Grades 4-7

1. Divide the class into cooperative learning groups. Today they will have the opportunity to make a positive impact on their school by picking up litter. Distribute gloves and paper bags. Groups work together to pick up litter.

2. Challenge students to sort their garbage into the following categories: reduce, reuse, recycle and garbage. Ask groups to report on their findings and share ways to reuse, reduce or recycle each product they found.

3. Point out that garbage represents resources that have been used. Note that other resources, like water and fuel, were essential to make these products. Emphasize our responsibility to determine whether these resources are garbage that fills dumps and landfills or resources to be recycled and reused again. Agriculturists also have to make this important decision. An excellent example of reducing and reusing can be found in the beef cattle industry.

4. Show students examples of beef feed produced from agricultural by-products. Have students feel and describe each feed. Ask students to use their observations to identify the product and determine where it originated.

5. Explain that because beef cattle are ruminants, they can eat and digest food that humans cannot. Rather than filling landfills with these products, they serve as nutritious and palatable food for beef cattle.Instruct students to research other areas within the agriculture industry that further demonstrate reducing, reusing or recycling.

Plastic (non-latex) gloves
Paper bags
Samples of cattle feed made from by-products (cottonseed, almond hulls, rice hulls, dried grape skins, etc.) Many feed mills, dairies, universities, or large animal veterinarians will donate samples of cattle feed, or contact the CA Beef Council.*

Beef cattle: cows raised for beef.
By-products: something produced when making something else.
Palatable: acceptable taste and smell; agreeable to the palate or taste.
Ruminants: animals that have digestive systems with four compartments to the stomach, like goats, sheep, and alpacas.

Grade 4
Science: 2a; ELA: listening and speaking 1.0, English language conventions 1.0
Grade 5
Science: 2a, 2c, 6a; ELA: listening and speaking 1.0, English language conventions 1.0
Grade 6
Science: 5a, 5c, 6b, 6c; ELA: listening and speaking 1.0, English language conventions 1.0
Grade 7
Science: 5a, 5b; ELA: listening and speaking 1.0, English language conventions 1.0

*Activity adapted from the National Cattleman’s Beef Association curriculum, Caretakers All. For more cattle-related lessons, activities and information visit www.calbeef.org or contact the California Beef Council at (916) 925-2333.

For more lessons, visit www.cfaitc.org.