Author: info@discoverdairy.com
Happy Earth Day: Environment-Themed Activities to Try This April
| In honor of Earth Day on April 22, Discover Dairy has several free lessons that you can utilize with your students this month. – “Dairy In Our Environment” Lesson. For there to be successful farms, there must be clean water. This lesson will explain the importance of connecting the farmer, the consumer and the environment. Students will learn the roles dairy farmers fill in protecting our environment, such as recycling. Click here to view the lesson. Age group? This lesson is ideal for students in grades 3-5. – “Sustainability in Dairy Farming” Lesson. To learn more about how dairy farmers display sustainability day in and day out, check out our NEW lesson. From manure management to water conservation, dairy farmers respect the environment and work to reduce waste, recycle water, and conserve fossil fuels by becoming innovative in how they manage their farms. This lesson takes about 90 minutes of class time. Click here to view the lesson. Age group? This lesson is ideal for upper middle school and high school students. Want to take it a step further? Here are two other Earth Day connections you can make with students: Cow Power and Gardening. CowPots are the only biodegradable pot made from 100% renewable and recycled cow manure. These biodegradable pots help you to have a more sustainable garden, reducing your reliance on plastic and peat. The porous pot walls encourage root penetration and healthy air pruning. For a fun classroom activity with your kids, these CowPots are ideal for home gardens or school gardens! Dairy’s Surprising Tie to Renewable Energy. The U.S. dairy industry is committing to carbon neutrality by 2050. See how dairy farmers are using “cow power” — among other sustainable practices like manure management — to ensure dairy is part of the environmental solution. Watch this short, three-minute video. |
On-Farm Adventures Happening Across the Country
Are you looking for a fun farm experience this spring and summer? Look no further! Discover Dairy is working to collect a list of upcoming farm experiences for 2024. From “Open Farm Days” to Farm Camp and a Dairy Dash 5k Trail Run, there are a lot of interesting and exciting activities on the list. We will continue to update this list over time. Click on the desired state and see what opportunities await!
How Dairy Farmers Go Green
Dairy farmers were going green long before it was trending, and they continue to innovate on how they can protect natural resources. With the onset of spring, dairy farmers must find the right time to spread manure on cropland as a natural fertilizer, following federal, state and local clean water laws, so nutrients are absorbed by crops, not groundwater. From recycling water through multiple uses such as irrigating fields, cleaning barns and cooling milk to reusing sand bedding, discover six ways dairy farmers reduce, reuse and recycle in this article.
Dairy Fun Fact
Did you know there are more than 330 methane digesters in the United States? These digesters turn cow poop into electricity that powers their local communities! With Earth Day happening this month, this is the perfect time to share this fun fact with your students and explain how dairy farmers protect the environment
Flower Cheeseboard Recipe Idea
| Try this spring-themed Flower Cheeseboard, which features cream cheese and lemon curd for a sweet, spring snack. |
| Ingredients/Supplies: – Cream cheese – Lemon curd – Walnuts (optional) – Grapes (optional) – Figs (optional) – Gouda cheese (optional) – Berries (optional) Directions: 1. Find a cutting board or some other tray to use as a cheeseboard. 2. Spread cream cheese on the board in multiple petal shapes/flower leaves. 3. Drop a dollop of lemon curd into the middle of the cream cheese flower petals. 4. Add optional garnishes and snacks to the board such as walnuts, grapes, figs, gouda cheese, berries, etc. Serve with bread, crackers, cookies or other fun treats! |
Construct a Handmade Farm Set
Tracey, a Head Start teacher in Chicago, is helping bring the Adopt a Cow program to life for her students through hands-on activities. The students have used their imagination and creativity to create their own farm sets with people, tractors, cows and more!
“Our students are learning so much about cows, dairy farming, and farm life thanks to this program. We have added many hands-on experiences for them such as this. We put together a farm set with little people representing our host farm’s family, toy animals and props,” Tracey shared.
Free Virtual Farm Tours Happening on April 9 and 10
American Dairy Association North East’s Virtual Farm Tours will transport you digitally to a real dairy farm with the farmer as your LIVE guide! There are four upcoming virtual farm tours happening on April 9 and 10 at Zahncroft Dairy in Pennsylvania and G&S Dairy in Delaware. View more information:
Tuesday, April 9, 2024 at 10 a.m. EST
Zahncroft Dairy Virtual Farm Tour
Pre-K – Grade 5
> REGISTER HERE
Tuesday, April 9, 2024 at 11:15 a.m. EST
Dairy Deep Dive Tour – Zahncroft Dairy
Grades 6-12
> REGISTER HERE
Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at 10 a.m. EST
G&S Dairy Virtual Farm Tour
Pre-K – Grade 5
> REGISTER HERE
Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at 11:15 a.m. Eastern
Dairy Deep Dive Tour – G&S Dairy
Grades 6-12
> REGISTER HERE
If you have questions about these virtual farm tours, email Kelsey O’Shea.Age group? These farm tours are ideal for students of all ages.
Learn About Dairy Technology During Robotics Week From April 6-14
National Robotics Week is happening from April 6 to 14! This is the perfect time to introduce your students to the vast array of technology that’s utilized by dairy farmers, specifically robotic milkers, feed pushers, feed mixers, calf feeders, and more. Here are two engaging videos about dairy technology plus a Dairy Technology lesson plan for elementary students:
- Robotic Milker Video: Learn from “Iowa Dairy Farmer” exactly how robotic milkers work and how a robot can milk cows from start to finish. Watch the video.
- Robotic Feeding System Video: Dairy farmers also use robots to feed their cows through robotic feeding systems. Watch the video to see this in action.
- Dairy Technology Lesson (Grades 2-4): What do kids and cows have in common? They both use high-tech devices! The workings of a 21st century American dairy farm can be a revelation for students who might not realize the same types of technology that are part of their lives also play a big role in making dairy farming more productive for the farmer and beneficial for the cows.
Dairy Jokes to Share on April Fool’s Day
This is no joke: We’re about a week away from April Fool’s Day! If you want to have some clever fun with your students, here are a few dairy-themed jokes you can share. Why did the cow cross the road? To get to the udder side! What game do cows play at parties? MOO-sical chairs!
Bunny Milk Recipe
| Try this adorable “Bunny Milk” recipe, which is simple and easy to do at home. It could also be a fun spring break treat in the classroom. |
| Ingredients/Supplies: – Milk – Marshmallows – Marshmallow crème – Sprinkles – Cups – Washable marker – Optional: Kool-Aid for fun flavors and colors Directions: 1. Pour your favorite flavor of milk into a small glass. 2. Cut marshmallows in half to make “bunny” ears. 3. Dip the sticky part of the marshmallow into any color sprinkle of your choice. 4. Use a washable marker to draw a simple “bunny” face, including eyes, nose and whiskers, onto the front of your glass. 5. Spread marshmallow crème around the rim of your glass. Dip it into more colored sprinkles. Cut a small slit into the marshmallow “ears” and stick two of them on the rim. 6. Fill the glass with your favorite flavor of milk. Tip: To encourage your students to be part of the fun, have them stir a teaspoon of their favorite flavor of Kool-Aid into the milk to make fun flavors and vibrant colors. |