4‑H Pollinators: Ants
Start your journey through 4-H Pollinators by learning about ants and the role they play in pollination and how they work as a community.
How to Take Care of Cows
Cows give a lot to humans. Learn what goes into taking care of them.
About the Activities
We depend on cows for a huge amount of the food we eat, including beef and milk. They may seem so commonplace that you don’t even wonder about them anymore, but they actually are fascinating animals – and you probably don’t know some very basic things about them. Like, what do cows eat? How do they digest food? How many stomachs do they have? And what, exactly, are they chewing when they are ‘chewing their cud?’
In this series of at-home activities, kids will get an up-close look at how cows work (they grow fungi in their stomachs?!), and what it takes for farmers to take care of them. By the end of each activity, kids will have newfound knowledge as well as a fun craft to take their bovine knowledge to the next level.
Brought to you by University of Tennessee Extension and USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
Grades: 3-8
Topic: Animal Science, Biology
Of Cows and Children
A lot of preparation goes into creating a cattle feed with the right amount of nutrients. Aside from creating proper ratios of grains, beans, or minerals, animal nutritionists also make sure each grain is broken to the right, bite-sized pieces – kind of like parents do for their kids. In this activity, kids will practice making right-sized food for cows.
Grades: 3-8
Topic: Animal Science
Estimated Time: 30 min
Incredible, Expanding Cow Food
What happens when you soak a dry sponge in water? It expands. In this activity, kids will use sponges to showcase how moisture trapped in pasture grasses can impact the amount of nutrition that cattle consume, limiting the amount of nutrients they put in their bodies.
Grades: 3-8
Topic: Animal Science, Math
Estimated Time: 30 min
Make Your Best Cow Pasture
Cows are grazers by nature, but when grazing, forage composition may not be as cut-and-dry as when the feed is premeasured. In this activity, kids will learn how to determine if a pasture is right for your cattle and how many it can support.
Grades: 3-8
Topic: Animal Science, Math
Estimated Time: 30 min
Make a Moo-del of a Cow’s Stomach
Cows are one of a few so-called ruminant animals, which means that they have a stomach with four different parts that helps them digest their grass-based diet. In this activity, kids will make a working model of the rumen, one of those four specialized stomach compartments – and that turns grass and hay into energy.
Grades: 3-8
Topic: Animal Science, Biology
Estimated Time: 30 min
Helpful Stomach Bugs?
When we think of stomach ‘bugs,’ we think of being sick. But not all bacteria are bad, and cows have bacteria in their stomach that help them digest food. In this activity, you will learn about different types of bacteria (and other types of microorganisms) in a cow’s stomach that help transform its food into fuel.
Grades: 3-8
Topic: Animal Science, Biology
Estimated Time: 30 min
Let’s Build a Hay Barn
Cows prefer to graze on grass, but that gets more difficult during winter. Hay barns store dried grass for cows to eat in the winter, and building a sturdy, proper hay barn is an art of its own. In this activity, kids will build their own hay barn to help protect your cattle’s food source from weather and pests year-round.
Grades: 3-8
Topic: Animal Science, Biology
Estimated Time: 30 min
Feed a Cow!
Just like humans, cattle have to eat a healthy range of food and a balanced diet. From corn to cottonseed, there are many different foods that are good for cows. In this activity, kids will learn how different grains – also referred to as feeds and forages – can support a healthy cattle diet, and how to measure out a proper meal for our cattle.
Grades: 3-8
Topic: Animal Science, Math
Estimated Time: 30 min
Ruminate on Ruminant Digestion
Cows, sheep, and goats are called ruminant animals because they have four parts to their stomachs that help them ferment and break down food, and eventually absorb nutrients. Pop rocks and soda aren’t the healthiest of snacks, but in this activity kids will use them to replicate the ruminant digestive system of a cow.
Grades: 3-8
Topic: Animal Science, STEM
Estimated Time: 30-45 min
Related Activities
If you enjoyed these activities, you can find more STEM activities on 4-H at Home.
Shop 4-H Curriculum and Products
Shop 4-H offers university-backed STEM curriculum, educational kits, products and supplies to help you continue exploring animal science and more!
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From Airedales to Zebras
Grades: 3-5
Introduces youth to the normal animal, basic anatomy and systems, elementary principles of disease and careers with animals.
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Veterinary Science Set of 4
Grades: 3-12
The full set of Veterinary Science curriculum includes beginner through advanced levels and the accompanying helper's guide.
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Animal Behavior Digital Download
Grades: 9-12
Designed to be facilitated in small groups, activities cover animal care concepts and issues in biomedical research and food safety.
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Horse Program Set of 2
Two of our most popular and time-tested guides that include scientific and practical horse information. Set includes one copy each of Horse Science and Horses and Horsemanship.
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All About Dogs
Grades 3-8
Learn how dogs think and the meaning behind their body language, how to keep dogs happy and healthy and the roles they play in our lives.
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Dairy Goat Set of 4
Grades: 3-12
The full set of Dairy Goat curriculum includes beginner through advanced levels and the accompanying helper's guide.
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View the full collection of Animal and Agricultural Science curriculum on Shop 4-H.
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No endorsement of these supporters' products or services is granted or implied by 4‑H. This work is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, AFRI - Education and Workforce Development project 2021-67037-33376.
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