1. From Sap to Syrup

2. Day 1
Students sample syrup
Fill in the 5 senses worksheet

3. Student recording
On Seesaw or iPad video, students will record their thoughts about their maple syrup sample.
Describe it; how does it look, taste, smell, feel, taste
Share this recording with a buddy.

4. Class chart Describe maple syrup How do we use syrup?
What do we know about syrup?

5. Background
Maple trees are a natural resource that are found almost anywhere, but are most common in the northern hemisphere. They are hardy, but prefer and are found mostly in cooler, wetter climates. There are at least a hundred species of maple trees, and fourteen of these are found in the United States with the majority of them found in Northeast and Midwest sections of our country.
In Minnesota, the four types of maple that grow and are used for making maple syrup are the sugar maple, red maple, silver maple, and the boxelder.

6. Day 2

7. After Reading How was maple syrup and sugar made?
What was needed to make the syrup and sugar?

8. Minnesota’s Climate What is the weather like throughout the year?
What are the four seasons?
What is the weather, temperature, and precipitation during each of the seasons?

9. Sap Collection
Weather is an important factor for a successful maple syrup harvest. The best weather for its production is when the temperature reaches 40 degrees during the daytime and 20 degrees the nighttime hours. This thawing and freezing cycle created the pressure changes inside the tree that make the sap flow. This creates a transfer of sap from the tree above the ground and the root system below the ground where the sugar has been stored over the winter. If too cold, the sap will take longer to run, and if very cold, the sap may not run at all.

10. Sap Collection
Would our climate allow for the making of maple syrup based on Pa’s explanation in Sugar Snow? What are some of the reasons for this?
What other areas or states might you live where you could make maple syrup? Explain.

11. Soil Samples Feel and Observe the different soil samples.
Predict which soil would be best for growing maples trees.
Write your name on a post-it and place it next to the sample you think would be best.
Wash your hands.

12. Soil
Maple trees grow best in soil that is sandy or clayey with loose texture and well-drained.
Why do you think the sandy or clayey soil would be best for maple trees?
How is this soil different from the soil in your yard or garden?

13. Sugar maple leaf Red maple leaf Silver maple leaf Boxelder
Types of Maple Trees
Day 3
Sugar maple leaf
Red maple leaf
Silver maple leaf
Boxelder
Maple Tree Patterns

14. Create a tree ring

15. Watch video of the steps in making maple syrup
Day 4
Watch video of the steps in making maple syrup

16. Create a diagram explaining the steps of making maple syrup

17. 4 main steps in making maple syrup
Tap a maple tree
Collect sap
Evaporate water from sap using heat
Bottle syrup