Picasso Cows – making art and learning about nutrition

Dairy Australia invites teachers to register their interest for the upcoming Term 3 intake of the curriculum-based learning program, Picasso Cows.

Developed in consultation with teachers and education consultants including Kimberlin Education, the resources are part of the curriculum units, Farm to Plate and Health and Nutrition, and inspire learning through student creativity.

The highly successful program has been challenging primary school students to find their inner Picasso and decorate their cow, limited only by their imagination, for more than a decade.

“Every school receives their very own life-like cow to paint and decorate, which supports student-centred, interactive learning in addition to an exciting digital educational resource, Discover Dairy, which teachers can easily find materials that best fit within the lessons they are planning,” said Vanessa Forrest, Dairy Australia’s School Communications Manager.

“The fact that the program has been taken up so enthusiastically by schools for over 10 years is a testament to the benefits of the program and how much both students and teachers get out of it.”

South Coogee Public School in Sydney recently participated in the program, with teacher Maria Stathis declaring it an absolute hit with their Year 1 and 2, and Year 5 and 6, students.

“The students named our Cow, Madam Milkalot, and spent the entire term exploring farming practices and the processes involved in producing familiar food products, which culminated in a beautifully painted and educational Madam Milkalot who will be on display in the school garden for years to come!”

According to Dairy Australia Dietitian, Glenys Zucco, Picasso Cows provides an opportunity for students to learn the health benefits of dairy at a young age, to help ensure they eat a nutritionally balanced diet – essential for growing bodies.

“Scientific evidence supports the health benefits of eating dairy, such as milk, cheese and yogurt, and the Australian Dietary Guidelines indicate dairy lowers the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, hypertension and Type 2 diabetes,” Zucco said.

“It’s important children, know that milk is a rich source of protein and calcium, essential to growing strong bones and healthy muscles.”

For schools that follow the Farm to Plate curriculum, students gain knowledge about the $13 billion Australian dairy industry and the story of how milk goes from the farm to our fridge.