Author: info@discoverdairy.com
Happy Earth Day – April 22 – 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. 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. 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.
Age group? All Ages.
Virtual Farm Tours For Every Age Group on April 22
American Dairy Association North East’s Virtual Farm Tours transport you digitally to a real dairy farm with the farmer as your LIVE guide! It’s simple to get started:
- Register at the links below for one tour, or many! You will be emailed your custom link to join. Each tour is unique and LIVE. Even if you can’t join live, you will always be given a link to the recording on YouTube.
- Use their free lesson plans with our tours to engage students while meeting curriculum standards.
- Grab your device of choice the day of and join live. You can use the Zoom Link, Facebook Live Link or YouTube Link sent to you.
In addition to being hosted via Zoom for those joining in the classroom, each tour will be live streamed to Facebook and YouTube so students tuning in from home may participate. Check out their website for more information.
Mercer Vu Farms Virtual Farm Tour Pre-K – Grade 5 | Complimentary Lesson Plans
Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at 10 a.m. EST
REGISTER HERE
Dairy Deep Dive Tour – Mercer Vu Farms
Grades 6-12 | Complimentary Lesson Plans
Tuesday, April 22, 2025, 11:15 a.m. EST
REGISTER HERE
Farmers Celebrate Earth Day Every Day: Free Lessons
The Maine Dairy and Nutrition Council provides a series of 3 fantastic lesson plans to get you and your students ready for earth day! Learn how dairy farmers are environmental stewards of the land and are part of the solution towards a more sustainable world.
Lesson 1: Farming is Elemental
Lesson 2: A Year in the Life of a Farm
Lesson 3: Sustainable Farming Sustains the World
| Check out more of their classroom resources! The Maine Dairy and Nutrition Council works to bring the story of dairy to Mainers – the nutritional benefits, how to use it in the kitchen, the farmers and their practices, the land they conserve, and, of course, the cows we all love so much. This partner supports programming and access to Discover Dairy for students and teachers in Maine. |
Dairy Fun Fact
Did you know? Robots can help with milking, feeding, cleaning and much more on a dairy farm.
Share this fun fact with your students as they learn about dairy technology!
Cow Craft Idea
As you wrap up the school year, consider this idea from Kelli in Ohio! Her students created mini versions of their calf, even including an ear tag with her name.
We’d love to see your creativity and share it with others too! Send your photos and stories to us at info@discoverdairy.com.
End-of-Year Activity: Create Your Own Ear Tag Kits
Looking for a final activity to do with your students to commemorate your Adopt A Cow experience? We have just the thing for you!
These Ear Tag Kits will give you and your students time to reflect on the fun filled year with your calf while completing a short decorating craft.
A cow’s ear tag helps dairy farmers identify the cow from the rest of the herd. Students can have their own as a keepsake for their adopted calf. To get a kit of ear tags for your class, complete the preorder form.
What is in the Ear Tag Kit?
- 10 lime green ear tags. Side 1 has the Discover Dairy cow printed on it. Side 2 is blank to customize.
- 10 blank milk splash stickers to stick on the other side of the tag and draw on.
- 1 guided classroom activity plan to complete while decorating the ear tags.
- 1 surprise gift for the teacher!
Estimated Arrival:
You can expect to receive your kit by April 30th! Note: Extra sets of 5 ear tags and milk splash stickers can be added to your order
National Nutrition Month Resources
March is National Nutrition Month! This is the perfect time to learn what cows eat to stay healthy. Watch this short animation to discover what dairy cows eat every day as part of a well-balanced diet. Dairy farmers work with nutritionists to develop special diets for cows to make sure they get the nutrients they need. See what goes into a cow’s total mixed ration (TMR) — you may be surprised by some of the ingredients!
Age group? All Ages.
Survival of the Fittest: Comparing the Needs of Humans and Cows
Another way to incorporate National Nutrition Month in your classroom is to compare the nutritional needs of humans and cows.
Check out this lesson from National Ag in the Classroom.
Age group? Grades K-2.
Ag Literacy Week Resources
The American Farm Bureau Foundation offers a comprehensive collection of educational materials to enhance agricultural literacy. These resources aim to provide accurate and engaging content about agriculture, fostering a deeper understanding of where food comes from and the significance of agriculture in daily life.
Age group? Elementary & Middle School.
Dairy Fun Fact
Did you know? About 73% of calcium available in the food supply is provided by milk and dairy products
Share this fun fact with your students as they learn about the nutritional benefits of milk and dairy products!
