Maple Syrup Time Activities

Here are some activity ideas for you and your students to help you celebrate maple syrup time.

• Go visit a sugarbush operation. Many nature centers offer programs to schools and the general public.

• Learn how to identify the leaf of the sugar maple tree. EEK! can help you out. Once you've looked at a maple leaf, figure out how a dichotomous tree key works.

• Review the names and functions of the main parts of the maple tree: roots, trunk, branches, crown. Learn the names and functions of a cross-section of a tree trunk: outer bark, inner bark, cambium, "sap wood" and "heart wood."

• Working in groups, produce a large mural of a maple syrup operation. Each group may illustrate a phase of the process. Add captions to accompany the illustrations. Identify the many jobs involved.

• Make a shoe box model or a diorama of a sugarhouse or sugaring scene.

• Find out the uses of maple wood (furnishings, bowling alley floors, and gifts). Have students bring in any items they have at home which they believe are made of maple. Make a display.

• Try some maple recipes:

  Maple Milkshake
  1 cup milk
  3 tsp maple syrup
  small scoop of ice cream
  
  Place all ingredients in blender and blend until well mixed, or shake all ingredients well and serve. Serves one.

  No-Bake Maple Cookies
  2 cups maple sugar
  1/2 cup milk
  1/2 cup shortening
  1/2 tsp. Salt
  1 tsp vanilla
  3 cups quick oats
  6 tblsp. peanut butter
  
  Bring the maple sugar, milk, shortening, salt and vanilla to full rolling boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in oats and peanut butter. Drop on waxed paper by spoonfuls. Let set about 1 hour or until firm.