Introductory Activity :

Duration: 30-45 minutes

Description: This lesson introduces students to farming and dairy cows. Students will learn how to milk a cow (by using a cow made out of plywood). This activity would go well with a unit plan related to life on a farm.

Goals: ECE Massachusetts Standards

1. Framework 2.8, pg. 87 (Living Things and Their Environment).
2. Framework 2.2, pg. 91 (Engineering: Design - The Human Body as a Machine).

Body :

At circle time, introduce I am a Farmer . [ Authors' Note: I am a Farmer is the story of a little girl who works on her family farm. It has lovely pictures showing her performing chores; i.e., feeding livestock, pitching hay, and milking dairy cows. This book is very appealing to young children because of its simple words and realistic pictures.]

Ask the class, "Who do you think is the farmer in this book? The father? brother? mother?" Discuss. "The farmer is a girl named Sue. Are you surprised that a little girl is the farmer? What other occupations could a girl (woman) have?" After discussion, read the book to the class. Review the vocabulary words found in the story.

Explain that there are two ways to milk a cow: using a milking machine or by using your hands. Gather the class around the plywood cow. Have a milking stool and a milk bucket next to the cow. Demonstrate how to "milk" the cow, securing from the top and squeezing to the bottom of the udder. Give each student a chance to "milk" the cow.

[ Authors' Note: Instructions for making the plywood cow: The plywood cow is constructed from a sheet of quarter- inch plywood. We found an outline of a cow as viewed from the side and had it professionally enlarged to approximately 2 feet by 3 feet. The plywood cow was cut out with a jigsaw, and the photocopy of the cow was glued on. This may sound difficult and/or time consuming, but the overall enthusiasm of the class made it worthwhile. We milked the cow by filling a non-latex glove with milk-tinted water. This glove was tied in a knot and pulled through from the front of the cow to the back by way of a little hole (the size of a nickel) bored in the area of the cow's udder. Tiny holes allow the milk to flow out.]

Conclusion Activity :

Special Comments: As an extension, teachers may want to organize a field trip to a working farm.

Vocabulary Words :

• Dairy cow - A cow that gives milk; i.e. Holstein.
  
• Udder - The portion of the cow's body that produces milk.
  
• Calf - A baby cow.
  
• 4. Mucking out - Cleaning the cow's stall prior to milking.
  

Evaluation Activity :

Have students draw a picture showing what they learned today. (The teacher might want to ask each student about his/her picture and then write a sentence underneath each picture.)

Internet Resources Referenced in this Lesson :

Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks
Early Childhood Program Standards for Programs for Three- and Four-Year Olds