📖 Standards
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.6-8.7 Integrate quantitative or technical information expressed in words in a text with a version of that information expressed visually (e.g., in a flowchart, diagram, model, graph, or table).
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.6-8.1 Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts.
📲 Technology Required
Computer with projector, for in-class use. Computer or tablet with Internet access for home use.
⏰ Time
60-70 minutes
📃 Summary
This cross-curricular lesson is one of two “lessons we love” from Discover Dairy. Students watch a short video, read a passage on selective breeding in dairy cows, have a discussion and complete a lab exercise in selective breeding.
Lesson
NOTE: While we create most lessons on the Growing Math site ourselves, we do include links to other lessons that are exemplary in their cross-curricular, standards-based design. This is one of two lessons we love from Discover Dairy. The entire 14-page lesson can be downloaded here, including reading passages, lab assignments and answer keys.
You can also go to the Discover Dairy site, which requires a free registration and login to download individual parts of the lesson and see the other lessons they have available.
Start with a video
Watch a four-minute video on dairy farms to kick the lesson off.
Read a passage on selective breeding in dairy cows
You’ll find this on page 13 of the handout linked above or download both reading assignments here (it’s only two pages) or copy the link to assign in your Google classroom to read on line.
Class Discussion on Selective Breeding
See page 2 of the full lesson linked above for suggested discussion questions. Note that the first question asks about the 7 types of dairy cows- the 7 types of cows are picture on the complete lesson plan on page 7.
Lab Exercise #1 : Selective Breeding
Pass out the lab activity #1 sheets, in pages 9 and 10 of the complete lesson plan. You can link directly to those here, if you want to assign in Google classroom or other management system. Note that link includes both labs 1 and 2.
Once students have the materials, explain the lab activity. You may want to use the explanation given on pages 2-3 of the lesson plan.
Answer keys for both lab exercises can be found here.
Read a passage on the life cycle of a dairy cow
You’ll find this on pages 14 of the handout linked above or download both reading assignments here (it’s only two pages) or copy the link to assign in your Google classroom to read on line.
Answer keys for both lab exercises can be found here.
ASSESSMENT
Two types of assessment occur in this lesson. During the class discussion, teachers can get an assessment of the understanding of the concepts of the class as a whole and the lab assignment can be used for individual assessment.
Pingback: Discover Dairy: Cow Life Cycle | Growing Math