The Mobile Dairy Classroom visited William McKinley Elementary School on Thursday, March 1. Students learned about how cows make milk and were able to pet the young calf.
Sent by the Dairy Council of California, the Mobile Dairy Classroom also teaches how milk goes from farm to consumers and the technology used on a dairy farm, in addition to the healthy foods made from milk.
Instructor Louis Batista also talked about the anatomy of a dairy cow and related it to people’s body parts: a cow uses a tail to swat flies away, while people use a hand; the cow’s tongue is rough to groom herself, while people use combs and brushes.
“It was a great opportunity for our students who may never see a cow in person,” commented Principal Liz Costella.
“Besides Lucy the cow, [Batista] also brought a calf named Oreo, which the students got to pet.”
“Petting the one-month old calf was very exciting for the students and allowed some of them to be pushed out of their comfort zone,” she added.
“Many were a little cautious and even scared but after petting Oreo they were very excited and were glad they took the risk.”
“The teachers also felt the assembly was great and very educational. They appreciated the experience it provided to the students and the connections that could be made in the classroom.”
The Mobile Dairy Classroom does not charge for their school visits. A school can receive a visit once every five years.
The organization also provided resources for teachers to use in their classroom after the assembly. For more information on the program, visit the Dairy Council of California’s webpage.
