Animal Science Curricula
A high quality curriculum is a coherent progression of educational experiences that addresses a societal issue or need. These experiences are organized sequentially such that concepts build on one another and connect to other content areas or real-world situations. The curriculum needs to be developmentally appropriate, be grounded in relevant learning theories (like experiential learning), and provide necessary resources and techniques for effective implementation with the intended audiences in specified learning settings. Finally, a curriculum must be evaluated empirically and shown to realize intended learning objectives. -- from Smith et al. (2017)
The following list of curricula embodies these principles around important and timely animal science topics.
Veterinary Science
For youth aged 9 to 11 years old; free PDF
anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/Details.aspx?itemNo=8372
The curriculum introduces youth to veterinary science through experiential learning. Modules focus on behavior, anatomy, nutrition, and health.
Understanding and Applying Veterinary Science
For youth aged 9 to 11 years old; $34.99 PDF
shop4-h.org/products/veterinary-science-curriculum-1-5-digital-download
Topics include animal care as well as emerging issues in biomedical research and food safety. The activities in the curriculum were designed to be facilitated in a small group-learning environment. Learners construct understanding through inquiry, observations, and personal reflection.
Bio-Security in Animal Science
For youth aged 9 to 11 years old; free PDF
anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/Details.aspx?itemNo=8438
Livestock shows are an important part of raising livestock, but youth need to be aware of the disease risks involved when stock from different farms come together in one place. This 3-part curriculum teaches principles and practices of livestock health safety.
Pre-Harvest Food Safety in Animal Science
For youth aged 9 to 11 years old; free PDF
anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/Details.aspx?itemNo=8491
Pre-harvest food safety is all about protecting the human food supply from disease-causing pathogens, parasites, and other harmful agents. This 4-part curriculum introduces youth to principles and methods they can apply in their livestock and poultry projects and in later agricultural work.
Sheep: From the Animal’s Point of View
For youth aged 9 to 11 years old; free PDF
anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/Details.aspx?itemNo=8474
The curriculum is designed to introduce youth to sheep behavior, needs and care. Additional emphases include life skills and positive youth development. This is not a guide to raising sheep for market or exhibition.
Rabbits: From the Animal’s Point of View
For youth aged 9 to 11 years old; free PDF
anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/Details.aspx?itemNo=8374
The curriculum introduces youth to many aspects of rabbit care.
Swine: From the Animal’s Point of View
For youth aged 9 to 11 years old; free PDF
anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/Details.aspx?itemNo=8479
The curriculum is designed to introduce youth to swine behavior, needs and care. Additional emphases include life skills and positive youth development. This is not a guide to raising swine for market or exhibition.
Exploring Swine Health & Husbandry
For youth aged 9 to 11 years old; $24.95
shop4-h.org/products/exploring-swine-health-husbandry-curriculum
The curriculum will help youth develop the requisite knowledge and skills associated with raising and showing swine. Activities are youth centered and include opportunities for the application of knowledge and skills at three different levels of experience: beginner, intermediate, and advanced.
Exploring Beef Health & Husbandry
For youth aged 9 to 11 years old; $24.95
shop4-h.org/products/exploring-beef-health-husbandry-curriculum
The curriculum will help youth develop the requisite knowledge and skills associated with raising and showing beef cattle. Activities are youth centered and include opportunities for the application of knowledge and skills at three different levels of experience: beginner, intermediate, and advanced.
Coming Soon
Animal Welfare Proficiencies for 4-H
For youth aged 9 to 11 years old; free PDF
ucanr.edu/sites/youthscientificliteracy/Curricula/
Activities are designed to help youth gain an overall conceptual understanding of animal welfare. Furthermore, youth will learn strategies to help provide for their animals in ways to keep them healthy, comfortable, well nourished, and safe from harm, and allow them to express normal behaviors.
Best Practices in Your Backyard: Poultry Care and Welfare
For youth aged 9 to 11 years old; free PDF
ucanr.edu/sites/youthscientificliteracy/Curricula/
This curriculum is focused on the basic needs and practices for raising poultry. More specifically, it is designed to help 4-H youth and adults learn strategies focused on husbandry and welfare for backyard poultry.
At the Interface between Livestock and Predators: Reducing Depredation through Livestock Husbandry
For youth aged 9 to 11 years old; free PDF
ucanr.edu/sites/youthscientificliteracy/Curricula/
The principal focus of this curriculum is to help build knowledge and skills related to livestock husbandry strategies that mitigate the risk of predator attacks on livestock and poultry. The curriculum activities help youth understand the natural food web, how to identify common predators, how to assess the risks of predation on livestock, and how to mitigate against these risks. The curriculum also includes a service-learning component.
A “Fear-Less” Approach to Understanding Dogs, Their Care, and Training
For youth aged 9 to 11 years old; free PDF
ucanr.edu/sites/youthscientificliteracy/Curricula/
The activities in this curriculum are designed to provide youth with general knowledge and skills on breed identification, behavior, animal care, and training of dogs.
Exploring Goat Health & Husbandry
For youth aged 9 to 11 years old; price TBA
ucanr.edu/sites/youthscientificliteracy/Curricula/
The activities in this program are designed for you to develop an understanding of how to raise healthy and happy goats. This program explores with general knowledge and skills on breed identification, behavior, and animal care.