Beef: Making the Grade

Students will evaluate the USDA grading system for whole cuts of beef and discuss consumer preferences and nutritional differences between grain-finished and grass-finished beef. Students will also distinguish various labels on beef products and discuss reasons for the government’s involvement in agricultural production, processing and distribution of food.

Grades
9 – 12
IN: Grades 7 – 12
Estimated Time
1 hour
Updated
December 9, 2024
person using smart phone and instrument to assess beef carcass
Image: usdagov/Flickr

Background

Lesson Activities

Standards

Indiana Content Area Standards

  • English Language Arts.Grade 7.W.1

    Write routinely over a variety of time frames for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences; apply reading standards to support analysis, reflection, and research by drawing evidence from literature and nonfiction texts.

    • Writing Genres: Argumentative, Informative, and Narrative.7.W.3.2: Write informative compositions in a variety of forms that a. Introduce a topic clearly, previewing what is to follow; organize ideas, concepts, and information, using strategies such as definition and classification; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., charts, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension. b. Develop the topic with relevant facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples from various sources and texts. c. Use appropriate transitions to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts. d. Choose language and content-specific vocabulary that express ideas precisely and concisely, recognizing and eliminating wordiness and redundancy. e. Establishandmaintainastyleappropriatetopurposeandaudience. f. Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the information or explanation presented.
  • English Language Arts.Grade 7.SL.1

    Listen actively and adjust the use of spoken language (e.g., conventions, style, vocabulary) to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences and for different purposes.

    • Discussion and Collaboration.7.SL.2.1: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (e.g., one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) on grade- appropriate topics, texts, and issues, building on others ideas and expressing personal ideas clearly.
    • Discussion and Collaboration.7.SL.2.2: Investigate and reflect on ideas under discussion by identifying specific evidence from materials under study and other resources.
  • English Language Arts.Grade 7.ML.1

    Critically analyze information found in electronic, print, and mass media used to inform, persuade, entertain, and transmit culture.

    • Media Literacy.7.ML.2.1: Interpret the various ways in which events are presented and information is communicated by visual image-makers to influence the public.
  • English Language Arts.Grade 8.W.1

    Write routinely over a variety of time frames for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences; apply reading standards to support analysis, reflection, and research by drawing evidence from literature and nonfiction texts.

    • Writing Genres: Argumentative, Informative, and Narrative.8.W.3.2: Write informative compositions in a variety of forms that a. Introduce a topic clearly, previewing what is to follow; organize ideas, concepts, and information into broader categories; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., charts, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension. b. Develop the topic with relevant, well-chosen facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples from various sources and texts. c. Use appropriate and varied transitions to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts. d. Choose language and content-specific vocabulary that express ideas precisely and concisely, recognizing and eliminating wordiness and redundancy. e. Establishandmaintainastyleappropriatetothepurposeandaudience. f. Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the information or explanation presented.
  • English Language Arts.Grade 8.SL.1

    Listen actively and adjust the use of spoken language (e.g., conventions, style, vocabulary) to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences and for different purposes.

    • Discussion and Collaboration.8.SL.2.1: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (e.g., one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) on grade- appropriate topics, texts, and issues, building on others ideas and expressing personal ideas clearly.
    • Discussion and Collaboration.8.SL.2.2: Examine, analyze, and reflect on ideas under discussion by identifying specific evidence from materials under study and other resources.
  • English Language Arts.Grade 8.ML.1

    Critically analyze information found in electronic, print, and mass media used to inform, persuade, entertain, and transmit culture.

    • Media Literacy.8.ML.2.1: Identify and analyze persuasive and propaganda techniques used in visual and verbal messages by electronic, print and mass media, and identify false or misleading information.
  • English Language Arts.Grade 9-10.RN.1

    Read a variety of nonfiction within a range of complexity appropriate for grades 9-10. By the end of grade 9, students interact with texts proficiently and independently at the low end of the range and with scaffolding as needed for texts at the high end of the range. By the end of grade 10, students interact with texts proficiently and independently.

    • Key Ideas and Textual Support.9-10.RN.2.1: Analyze what a text says explicitly as well as inferences and interpretations drawn from the text by citing strong and thorough textual evidence.
  • English Language Arts.Grade 9-10.W.1

    Write routinely over a variety of time frames for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences; apply reading standards to support analysis, reflection, and research by drawing evidence from literature and nonfiction texts.

