Instructions
Read the information below about maple syrup and the process of sap flow through a tree. Then, answer the questions that follow.
Maple syrup is made from the sap of sugar maple trees. During the late winter and early spring, when temperatures rise above freezing during the day and drop below freezing at night, the sap flows up from the roots to the branches. This flow occurs because the tree is preparing for new growth. Tapping the tree allows us to collect this sap, which is then boiled down to create delicious maple syrup.
Questions
1. What season is the best for collecting sap from maple trees, and why?
2. Describe the process that occurs in the tree when it is preparing for new growth.
3. What are the temperature conditions that promote sap flow in maple trees?
4. Explain the difference between sap and syrup.
5. Why is it important to allow temperatures to fluctuate between above and below freezing for sap collection?