, did you know?

My mummy told me, this tree is really old, much older than we can see.”

Kathy didn’t reply.

She sat quietly, looking into the distance, rubbing her ear.

“Kathy, Kathy, look at me.What’s wrong with your ear?”

“I don’t know Ernie.It’s sore and I can’t really hear.”

The two children stood upand together they walked across the park to Kathy’s house.

Ernie said to Kathy:

“A sore ear is no good.No play for you.

We should tell someone. Your mum, I think, and a doctor too.”

“Mum, mum,I need your help. I have pain in my ear.”

When they got home, Kathy’s mum and grandmother were sitting at thetable having a cup of tea.

“It’s okay Kathy,there’s nothing to fear.We’ll go see the doctor. She’ll fix your sore ear.”

health worker

Ernie, Kathy and Kathy’s mum went into town to visit the Health Care Clinic.

The health worker smiled warmly and said:“Hi Kathy, it’s good that you’re here.

Let me get the doctor to have a quick look at your ears.

Ernie, she’ll check your ears too, when you are at the clinic, it’s the best thing to do.

You should get them checked, at least twice a year.Even if they’re not sore, it’s a good idea.”

The health worker pointed to the poster on the wall of the clinic and said:

“You see Kathy and Ernie, it says on the wall, taking care of your ears is most important of all.

Blow your nose to keep it clear then put your tissue in a bin that’s near.

Eat fruit and veggies every day to keep you strong for school and play.

Wash when you blow, when you play, and before eating too, so your ears will be healthy, and so will you.”

health worker

“Ernie and Kathy, you both have a sick ear,I will look after you both until it disappears.

It is important we treat them today, so your ears get better and you can hear okay.

Sometimes ears can be sick with no pain, so when you’ve finished your treatment, you should get them checked again.”

The doctor checked Kathy and Ernie’s ears and said:

When Kathy and Ernie got back from the clinic they saw Kathy’s dad. Ernie kicked the ball and said:

“When your ears are healthy you can hear your parents and teachers okay,and hear the music your family plays.

You can hear stories and songs from people you meet,and play sport with your friends down the street.”

Thank you for reading this story. See over for some fun games and activities about healthy ears, including:

• Colouring-in• Word find• Spot the difference• Dot-to-dot

Keep your ears healthy bywashing every day.

And don’t forget to wash your hands after you play.

Colour in the picture of Kathy and Ernie washing their hands.

Colouring-in

Can you find the secret message? Find all the words in the grid below.

Cross them out when you’ve found them.The letters that remain spell the secret message.

What is it?

h e a l t h y ed w o l b c e ao a g a o r a rc s e n f v r st h o s o r e no f y r e r h er r h a i r t tp u t e n k a su i a h r i b is t k d e s e lm e d i c i n es d i k c i s ap a r e n t s rs c h e c k e d

bath healthy parentsblow hear pus

checked kathy sickdoctor kids sore

ears listen strongernie love washfruit medicine year

Write the secret message here:

Word find

Keep your ears healthy byeating fruit and veggies.

What do Kathy and Ernie have in their hands?

Dot-to-dot

Join the numbers together to find out. Then, colour in the picture and write the answer below.

Ernie: Kathy:

1

2

3

4 5

6

7

1

23

4

56

12

34

5

67

89 10

11

1213

14

15 12

3

4 5

6

78

Can you find the six differences in the two pictures below? Circle them on picture two.

Answers: 1. Ernie’s sticker has been removed 2. Kathy’s shoes have changed colour 3. Kathy is wearing bracelets 4. Kathy is missing a skirt pocket 5. Ernie’s hair is bigger 6. There’s an extra cloud in the sky.

We love our ears.

We love our ears.

Spot the differences!

Picture 1

Picture 2

For more details, please visitwww.careforkidsears.health.gov.au

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All information in this publication is correct as at August 2020