Menominee Maple Sugar Camp
Synopsis
This lesson explores the Menominee Maple Sugar season and the relationship between the Menominee people and maple trees.
Students will read Indigenous children's literature, compare historic seasonal timelines of the maple harvest with recent weather data, and then go outside to observe, sketch, respectfully tap maple trees, and taste the sap during this 45-minute lesson.
The lesson also includes vocabulary words in the Menominee language.
This lesson will only work during tree-tapping season
Teaching Materials
Preparation:
Use the story map to learn about the full curriculum and build necessary background knowledge for implementing this lesson.
Acquire the book When the Shadbush Blooms by Carla Messinger and Susan Katz and excerpts from Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer that refer to maple trees and making maple syrup.
Find local weather data or use a globally-focused data resource (like this collection of graphs and maps)
Prerequisites:
If using the script provided in the lesson, consider defining the terms resource and capitalism.
Classroom Implementation:
Use this lesson in science units on seasons, weather and climate, and plant life cycles, or social studies units on Indigenous cultures and how people adapt to their environment.
Related Resources:
Use this lesson with older students to further their understanding of the connection between climate change and maple sugaring.
Scientist Reviewed
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