Lesson 4: Dairy In Our Community
Milk doesn’t just affect our health and nutrition, but it also affects our economy. This lesson reinforces how money flows through a community, while showing students how farmers support the local economy through producing a product and supporting local businesses.
Essential Learning Questions
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to answer the following:
- What costs go into producing a gallon of milk?
- What role does the dairy farmer play in our economy?
Career Spotlight
This lesson has two parts. Teacher can choose to teach one part or both parts of lesson and labs. Each part should take about 60–70 minutes of class time, with these segments:
- Lesson Overview, Reading Passage and Classroom Discussion: 25 min.
- Lab Exercise: 20 min.
- Lesson Review & Evaluation: 20 min.
Materials Needed
For Students:
Part I Lab (Completed in groups of four):
1 empty milk quart sized jug
Four 16-ounce portions of colored sand (each different color)
Funnel for jug
1/2 and 1/4 cup measuring cups
Part II Lab (Completed in groups of eight):
Plastic 1-liter bottle (empty)
Bowl of hot (not boiling) water
Freezer to cool bottle and balloon
Educational Standards
Science
Reading
Math
(PA Standards) S8.B.2.1, S8.B.2.1.4, S8.B.2.2, S8.B.1.1;
(Common CORE): MS-LS1-5, MS-LS4-4, MS-LS4-5, MS-LS1-5, MS-LS4-4, MS-LS4-5, MS-LS1-5, MS-LS4-4, MS-LA4-5.
(PA Standards) R8 1.1.8. A, R8 1.6.8. A, R8 1.8.8. A;
(Common CORE): CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.4, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.10, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.1, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.1, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.6.4, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.7.10, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.7.1, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.7.2.D, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.7.1, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.6.4, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.8.10, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.1, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.8.1, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.8.4, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.8.6.
(Common CORE): CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.RP.6.1.