Adopt a Cow: The Ultimate Classroom Experience

Do you want to introduce your students to agriculture and the dairy industry? Are you looking for a fun and engaging way to teach interdisciplinary science, math, and language arts? Look no further than the Adopt a Cow program!

What is the Adopt a Cow Program?

Developed by the Dairy Excellence Foundation in partnership with The Dairy Alliance, the Adopt a Cow program provides classrooms with the opportunity to virtually "adopt" a calf and follow its growth and development from birth to adulthood. Through an online portal and mobile app, students can follow the cow's progress, watch live webcasts, access activity sheets and lessons, and even chat with a farmer.

Program Details

Registration for the program opens May 1 and runs through September 15, 2023. Once registered, the classroom is matched with a dairy farm and a calf. The program begins with the birth of the calf in the fall and continues through the next year when the calf is old enough to go to the milking herd. Along the way, classrooms receive regular updates on the calf's progress, photos and videos, and opportunities to interact with the farmer and ask questions.

How it Works in the Classroom

The Adopt a Cow program can be integrated into a variety of subject areas, from science to social studies. Teachers can use the program to teach about animal behavior and biology, mapping and geography, math (through activities such as charting and measurement), and language arts (through writing prompts and journaling). Additionally, the program offers suggestions for classroom projects and activities, such as building a model of a dairy barn or creating a class book about cows.

Impact of the Program

The Adopt a Cow program has a global reach, with classrooms from all over the world participating. Students gain a deeper understanding of agriculture and the dairy industry, as well as an appreciation for the hard work of farmers that goes into producing milk and dairy products. Teachers report that their students become more engaged in their learning and excited about science and math.

Join the Adopt a Cow Program Today!

Join the "moo-vement" and register your classroom for the Adopt a Cow program today! With its interdisciplinary approach and engaging resources, it is the ultimate classroom experience for students to learn about agriculture and the dairy industry. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to bring the farm to your classroom and inspire the next generation of dairy farmers!