    • Writing Genres: Argumentative, Informative and Narrative.9-10.W.3.2: Write informative compositions on a variety of topics that a. Introduce a topic; organize complex ideas, concepts, and information to make important connections and distinctions b. Developthetopicutilizingcrediblesourceswithrelevant,andsufficientfacts,extendeddefinitions,concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples appropriate to the audiences knowledge of the topic. c. Use appropriate transitions to link the major sections of the text, create cohesion, and clarify the relationships among complex ideas and concepts. d. Choose language and content-specific vocabulary that express ideas precisely and concisely to manage the complexity of the topic, recognizing and eliminating wordiness and redundancy. e. Establishandmaintainastyleappropriatetothepurposeandaudience. f. Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the information or explanation presented (e.g., articulating implications or the significance of the topic).
    • Writing Genres: Argumentative, Informative, and Narrative.9-10.W.3.1: Write arguments in a variety of forms that: a. Introduceclaim(s),distinguishtheclaim(s)fromalternateoropposingclaims,andcreateanorganizationthat establishes clear relationships among claim(s), counterclaims, reasons, and evidence. b. Use rhetorical strategies to enhance the effectiveness of the claim c. Develop claim(s) and counterclaims fairly, supplying evidence for each while pointing out the strengths and limitations of both in a manner that anticipates the audiences knowledge level and concerns. d. Use effective transitions to link the major sections of the text, create cohesion, and clarify the relationships between claim(s) and reasons, between reasons and evidence, and between claim(s) and counterclaims. e. Establishandmaintainaconsistentstyleandtoneappropriatetopurposeandaudience. f. Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument presented.
  • English Language Arts.Grade 9-10.SL.1

    Listen actively and adjust the use of spoken language (e.g., conventions, style, vocabulary) to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences and for different purposes.

    • Comprehension.9-10.SL.3.1: Analyze multiple sources of information presented in diverse media and formats while evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source.
    • Discussion and Collaboration.9-10.SL.2.1: Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions on grade-appropriate topics, texts, and issues, building on others ideas and expressing personal ideas clearly and persuasively.
  • English Language Arts.Grade 11-12.RN.1

    Read a variety of nonfiction within a range of complexity appropriate for grades11-CCR. By the end of grade 11, students interact with texts proficiently and independently at the low end of the range and with scaffolding as needed for texts at the high end of the range. By the end of grade 12, students interact with texts proficiently and independently.

    • Key Ideas and Textual Support.11-12.RN.2.1: Analyze what a text says explicitly as well as inferences and interpretations drawn from the text by citing strong and thorough textual evidence to support and explain how the evidence develops the analysis.
  • English Language Arts.Grade 11-12.W.1

    Write routinely over a variety of time frames for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences; apply reading standards to support analysis, reflection, and research by drawing evidence from literature and nonfiction texts.

    • Writing Genres: Argumentative, Informative, and Narrative.11-12.W.3.1: Write arguments in a variety of forms that a. Introduce precise claim(s), establish the significance of the claim(s), distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims, and create an organization that logically sequences claim(s), counterclaims, reasons, and evidence. b. Use rhetorical strategies to enhance the effectiveness of the claim c. Develop claim(s) and counterclaims fairly and thoroughly, supplying the most relevant evidence for each while pointing out the strengths and limitations of both in a manner that anticipates the audiences knowledge level, concerns, values, and possible biases. d. Use effective and varied transitions as well as varied syntax to link the major sections of the text, create cohesion, and clarify the relationships between claim(s) and reasons, between reasons and evidence, and between claim(s) and counterclaims. e. Establishandmaintainaconsistentstyleandtoneappropriatetopurposeandaudience. f. Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument presented.
    • Writing Genres: Argumentative, Informative, and Narrative.11-12.W.3.2: Write informative compositions on a variety of topics that a. Introduce a topic; organize complex ideas, concepts, and information so that each new element builds on that which precedes it to create a unified whole;include formatting(e.g., headings), graphics (e.g.,figures,tables),and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension. b. Utilizing credible sources, develop the topic thoroughly by selecting the most significant and relevant facts, extended definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples appropriate to the audiences knowledge of the topic c. Use appropriate and varied transitions and syntax to link the major sections of the text,create cohesion, and clarify the relationships among complex ideas and concepts. d. Choose language, content- specific vocabulary, and techniques to manage the complexity of the topic, recognizing and eliminating wordiness and redundancy. e. Establishandmaintainastyleappropriatetothepurposeandaudience. f. Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the information or explanation presented (e.g., articulating implications or the significance of the topic).
  • English Language Arts.Grade 11-12.SL.1

    Listen actively and adjust the use of spoken language (e.g., conventions, style, vocabulary) to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences and for different purposes.

    • Comprehension.11-12.SL.3.1: Synthesize multiple sources of information presented in diverse media and formats in order to make informed decisions and solve problems, evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source and accounting for any discrepancies among the data.
    • Discussion and Collaboration.11-12.SL.2.1: Initiate and engage in a range of collaborative discussions on grade-appropriate topics, texts, and issues, building on others ideas and expressing personal ideas clearly and persuasively.