Author: info@discoverdairy.com
See How Dairy Farmers Use Math: Free Dairy Math Lessons Available
As with running any business, numbers are top of mind for dairy farmers as they calculate how much feed their herd will need to stay healthy, how many gallons of milk they will provide to school systems, restaurants, and home consumers, how much energy they can save by using technology effectively, and more. In these free Dairy Math lessons, you can challenge your students to solve math problems related to cow care and dairy farm sustainability, and then use USDA MyPlate guidelines for planning healthy meals.
Age group? These lessons are ideal for 2nd through 4th grade students.
From Farm to Fridge: Watch Dairy Foods Video
With so much focus on breakfast, dairy-packed foods, and school nutrition this week, check out this interesting, three-minute “From Farm to Fridge” video about dairy foods. Discover how dairy foods get from the cow to your glass, bowl or plate! Age group? This video is ideal for students of all ages.
Dairy Fun Fact
Did you know that milk arrives at schools in as little as 72 hours after leaving the dairy farm? Talk about fresh and local! In fact, milk is the #1 product that schools source from local farmers. Watch this video to see what happens at the processing plant, where milk is bottled and transported in refrigerated trucks to a refrigerator/school near you.
Read Across America Recipe: Green Eggs and Ham Omelets
| If you’re celebrating Read Across America Week the first week of March in honor of Dr. Seuss’ birthday on March 2, make sure to try this dairy and protein-packed breakfast: Green Eggs and Ham Omelets! |
| Ingredients – 3 eggs – 2 tbsp milk – 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese shredded – 1/3 cup {about 2 slices} deli ham chopped – – 4-5 drops green food coloring – Non stick spray – Additional cheese for topping Directions 1. In a medium bowl, add eggs and milk and whisk until beaten. 2. Add food coloring and stir until completely green. Set aside. 3. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Coat with non stick spray. 4. Once the skillet is hot, add the beaten egg mixture and cook, tipping pan to cook eggs, until halfway cooked and sides start to rise from the pan. 5. Sprinkle on ham and cheese, and then fold half of the omelet over. 6. Gently flip over with a spatula and cook the rest of the runny egg. Then, slide onto a plate. 7. Sprinkle with additional cheese and serve warm. |
Build a Habitat for Your Adopted Calf
| This elementary classroom put their engineering and STEM skills (plus some creativity) to the test! Students built their own habitats for their adopted calf using Legos. Try this hands-on activity with Legos, craft supplies, blocks or any other item that your students could use to create a structure. |
Dairy-Themed Valentine’s Day Ideas to Try This Week
Valentine’s Day is only three days away! Don’t forget to join the fun and share the love for your adopted calf with our Most Kissable Calf contest. It runs until February 29. For other clever, udder-ly awesome valentines and crafts to share with your students this week, check out these resources and ideas:
- Customizable digital valentines for your adopted calf. For some added fun this month, we have digital versions of Adopt a Cow themed valentines that you can personalize with your own message. Heather shared this sweet photo with us of the valentine she customized and printed!
- Printable Valentine’s Day cards with clever dairy/cow messages. Tell your Valentine they have a spot in your heart and are udder-ly awesome with a one-of-a-kind cow Valentine’s Day card! Download these free printable valentines that feature cute cows and quirky dairy puns.
Age group? These Valentine’s Day activities are ideal for students of all ages.
Join This Virtual Farm Tour LIVE on February 14
If you’re looking for an exciting virtual farm tour this week, join Wil-Roc Farms and Farmer Cody from New York on Wednesday, February 14! This tour is being hosted and planned by American Dairy Association North East, so email Kelsey O’Shea if you have questions. The tour includes three live stops: the cow barn, calf barn, and milking parlor. Partake in check-in questions after each stop to engage students, and get free access to their additional resources including lesson plans, vocabulary sheets, and more! There are two tours broken out by grade level:
Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024, at 10 a.m. EST
Pre-K – Grade 5 | Complimentary Lesson Plans
> REGISTER HERE
Dairy Deep Dive Tour
Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024, at 11:15 a.m. Eastern
Grades 6-12 |Complimentary Lesson Plans
> REGISTER HERE
Age group? These farm tours are ideal for students of all ages (see above).
Make Connections Between Engineering and Dairy Farming During National Engineers Week Starting Feb. 18
Did you know National Engineers Week takes place from February 18-24? Engineers work with dairy farmers to help make operational improvements that are good for the cows and the environment. This is a great time to make connections to potential careers in agriculture, including jobs in the STEM field such as engineering! These resources and videos can help you make some of these introductions with your students:
- View civil engineering resources. This Civil Engineering section of the Pennsylvania Ag & Food Careers website includes a video from a civil engineer and an infographic and one-pager describing the career, responsibilities and education needed.
- Watch this video about a new dairy barn building project. Zahncroft Dairy, a dairy farm in Pennsylvania, worked with White Horse Construction to build a new barn for their cows. This type of on-farm building project includes various types of engineers. Tour the barn in this video.
Age group? These engineering resources are ideal for middle and high school students.
Dairy Fun Fact & Robotic Milking Parlor Video
Did you know there are over 35,000 robotic milking units on dairy farms across the globe? There are engineers and robotic milking technicians involved in bringing this innovative technology to life on dairy farms.
If you’re going to try some of the National Engineers Week activities we shared above, or just want to make some STEM connections with your students, share this fact with them and play this video from Takes Dairy Farm. The video showcases the robotic milking technology they have on their operation! It’s fascinating to watch how robots are involved in milking cows and how dairy farmers can use this technology to their advantage.
“Farmers Fuel the World” Lessons and Activities Available
In these free lessons, students will learn about the environmentally sustainable agriculture practices that farmers implement. They will also learn about food systems and the ways in which farmers work through these systems to deliver food from farms to schools while also caring for the environment. Specific focus will be placed on the careers available throughout food systems in the United States, including scientific, technological, and agricultural fields.
Age group? These lessons are ideal for high school students.
