Author: info@discoverdairy.com
Science, Stories and Seasonal Changes
| Cows and Daylight Saving: How Cows Handle the Time Shift: Daylight Saving Time is quickly approaching! Check out this article and see how DST relates to a cow’s daily life. It also includes a great video from National Geographic that explains Daylight Saving Time in just two minutes. Age group? All Ages. Dairy Science Experiments: Unlock your inner scientists with these Make & Taste Dairy lesson plans! Students can learn about the history and science of making butter, mozzarella, Greek yogurt or ricotta – then make it themselves in the classroom and taste the delicious results. Lessons include a leader guide, class discussion prompts, glossary of important terms and additional resources on each topic. Age group? All Ages. Read Across America Day: Celebrate Read Across America Day with us on March 3 as you read a good dairy focused book with your students! Be sure to check out our book recommendation list for ideas! Age group? Elementary and Middle School. |
Dairy Fun Fact
Did you know? Cows dig Daylight Saving Time because they need 14 to 16 hours of light each day.
Share this fun fact with your students as they learn about the daily life of a cow!
“Cat in the Hat” Cheese Sticks Recipe
This recipe is perfect for Read Across America Week!
Things You Will Need:
- Cheese Sticks
- Red & Black permanent markers
Use this fun reading-themed snack from Buzzing with Ms. B to celebrate Read Across America day!
Let’s Learn About Anaerobic Digestion
Did you know cow manure can be turned into useful energy? Download this poster from American Dairy Association Indiana to learn all about the process of anaerobic digestion!
The American Dairy Association Indiana is a nonprofit organization that represents dairy farmers in Indiana. It focuses on promoting dairy products, supporting dairy farmers, and educating consumers about the benefits of dairy. This partner supports programming and access to Discover Dairy for students and teachers in Indiana.
Engaging Lessons for All Ages -From the Super Bowl to Valentine’s Day & Beyond!
| We hope you can utilize these resources and activities to enhance your classroom experience! |
| Super Bowl Sunday: These Berks County, PA dairy farmers are ready for the Super Bowl. Check out this video with Way-Har Farms as they look forward to cheering on their local team, the Eagles! From themed calf jackets to specialty ice cream flavors, they have it all! Age group? All Ages. Farmers Fall in LOVE: This Valentine’s Day, delve into the heartwarming world of dairy farmers who, beyond their daily dedication to animal care, experience love’s joys just like everyone else. The American Dairy Association North East shares touching stories of couples whose bonds were forged amidst the rhythms of farm life. Celebrate this season by connecting with the real stories behind your dairy products! Age group? All Ages. Dairy Cow Valentines: Looking for a unique and adorable way to celebrate Valentine’s Day in your classroom? Check out these dairy-inspired Cow Valentines! They’re a fun, educational, and dairy-tastic way to spread love while teaching kids about cows and where their milk comes from. Age group? All Ages. Got Jobs? Dairy Does! Explore some of the different career opportunities within the dairy community. Click here to learn more! Age group? Middle School and High School. Read Across America Day – March 3, 2025: Order your copy of Curious Clover by February 14 to have it by March 3rd! Also, you can check out our list of other books found on the Discovery Dairy website. Age group? All Ages. |
Enter the Coloring and Drawing Contest by Feb. 28
Do you like to draw or color? Put your coloring and drawing skills to the test by entering in the Adopt A Cow Coloring & Drawing Contest! A few winners from each category will win Discover Dairy swag as well as be spotlighted in future Discover Dairy promotions, on our social media pages, and in donor outreach.
There are three age groups in the coloring contest. PreK – 1st Grade, 2nd – 5th Grade, and 6th and Up. Click the links below to download the coloring sheet for each age group.
Note: The contact information must be filled out on the coloring pages for the submission to be judged.
PreK – 1st Grade Coloring Sheet
2nd – 5th Grade Coloring Sheet
Learn more about both contests HERE!
Dairy Fun Fact
SAY CHEESE! If cows smiled for the camera, they’d show off their 32 teeth, the same number as human adults. Share this fun fact with your students as they learn about the growth and development of dairy cows!
Calf Growth and Graphing Idea
Need an idea for incorporating the recent 4-month calf update into a lesson plan?
During the 1-month update, two teachers from South Carolina and Virginia had students use math skills with the heights and weights. Try these graphing ideas and allow your students to make predictions for future growth updates or make your own math connection!
We’d love to see your creativity and share it with others too! Send your photos and stories to us at info@discoverdairy.com.
New Dairy-Themed Book Available in English and Spanish Ahead of National Reading Month
The Discover Dairy Program Has a New “Curious Clover” Book Available With Free Activities
With National Reading Month taking place in March and Read Across America Day quickly approaching on March 3, Discover Dairy has a new book available, titled Curious Clover, to help bring dairy farming to life for elementary and middle school students. The book is available in both English and Spanish and includes accompanying interactive resources to encourage literacy, creativity, and farm-to-table connections. The Discover Dairy program is managed through the Dairy Excellence Foundation. With a $15 donation to the Foundation, individuals can receive a printed copy of the book to share with students and families.
“Every time someone turns the page and meets Clover in our Curious Clover book, they get a firsthand look at where their food comes from. This book is a new and exciting way to include agriculture in your March reading plans,” said Brittany Snyder, Dairy Education Program Manager at the Dairy Excellence Foundation. “In addition to the book, we have an activity sheet and lesson plan – in both English and Spanish – to really get families and communities engaged with where their milk comes from. Whether you’re a teacher, parent, or advocate for the dairy industry, we hope you’ll help us share this book with someone who might enjoy it this spring.”
The Curious Clover book and complementary activities are designed to encourage students of all ages to build curiosity about the world around them while learning about the journey of milk from the farm to the fridge. If individuals make a donation by February 14, the books will be delivered before March 1 in time for National Reading Month. Individuals can make a donation for a book at www.discoverdairy.com/curiousclover or by calling 717-346-0849.
“We read Curious Clover the other month and colored our own ‘Clovers’ to take home during Christmas break. Their assignment was to take their Clover on an adventure and to share that adventure with us during our sharing time in morning meetings. This is an amazing program,” shared Cassandra, a second-grade teacher from Wisconsin.
After reading the Curious Clover book, students can color their own Clover cut-out coloring sheet and physically take her on adventures. Families and teachers can help children document these adventures with photos, journal entries and more. Free Curious Clover lesson plans, in both English and Spanish, are also available for the pre-k through fifth-grade age level.
“We’re all striving to nurture and grow kind, diverse students in this world, and Curious Clover is a great way to teach some of those lessons while fostering a love for creativity and reading. Consider sharing this book with families, teachers, and other community members, or send a book to someone who might appreciate it during National Reading Month,” Snyder added.
Discover Dairy, managed by the Dairy Excellence Foundation, is an engaging, interactive, multi-level educational series that shows upper elementary and middle school students where milk comes from and how dairy farmers contribute to our communities. The Discover Dairy program also includes the popular Adopt a Cow program, which impacts more than one million students each school year and connects classrooms directly to a calf from a progressive dairy operation.
For more information about Discover Dairy and the Curious Clover book, visit www.discoverdairy.com/curiousclover or contact Brittany Snyder at bsnyder@centerfordairyexcellence.org or call 717-346-0849. Online donations must be submitted by February 14 to receive a print copy of the book by March 1.
Discover Dairy is an educational series managed by the Center for Dairy Excellence Foundation of Pennsylvania in partnership with American Dairy Association Northeast, American Dairy Association Indiana, Midwest Dairy, The Dairy Alliance, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, Dairy Management West, Dairy West, New England Dairy, Dairy Farmers of Washington, American Dairy Association Mideast, Dairy Council of Florida, United Dairy Industry of Michigan, Maine Dairy and Nutrition Council, and Oregon Dairy Council.
Get Creative With All Things Cow-Related This Winter
| We hope you can utilize these resources and activities to enhance your classroom experience! – Calving Corner: Tune in to see the Calving Corner Exhibit at the Pennsylvania Farm Show from January 4-11, 2025! This is a live dairy cow birthing exhibit so you can witness the miracle of birth firsthand.Check out the Facebook page for information leading up to the event and photos of the calves as they are born. Watch the live births on YouTube! Age group? All ages. –Meet the Cows: Have you ever wondered why not all dairy cows look the same? That’s because there are different breeds and types of cows, just like dogs or horses! Watch this short animation to meet the seven major breeds of dairy cows — Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Holstein, Jersey, Milking Shorthorn and Red and White Holstein. Age group? Elementary and Middle School. Click here to learn more about each type of cow or download this handout to share in your classroom! – Leaf Scavenger Hunt: Still finding leaves outside? Take a scavenger hunt with your students and create cow-print leaves. Age group? Elementary School. –Coloring Contest: The 2025 Pennsylvania Farm Show Coloring Contest is now accepting entries! Have your students grab some crayons, colored pencils or markers and submit their colored picture by December 15. Age group? All! Download the coloring pages, entry form and rules. |