The Institute for Animal Health does research on infectious diseases of farm animals. Surrounding the village of Compton, West Berkshire, we have a 780 hectare farm, within the dairy of which is situated our Farm Science Visitor Centre. Here, with much child participation, we tell the story “Meadow to Milk: the science and technology of milk production

http://www.iah.ac.uk/schools/index.shtml

This free, by appointment (weekdays only), experience is for KS2 children, though it can be adapted for KS3. The visit starts with a cartoon film about milk production, followed by interaction in seven zones, finishing with a Milk Mastermind quiz. More information about this and our other IAH activities for children can be found at our website.

Contact: Dave Cavanagh, Institute for Animal Health, Compton Laboratory, Compton, Newbury RG20 7NN, Berkshire.

Tel. (direct)  01635 577241
Mobile  07789 941568
Email   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Support offered to Teachers or Pupils:

Visits including to shows. 

How are visits arranged?  By contacting Dave Cavanagh, details above.

What do they involve?  Our Farm Science Visitor Centre (FSVC) is situated in the dairy of our Compton farm. The theme of the Centre is: Meadow to Milk: the science and technology of milk production. Children (up to 30, divided into groups of up to 10) spend 10 minutes in each of seven Zones:
food for the cow; hands-on oil seed rape seeds, cereals, grass, silage etc – grown on our farm.
making the milk: milk production by cows – why, where, how much? Ultrasound scanning for pregnancy.
collecting the milk: handling a milk cluster
our barn and milking parlour: seen from a viewing gallery
the laboratory: children look at their own bacteria on agar plates (following our visit to the school)
the health centre: including antibiotics, vaccines and stethoscopes, diseases of cows and people
food for us; a look at the many processed foods that contain milk and milk products

Throughout we draw parallels between the life of a cow and a child.
At the start we show a cartoon film, ‘Milk’, produced for the Dairy Council, and finish with a ‘Milk Mastermind’ quiz. The whole visit is complete within two hours. There is no charge. Would-be visitors must discuss a visit (weekdays only) with us in advance.
Additional information at our website: http://www.iah.ac.uk/schools/farm_science.shtml

Which key stages are they aimed at?
KS2. Our primary focus is on the eleven Downs Federation primary schools that feed into the Downs secondary school in Compton. We also consider requests from other schools in South Oxfordshire and West Berkshire. The FSVC is not a full-time enterprise, so there is a limit on how many groups can visit us.

Resources

We can provide press-out and fold 3-D models of bluetongue virus.

 Is there a cost?  No.

 Can they be ordered on-line?  By email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Speakers

Within our area (West Berkshire and South Oxfordshire near Compton Laboratory, and Surrey near our Pirbright Laboratory). A number of our farm staff and scientists would be willing to visit schools, to engage with children in relation to farming and the science behind animal health (and people’s health).

Current activities include:
‘Ticks and midges spread diseases’: a look down microscopes at midges and ticks that can spread virus diseases e.g. bluetongue, with a little background information.
‘DNA, the recipe for life’, and ‘DNA detective’: child participation activity.
‘Science@Work’: scientists go into secondary schools to talk about what they do in their working life.
‘Darwin: natural selection and evolution’: in preparation for Darwin’s bicentenary, 2009.
For more information, go to our website: http://www.iah.ac.uk/schools/index.shtml

Is there a charge? No charge