Nothing quite piques the interest of young children more than a sweet, sticky treat like maple syrup. Why not create a lesson plan or home activity that demonstrates the process of maple sugaring to the kids this spring? The educational activity of making syrup can include interesting historical facts about the origins of making maple syrup and the science of taking the sweet tree sap and concentrating it with high heat.
Native American History of Maple Sugaring
Native Americans were the first to discover that the sap from sugar maple trees was edible and sweet. There are many theories and legends. According to the Massachusetts Maple Producers Association, one Iroquois theory is that a tribal chief threw a tomahawk at a tree, out of which dripped the sweet liquid. The liquid was collected and used to cook meat and it was discovered to have a pleasant sweetness.
Still others believe that children of Native Americans would gather and suck the icicles that formed on the branches of sugar maples. These were known as “sapsicles”.
But all agree that it was the Native Americans who first boiled the sap from a sugar maple and created the crystallized maple sugar, which could be stored indefinitely. This knowledge was then transferred to European settlers who perfected the process and brought it to where it is today.
The Science of the Maple Sugaring Process
The incredible method of maple sugaring is an educational science lesson from beginning to end. Maple sugar sap begins to flow in the late winter and early spring when the weather warms up. The heat creates a pressure within the tree wood to release its sap. The concepts of gravity, suction, and properties of matter make for a fascinating lesson for older kids who love science.
Even though it is a complicated process, a maple sugaring lesson can be enjoyed by preschoolers and children in the younger grades also. The method of boiling down the maple sugar sap into a more concentrated syrupy liquid, and further into crystals can be shown by making a simple syrup in the kitchen.
Home or School Maple Sugar Lesson Plan Activity
To demonstrate the boiling process and how a liquid with sugar can be boiled down and made thicker and sweeter, children can be engaged to help create (or watch) simple syrup in the kitchen. To make simple syrup, use two parts brown sugar with one part water. Boil this mixture on the stove carefully until the liquid is reduced and thicker. The resulting syrup will be sweeter than the original water/sugar combination.
During the activity, a few questions one may want to ask to encourage children to brainstorm would be:
- What will the heat do to the liquid?
- What would be left if all the liquid were boiled away?
- Where does the heated liquid go?
- How will the syrup taste?
- What can the syrup be used for?
After cooling the syrup, children can try it out. It can also be saved in the refrigerator to create sauces or drinks.
Maple sugaring occurs in the northeastern United States and Canada. Many maple sugar houses welcome families in the early spring to visit, take a tour, and try out the maple products that are made there. For those who do not live in this region to witness the process first-hand, a discussion of the history and production of maple syrup, as well as a simple syrup activity are great ways to teach the maple sugaring process.
Karen Plumley - Karen Plumley is a writer specializing in parenting and education. She works for Parenting NH and the Hippo, NH's most widely read ...
