Need some advice/input for 3rd grade presentation.

[SDdave]

A local school asked me again (did it last year) to talk to the 3rd graders on how to make maple syrup. They are reading the Laura Ingalls Wilder books as part of their curriculum. I did this last year, and I think I kept everyones attention but not sure. For visual aids I bring in some taps, my brace and bit, a bucket, and some "sap" (tap water), and some maple syrup. Unfortuntealy, I cannot pass out samples for them to taste due to food allergies/school insurance policy's.

I give a brief history of mapleing, and get the kids involved with ratio's...(they don't know ratios yet, but getting 40 kids to stand up and tell them it takes that much sap to make one gallon of syrup is pretty easy to do). I am going to ask the teacher if they have the internet and a big screen to maybe show a video on it. Does anyone know a good short vid for this? Or any good ideas to capture and stir some youngster's minds?

SDdave

[maple flats]

Wow, South Dakota, it surprised me. I did not know you had the maples to tap.
Anyhow, I find presentations fun. One grade level at a time is easiest because you can speak on their level. I have given school presentations several times, but always with 3 grades at the same time, either 1-3 or 4-6. Basically you just need to start with the time you are scheduled to have. From there just come up with some ideas, basics especially for 3rd graders. Even though I have likely given 12-15 presentations none are the same. Do not try to rehearse a speech, it will likely be boring. Rather just talk from some basic notes. You will find it much easier. Have more items to cover than you expect to be able to cover. If your presentations goes like mine have you start to run out of time and start covering things a little faster towards the end. The kids never know you were rushed. I'm sure glad I could always hand out samples because that was always the highlight, but I do understand their issue with that. I did get feedback from one in all the years who had a slight allergic reaction. He still signed up for the presentation in subsequent years but did not have a sample. The father told me the kid truly loved the taste but it did not love him back.
As far as what to cover, I have done it all talking some years and showed a short video others. I cover everything from identifying the right trees, to when to tap, to tubing and other means of collection. Then I cover the boiling, filtering, bottling and then the samples. My presentations have been from 25 to 55 minutes long. I always told them to ask questions as the presentation went. I never got to cover everything but they did not know that. Over the years I had many who signed up to attend the presentation (the school where I did them had 8-10 presentations going on round robin style. The kids signed up for their preferences and each presenter said what the maximum number per was. I always had no max and I gave presentations to groups ranging from about 16-18 up to about 30 or maybe even 35. The only real difference was that I enlisted a teacher to pour samples when the group was larger. If you can't do samples that will not be an issue.)
Don't try to go into exact detail but just tickle their interest. Then you might do as I do and tell them to stop by your sugarhouse with their parents when the next maple season is on. Explain how to know when that is by the temperature outside.
Whatever you do just be sure to make it fun. Don't be nervous speaking to a group, if you enjoy making maple you will enjoy talking about it. This WILL go well, believe me.
I often see the kids in other places, and they come up to me with their parents and say hello, "I was at your maple presentation" or to that affect....

[SDdave]

Thanks for the advice Maple Flats. It is greatly appreciated!!

SDdave

[backyard sugaring]

This will not help you this year I made my own video, from tapping process to boiling to bottling. I bring along the book called "SugarBush Spring" and read it to the children. I have been going to schools for several years. Enjoy, beware once you do it once you will be doing it for years to come. Good Luck. Lee

[SDdave]

Lee that is really good advice, never thought about making my own video. I had my "little" presentation this morning. I gave them a small run through of how to do it. I think I gave a 15 min. presentation. The last 45 minutes were Q & A. It's amazing how many questions they can think of, from "how do you tell if the maple tree is posionous? to what does the sap do for the tree?" Little impressionable minds truly working.

After this presentation I have to say to all of the teachers out there...Keep up the good work!

SDdave

[backyard sugaring]

Sdave,If you get a good day when the sap is really flowing and video it dripping into a bucket. Then I explain to them for every forty drops of sap you get one drop of syrup. Years ago a teacher gave me a copy of "Sugarbush Springs" and I had my daughter read it to the class. The painting in the book are incredible. I liked the book so much I bought one for the school library. I always leave a bottle with the teacher and they invite me back in the year for pancakes. It was my son who came home from school one day and asked if we could tap a few maple trees in our yard. So this is how we got started in this hobby obsession. Good Luck. Lee