The Sweet Adventure of Maple Syrup!

Introduction: What's That Sweet Stuff? (5-10 minutes)

Hello, super explorer! Have you ever had something yummy and sweet on your pancakes or waffles? (Allow student to respond). Many times, that sweet treat is MAPLE SYRUP! But where does it come from? Does it grow on a pancake tree? (Pause for giggles and responses). Today, we're going on an adventure to find out!

Activity 1: Story Time & Discovery (15-20 minutes)

Let's read a story about how maple syrup is made! (Read the chosen book or watch a short, age-appropriate video about maple syrup production).

As we read/watch, let's look for clues:

• What kind of tree does syrup come from? (Maple tree!)
• What is the watery stuff that comes out of the tree? (Sap!)
• What do people do to the sap to make it thick and sweet like syrup? (They boil it!)

Discussion points:

• Show pictures of maple leaves. Can you see how they have special points?
• Talk about how sap looks like water but has a tiny bit of sugar in it from the tree.
• Explain that it takes a LOT of sap to make a little bit of syrup because most of the water boils away as steam.

Activity 2: The Sweet Taste Test! (10 minutes)

Are you ready for the best part? We're going to taste some real maple syrup! Grown-ups, please help pour a tiny bit of maple syrup into a small cup or onto a spoon for our explorer.

(Provide the student with a small amount of maple syrup and a piece of pancake/waffle/cracker).

What does it smell like? What does it taste like? Is it sweet? Is it runny or thick? What foods do YOU like to eat with maple syrup? (Pancakes, waffles, oatmeal, French toast, even ice cream!)

Remember, this yummy syrup started as sap in a tall maple tree!

Activity 3: Make Your Own Maple Tree! (15-20 minutes)

Let's make a craft to remember our maple syrup adventure!

You will need: Brown construction paper, green (or red/orange/yellow for autumn) construction paper, scissors, glue, crayons/markers.

Instructions:

1. Take the brown paper. This will be your tree trunk! You can draw some bark lines on it with a crayon.
2. Take the green paper (or other colors if you want an autumn maple tree). Draw some maple leaf shapes. Remember those pointy leaves we saw? If you have a real maple leaf, you can try to trace it! Or, an adult can help you draw some.
3. Carefully cut out your leaves.
4. Glue your leaves onto the top of your brown tree trunk. Now you have a beautiful maple tree!
5. You can even draw a little bucket on your tree to show where sap might be collected.

While you're crafting, let's talk about what we learned!

Wrap-up: Syrup Superstars! (5 minutes)

Wow, what an amazing adventure!

• Can you tell me where maple syrup comes from? (A maple tree!)
• What is the watery stuff from the tree called? (Sap!)
• What do we do to sap to make syrup? (Boil it!)
• What's your favorite food to eat with maple syrup?

You're now a maple syrup expert! Great job today!

Optional Extension: If it's the right time of year (late winter/early spring) and you live in an area with maple trees, see if you can find a real maple tree on a walk. Look for its special leaves (if it's not winter) or its bark. Talk about how the sap flows when the days get warmer but nights are still cold.