Learning Opportunity Planning Form

(Avoid opportunities associated with holidays)

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Student Name: Sarah Kirschbaum
Resource Used: From grass to milk by Taus-Bolstad, Stacy. Cows by McDonald, Mary Ann
Date to be presented: April 20th, 2022

Site Supervisor’s Signature _________________________________________ Date __________________

It is required to discuss your final written plans with your site supervisor and obtain a sign-off signature one week before presenting this learning opportunity.

Primary Curriculum (content) Area: Math

Learning Opportunity Name: “Milk the Cow”
Brief description/type: We will use rubber gloves to “milk the cow”. The children will count how many squirts it takes to
fill the container.

WHO It’s For: Three 2-3 year olds

List specific accommodations/adaptions: Children are having difficulty following directions during an activity. I would adapt
the requirements by pairing children with buddies who serve as role models. Have them complete the activity together. I
would modify the materials to include pictures in addition to providing verbal directions to demonstrate what I want the
children to do. Cara’s Kit p. 10
WHY-Rationale: The theme for the month of April is farm. This week we will be learning about cows. We will discuss
the different type of cows and explain that not all cows produce milk. We will explain the work it takes to get the milk
that they drink and let them discover that each cow holds different amounts. “Young children explore measurement
concepts through exploring and manipulating a variety of objects and materials within their environments. Children need
hands-on experiences with objects and use of words by adults to learn how to describe relationships involving
measurement.”
Objective(s): By participating in this opportunity, the children will…
• Explores objects using standard measuring tools such as rulers, measuring cups, and balance scales.
• Begins to demonstrate knowledge that measurement requires a ‘fair’ comparison starting at the same baseline or
measuring the same property such as length, height, and volume.
• Uses language such as more, less or the same amount to compare quantities.
Standard(s): Area 7: Mathematics Standard 7.4.PS Children understand comparisons and measurements.

HOW to Prepare: What you need:

MATERIALS: Three child size chairs, three cutout cows, 12 rubber gloves (this is including one for each child in case
they break), three small containers
TIME: 15 minutes
SETTING: Small Group
SET UP/SPACE: I will set up the chairs at the sensory/water table so that we are close to the sink. I will place the
containers on the floor underneath the back of the chair.

HOW to Teach:
Introduction:
1. At rug time read the book “From Grass to Milk “.
2. Ask the children “Where do you get your milk from?” “Have you ever been to a farm?” “How do you think we
get the milk out of the cow?”
3. Tell them, “I am going to take a group of three kids at a time to the sensory/water center.” I will choose the
three and have them wait for me at the sensory/water center.
4. I will then dismiss the other children to a center of their choice by saying a letter and if their name starts with
that letter, they may choose a center. “If your name starts with a “T”, you may choose a center. If your name
starts with a “C”, you may choose a center.” I will say a letter until all have chosen a center.

Teaching steps:
1. At the center I will explain that we are going to milk a cow.
2. I will talk about the udders and ask the children if they know what they are.
3. I will explain how we are going to pull down on the udder to get the milk to squirt out.
4. I will ask the children how many pulls they think it will take to fill up the container?
 5. I will then tell the children that we are going to squirt the milk and count as we do it to see how many
squirts it will take to fill up the container.
6. We will talk about how many pulls it took them and compare to how many they thought it would.

Closure & Transition: After they have compared their numbers, we will talk about if they would want to be a farmer or
not. I then will have them act like a cow over to the center of their choice.

HOW to Assess and Document

Objectives Evidence of Learning How to Document This Evidence
Children might…

Assessment Documentation:

Evaluation:
What evidence of children’s engagement and learning did you see during this learning opportunity? How were the
objectives met?

What did you learn from planning and presenting this learning opportunity?
a) About the learning opportunity itself:

b) About children:

c) About your own abilities:

Evaluate this learning opportunity as a whole. Share suggestions, as discussed with your site supervisor, for improvement.
a) As I reflect on this learning opportunity, I feel my strengths were:

b) As I reflect on this learning opportunity, I realize that I could improve by: