sugaring time

Sleep Root Children 'neath North Wind's roar

And rest your weary eyes.

Frost Children at the dawn will play

And then you must arise.

-from "Sugaring Time", Enki Education Kindergarten Nature Story

We're starting our new block next week, and in preparation we worked with the Enki Kindergarten Nature Story "Sugaring Time" this weekend. Maple Sugaring is our primary science/nature theme for this next block, so we started with story and artistic digestion. We'll be starting our new Maple Sugaring Adventure Circle next week. I've got a Sugaring program lined up with the wonderful educators at our favorite nature center/park in a couple of weeks, and we're planning on attending a local Maple Festival mid-month, including a talk on sugaring in our own backyards. We'll also be visiting the neighbor who taps our trees to watch him make syrup from our very own sap. (This first photo is J's story drawing done this afternoon.)

Zoo Boy's drawing.

We had considered tapping our own trees this year (our neighbor taps the trees on our back 12 acres -- we would tap the trees in our yard), but decided that working more thoroughly with the maple process this year will yield a better understanding for the boys when we do set out to make our own syrup and sugar next year. That will give us the year to gather the equipment we need (you can't just boil sap on your stove -- too much steam is produced, it needs to be done outdoors or at least with proper ventilation).

I just love this picture of "the guys" last night as they listened to the "Sugaring Time" story by the fireside.







A special treat -- The Map Man joined us for our story drawings today! By the way, the little "people" at the base of the tree are the Root Children, sleeping/resting up in preparation for their job of hauling the sweet water up Old Maple's trunk all day when the temperatures get above 40 degrees. The little "people" in the branches are the Frost Children, clinging tight to Old Maple while North Wind howls all night long. In the morning, the Frost Children dance away to play in the woods while the Root Children are hard at work hauling the sweet water and pouring it through the taps.

My drawing, just 'cuz.