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California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom

Learn About Ag...Beef

California is one of the nation's greatest beef-producing states, and beef is one of the state's most valuable agricultural commodities. Cattle have played a critical role in our state's history, and they continue to be a part of the California landscape and culture. Explore the resources on this page to learn all the ways California beef contributes to our daily lives.

Build Them Better Lesson Plan

Build Them Better Lesson Plan

Understanding Cattle Genetics

One 50-minute lesson
Grade Level: 6-12
Objectives:

  • Students will understand the importance of genetics in beef cattle production.
  • Students will identify desirable traits in beef cattle.
  • Students will identify undesirable traits in beef cattle.

Nineteenth Edition

The Benefits of By-products

What's Growin' On?

Behind the Beef

Surprising Cow Connections

Behind the Beef

Source Sleuth-Beef Lesson Plan

Source Sleuth-Beef Lesson Plan

Investigating Credible Sources About Beef

One or two 50-minute lessons
Grade Level: 6-8
Objectives:

  • Students will understand why it is important to use credible sources.
  • Students will learn strategies for identifying credible sources.
  • Students will identify primary sources of information.
  • Students will practice citing sources, paraphrasing data, and interpreting conclusions.

Beef Boasts

Beef Boasts

8.5 x 11 flyer/poster illustrating 6 reasons why rancher aren't afraid to toot their own horn.

Beefing Up Math

Beefing Up Math

The "Beefing Up Math" Project was sponsored by the California Beef Council and includes five new math worksheets for students in grades 1 to 6. Students will solve math facts for addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions and decimals. Once students complete the math facts, they color the beef mural according to the key. The back side of the worksheet includes word problems related to cattle ranching, and measurement problems that require the "Beef Up Your Math" ruler. All worksheets are aligned to current California Education Standards.

Bon á La Beef!

Bon á La Beef!

California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom partnered with California Beef Council to create four video clips featuring elementary through high school students preparing recipes to educate students, teachers, and the public about beef, its nutritional value, and its proper handling and preparation. The student-developed recipes use easy techniques and readily available ingredients. Each of the four cooking video clips are paired with educational lesson plans that are aligned to Common Core State Standards for students in grades 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12.

Steer Towards STEM

Steer Towards STEM: Careers in Animal Agriculture

Careers in Animal Agriculture

This five-lesson unit for grades 3-5 promotes the development of STEM abilities and critical thinking skills, while fostering an appreciation for the people involved in livestock production. The curriculum includes real-life challenges for students to investigate, inquiry-based labs, and opportunities to plan and construct models. Featured careers include animal physiologist, agricultural engineer, range manager, animal nutritionist, and animal geneticist.

Farm to You: Beef Cattle

Farm to You: Beef Cattle

Starting with the sun, there is quite a journey to bring our food from Farm to You. The Farm to You: Beef Cattle resource includes a colorful illustration, photos, and hands-on lesson plans and activities to help students understand the people and processes involved.

Beef Fact and Activity Sheet

Beef Fact and Activity Sheet

This California-specific beef fact sheet includes information about production, breeds, top-producing counties, history and nutritional value. The second page provides lesson and activity ideas.

Ag-Bites

Ag-Bites

Ag-Bites are a set of fun, bite-sized activity sheets for bringing hands-on agricultural education into your classroom. Three of the 14 sheets feature beef topics.

California Grows...Map

California Grows...Map

The California Grows map shows the top three commodities in all of California's counties. Explore the top beef-producing counties.

Cattle Connections

Cattle Connections

Our 16-page newspaper provides great information about California agriculture, along with activities geared for students in third through eighth grade. Visit the Cattle Connections page to learn more about beef, or explore the entire What's Growin' On? library.

Wow That Cow! Fact Sheet

Wow That Cow! Fact Sheet

The California Beef Council explains all the ways cattle contribute to our lives... and the plant.

Fun Farm Facts

Fun Farm Facts

The California Beef Council also created this Fun Farm Facts Sheet, great for all ages!

Ag Mag: Beef

Ag Mag

Learn more about beef with this four-page beef feature in Ag Mag, a publication produced by the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture.

Beef 101

Beef 101

Learn how beef gets from the farm to your dinner table with this 12-page publications created by the California Beef Counciel and The Beef Checkoff program.

iPad App: Wow That Cow!

Wow That Cow!

Explore the interactive iPad app to learn about beef cuts, nutrition, byproducts and land stewardship through puzzles, challenges and stories. This interactive app is brought to you by the Tulare County Cattle Women and sponsored by the Tulare County Cattlemen and the Tulare County Cattle Women.

This page was brought to you through a partnership between the California Beef Council and the California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom.