Milky Farm Frenzy: Part 2

Lesson Content

• Lesson Plan Template:

  CTE Lesson Plan

• CTE Course Info and Benchmark Notes

  
  

  Program Name: Animal Science and Services

  Course Title: Agriscience Foundations 1

  Course Number: CTE Course -8106810

  Career Cluster: Agriculture Food and Natural Resources

  CIP Number: 0101010500

  Course Type: High School Career Prep

• Unit Outline

  
  

  This lesson is designed to be used with the case study, “Farm Frenzy” See CPALMS resource ID# 219714. This is part two of a two part series. Part 1 in this lesson sequence is CPALMS Resource ID #219725.

• Career Connection

  
  

  The lesson plan is designed to introduce students to a real life career scenario and improve their agricultural industry knowledge by integrating practical activities and reflection opportunities. In the domain of critical thinking, students are asked to create a solution to an agricultural problem using research from reliable sources.

• Learning Objectives

  
  

  Students will be able to:

  • Compare the positives and negatives of multiple animal welfare issues identified in the case study.
  • Integrate animal welfare industry standards in their writing and apply that to selective breeding practices.
  • Write a narrative solution to a case study using appropriate writing techniques.

• Prior Knowledge

  
  

  Students should be familiar with/able to:

  • Explain and discuss animal biotechnology including selective breeding.
  • Identify and explain animal welfare industry standards including but not limited to foraging/ grazing space, barn space, goat reproduction information, and basic animal husbandry.
  • A basic understanding of CDC tagging expectations and regulations.

• Guiding Questions

  
  
  • How does the use of biotechnology improve or impede the agricultural industry?
  • What are examples of selective breeding within the agricultural field?
  • What is the difference between animal welfare and animals rights?
  • Why would monitoring animal welfare be beneficial on a farm?

• Procedure

  
  

  1. To introduce the lesson, the teacher should review the results of the research from lesson. The teacher should ask students, “How could selective breeding impact the success of Milky Farms?” Be sure to have students identify both positive impacts and negative impacts.

  2. Reintroduce the Farm Frenzy case study, "Farm Frenzy," CPALMS resource ID #219714, to the students and allow time for students to re-read and annotate the text independently before beginning the activity. The case study can be printed out or digitally released to the students. Case Study discussion questions can be found in the Milky Farms Frenzy guiding questions attachment. The attachment can be used as a formative assessment.

  • • Identify reasons selective breeding is used in agricultural industries including dairy industry, swine industry, or horse racing.
    • Which factors on a farm can directly influence animal welfare?
    • How can selective breeding affect animal welfare?
    • What observations did Mathryn make that concerned her?
    • Why would it be important to ensure proper documentation and animal welfare to all breeding programs on a farm?
    • What next steps do you believe should take place in the case study?

  3. Once students have completed the questions either independently or in small groups, the teacher should ask the question, “What could a possible solution be to the problem within the case study?” Students should be given time to reflect and come up with a possible solution individually.

  4. With the idea of the possible solution, students will be tasked with creating a written ending to the case study, "Farm Frenzy." This ending can be written from Kathryn’s point of view or from the point of view of the Milky Farm owner. The ending must include final solutions to addressing the selective breeding program at the farm as well as questionable practices identified within the case study.

  5. To bring a lesson to a close, the teacher should lead a class discussion of the future of agricultural work reflection questions. These questions are designed to tie the Milky Farm Frenzy lesson to the overall agricultural industry standards.

  • • Why are industry standards important in agriculture?
    • When would an agricultural standard need to be changed or monitored more closely?

• Teacher Notes

  
  

  If time does not permit, this lesson can be completed over multiple class periods.