National AITC Dairy Lessons:

K-2:

  • NALO’s:
  • Explain how farmers/ranchers work with the lifecycle of plants and animals to harvest a crop
  • Explain how farmers/ranchers work with the lifecycle of plants and animals to harvest a crop
  • Identify examples of feed/food products eaten by animals and people.
  • Recognize that agriculture provides our most basic necessities: food, fiber, energy, and shelter
  • Identify healthy food options
  • Understand where different types of foods should be stored safely at home.
  • Identify food safety practices to demonstrate at home
  • Trace the sources of agricultural products (plant or animal) used daily
  • Identify plants and animals grown or raised locally that are used for food, clothing, shelter, and landscapes
  • Discuss what a farmer does.

3-5:

  • NALO’s
  • Explain how the interaction of the sun, soil, water, and weather in plant and animal growth impacts agricultural production
  • Understand the concept of stewardship and identify ways farmers/ranchers care for soil, water, plants, and animals
  • Provide examples of specific ways farmers/ranchers meet the needs of animals
  • Explain the costs associated with producing and purchasing food
  • Diagram the path of production for a processed product, from farm to table
  • Distinguish between processed and unprocessed food
  • Describe the necessary food components of a healthy diet using the current dietary guidelines
  • Identify food sources of required food nutrients
  • Describe how technology helps farmers/ranchers increase their outputs (crop and livestock yields) with fewer inputs (less water, fertilizer, and land) while using the same amount of space (Dairy STEM lesson)
  • Compare simple tools to complex modern machines used in agricultural systems to improve efficiency and reduce labor
  • Provide examples of science being applied in farming for food, clothing, and shelter products
  • Explain how agricultural events and inventions affect how Americans live today (e.g., Eli Whitney - cotton gin; Cyrus McCormick - reaper; Virtanen - silo; Pasteur - pasteurization; John Deere - moldboard plow)
  • Describe how supply and demand impact the price of agricultural goods

6-8:

  • NALO’s
  • Identify strategies for housing for animal welfare and the safety of animal products (e.g., meat, milk, eggs)
  • Explain the role of ethics in the production and management of food, fiber (fabric or clothing), and energy sources
  • Identify sources of agricultural products that provide food, fuel, clothing, shelter, medical, and other non-food products for their community, state, and/or nation
  • Identify agricultural products (foods) that provide valuable nutrients for a balanced diet
  • Evaluate food labels to determine food sources that meet nutritional needs
  • Evaluate serving size related to nutritional needs
  • Explain the benefits and disadvantages of food processing
  • Explain how factors, such as culture, convenience, access, and marketing affect food choices locally, regionally, and globally
  • Identify specific technologies that have reduced labor in agriculture
  • Discuss how technology has changed over time to help farmers/ranchers provide more food to more people

9-12:

Sustainabilty

What cows eat, where they sleep, etc.

Processing, pasteurization, homogenization, etc.

From grass to glass and back

Think your drink.