Students discover the origins of maple syrup through the story telling traditions of Native Americans, the innovations that pioneers brought to the syruping process, and the science of sugar and plant biology. They then head outdoors for a hands-on lesson on maple tree identification, tapping, and sap collection. Back at the sugar shack, students see and smell the sap being cooked into delicious maple syrup. Everyone finishes the program with a sweet celebration of ice cream with pure maple syrup on top – YUM!

STANDARDS
SCI.LS1.A.4 Plants have internal and external macroscopic structures that allow for survival
SCI.LS1.C.5 Plants obtain energy from sunlight
SCI.LS1.C.k Plants need water and light
SCI.LS1.C.m Plants use the energy from light to make sugars through photosynthesis
SCI.LS2.A.2 Plants depend on water and light to grow
ELS.C1.B.e Identify where one's food comes from
ELS.EX2.C.e Identify ways in which people are dependent on natural resources
ELS.EX5.C.e Compare historical and contemporary natural resource use and practices
ELS.EX5.B.i. Describe how living things respond to changes in natural systems
ELS.C1.C.e Explore outdoors
SCI.PS3.D.4,5 Plants capture energy from sunlight, which can be used as fuel or food
SS.BH3.a.2 Compare a belief in one culture to one in a different culture (First People and Nations; Early European
Explorers & Arrivals)
BH4.a Progression of technology (First People and Nations; Early European Explorers & Arrivals)