Time: 45–60 minutes
Big Idea: Learn how cows make milk and how farmers care for them.
What You’ll Need:
- Cup of milk (or chocolate milk)
- Paper towel
- Rubber band
- Cup of water
- Paper and crayons/markers
Part 1. Taste and Talk
Do This:
Pour a small glass of milk. Let your child take a sip.
Ask:
- What does milk taste like?
- Where do you think it comes from?
- Do all animals make milk? (Yes—moms do for their babies!)
Part 2. Meet the Dairy Cow
Do This:
Explain:
- Cows eat grass and grains.
- Farmers milk cows 2–3 times a day.
- Milk is cooled, cleaned, and sent to stores.
Activity:
Draw a cow together. Add a bucket for collecting milk.
Part 3. Try Milking a “Cow”
Steps:
- Put water in a cup.
- Cover the top with a paper towel and secure with a rubber band.
- Poke a small hole with a pencil.
- Gently squeeze the towel over another cup to watch “milk” come out.
Part 4. If I Were a Cow…
Ask:
- What would you eat all day?
- Would you like being milked?
- How would you spend your time on the farm?
Activity:
Have your child draw themselves as a cow in a pasture.
Part 5. Wrap-Up Discussion
- How do cows make milk?
- What do farmers do to take care of cows?
- What’s your favorite way to drink milk?
