Missi Roper discovered Discover Dairy’s Adopt a Cow program by happenstance, but the happiness it is bringing to her class is no accident! During the summer break, Mrs. Roper discovered Discover Dairy on social media and thought the program would be a great way to support her literacy instruction. According to the program’s website, Discover Dairy is an engaging, interactive, cross-curricular, multi-leveled lesson series that integrates math and reading while incorporating
social studies concepts to show students where milk comes from and how dairy farms contribute to our world. Classrooms are able to adopt a cow for free through the Adopt a Cow program. Throughout the program, students learn the name of their calf, receive an adoption certificate where they learn the calf’s birthdate, learn about the location and farm where their calf lives, and receive photos and updates as the farmer cares for the calf. Students are able to write and receive letters with the calf and farmer who cares for the calf, and they receive updates on the calf’s growth throughout the year. The culmination of the adoption program is a live chat with the calf and farmer in the spring.
Mrs. Roper’s kindergarten class at City Park learned in October that their adopted calf was named Babybel, and with it being an election year, they learned that Discover Dairy was hosting a Vote for America’s Favorite Calf contest. They shared their exciting news with the school community as they encouraged everyone to vote, and this led to even encouraging the Chick Fil A cow from a local Chick Fil A location to come out and support Babybel, too. Mrs. Roper’s class enjoyed a visit with the Chick Fil A cow where they shared their learnings about what their cow needs to live, and the many products that dairy cows produce…including ice cream! The Chick Fil A cow presented Babybel’s kindergarten friends with cow headbands and “cow print” (aka chocolate chip cookies) from Chick Fil A. Mrs. Roper’s class, the City Park community, and our new friend, the Chick Fil A cow, cannot wait to see how Babybel grows and develops this school year!