Teacher Preparation

Students will...

Students are able to make judgments on the ethical and sustainable management of dairy farms.
Students recognise that they have the skills and knowledge to create their own vision for the future.
Students understand that different people have different ideas about what the future should look like but that these differences can be used to give strength to the vision and its meaning.

Students can...

... watch and reflect on videos.
... contribute to class discussions.
... participate in a role play activity.
... work collaboratively.

Teacher content information: Australian dairy farming is in the midst of change. After the deregulation of the industry in 2000, the industry mantra quickly became “get big or get out”. Since then the trend has been towards fewer but larger, more intensive operations, which may put more stress on the environment, dairy cows and resources such as water, grain and land. At the other end of the spectrum are a growing number of small, ethically and sustainably-minded dairy farms that are taking dairy farming back to traditional methods, for the benefit of our environment, animals, farmers and health. For more information, read the Dairy Diaries.

This activity can be conducted in one session with students watching videos prior to the activity or in two sessions with students watching videos in the first session. Please note, however that the videos require access to YouTube which is not available in all schools.

Teaching schedule

30 minutes - Preparation activity
Session 1 - Part A. Role Play
Session 2 - Part B. Create a Model of a Future Farm

Work through this resource material in the following sequence:

Preparation: This activity can be conducted in one session with students watching the following clips prior to the activity or in two sessions with students watching clips in the first session. Please note, however that the clips require access to YouTube which is not available in all schools.

Clip 1 - Intensive Dairy Farming - Is this the way to do it? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDo5c-ksmRs)

Clip 2 - Organic Dairyman (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEniHcmZ7yI)

The preparation activity requires that students watch the two clips on the Student Worksheet and answer the associated questions prior to the classroom session.

Part A. Role Play

Step 1.

Begin this activity by asking students to share their responses to the two clips. Engage students in a discussion around these clips. Consider the following points:

How did these clips make you feel?
What was interesting about these clips?
What did you learn about dairy farming from these clips?
What questions did these clips leave you with?

Record student responses on the board.

Step 2.

Break your class into groups of at least six. Assign each person in the groups with one of the following 'hats':

White Hat: Finding out the facts.
Red Hat: Our thoughts and our feelings about the topic.
Black Hat: What are the negatives or problems that may arise?
Yellow Hat : What are the positives?
Green Hat: What are the alternatives?
Blue Hat: Thinking about thinking.

Ask students to read the description of each of the hats on the student worksheet.

Once complete, ask each group to begin planning a dairy farm of the future, one with minimal environmental impact but one that also provides affordable and abundant dairy products to a growing population. Initially groups can begin by brainstorming things they would like to see and respond to each of these things wearing their hats. The role of each group member is to take the position of the hat they are wearing around the future of dairy farming. Groups should record their brainstorming session using either bubbl.us or mindmeister. Allow 15 minutes for brainstorming.

Use the following topics to get groups thinking about their future farm:

Environmental impacts, including soil quality, effluent management, water use, use of pesticides and fertilisers, and greenhouse gas emissions;
Animal welfare;
Social benefits;
Economic benefits, such as cheap milk.

Part B. Create a Model of a Future Farm

Step 1.

Once groups have completed their brainstorming, it's time for them to create a model of their future dairy farm. This can be done as a 3D model, a computer generated graphic or as a drawing. Models should explain the social, environmental and economic costs and benefits of the dairy farm of the future.

The models will be shared with the class and should be accompanied by a oral presentation from each group, including a brief statement from each group member describing their future and how they resolved the issues between the hats.

Assessment/Reflection

1. Ask students to use the Presentation Rubric to assess group presentations.

2. Ask students to complete this KWHL chart.

Differentiated learning

Extension - Ask students to include information (e.g. marketing material) about the role of the consumer in their future dairy farm: how will they communicate to the consumer that their dairy farm is the way ahead?

Provisional learning support - Assign students with learning needs to groups with stronger students. Reduce the number of reflection questions in response to the two videos.

Teacher reflection

Take this opportunity to reflect on your own teaching

What did you learn about your teaching today?
What worked well?
What didn't work so well?
What would you share?
Where to next?
How are you going to get there?

Sustainable Table - Large versus small scale dairy farming

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