Entry 7: Maple Syrup- Better than Money

Maple Syrup-Better than Money

Somerset, PA is the third largest maple syrup producer in the United States.  Maple syrup has been a big part of the Somerset economy for a very long time.  Many large family farms collect the maple sugar water (or xylem sap) that is produced by a variety of maple trees and process it into delicious maple sugar products.  Maple syrup, maple sugar, maple candy, and maple cream are just a few items that can be made from the sweet, sticky sap that comes from maple trees.  For generations, families in Somerset, PA have used maple syrup and other maple products to create a cash income.  It requires forty gallons of sugar water to make just ten gallons of maple syrup.  It can take 10 to 12 hours to boil down a batch of syrup. It took a lot of work, but for their effort and time, they could create a very valuable product.  Even when money was limited and times were tough, the sweet treats were popular and could be bartered for things that families needed.  Photographs from Somerset, PA will be used to help students visualize the setting. (Content)

Students will watch as the teacher heats maple syrup to the appropriate temperature.  The syrup will then be drizzled into small cups of cool water to create “spatza” ( a taffy like maple syrup product).  As students begin tasting the spatza, the teacher will start stirring the remaining syrup in a bowl until it begins to cool.  When the syrup is cool enough, students will begin taking turns stirring the syrup.  The stirring process will continue until the syrup reaches a granular sugar consistency.  At this time students will be able to sample maple sugar.  (Creative Activity)

During the heating and stirring process, which takes some time, we will discuss the process of making the syrup.  How long does it take to make a batch of maple syrup?  Can anyone tell me how much sugar water or xylem sap it takes to make ten gallons of syrup? (DOK1) 

After students sample the maple products the discussion will continue.  Why do you think the syrup had/has such value? (DOK2) The economy of Somerset is greatly involved in maple sugaring.  What do you think might happen if they suddenly lost the ability to make maple syrup products? (DOK3) How do you think it would affect the local economy if Somerset were to become the number one producer of maple syrup in the United States?  (DOK4)

(Standard, 6.2.2.A, 6.2.2.D,6.2.2.E, 6.2.2.G, 6.3.2.A, 6.4.2.A, 6.5.2.A)

Domain: 1a, 1b, 2a,2b, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3e