MONTICELLO – First-grade students at the George L. Cooke Elementary School got a sweet lesson on how maple syrup is made. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell of T. Mitchell and Sons Maple Sugaring showed the students how they tap trees, the sugaring process, how the different colors of syrup impact its taste and how real maple syrup is much different than what most people buy at the supermarket.

After learning all about it, the students enjoyed a breakfast of pancakes and real maple syrup from the Mitchell’s farm, and got to take home a piece of maple syrup candy.

With the school’s emphasis on outdoor learning, this was a great way to show the many ways that our Earth provides food for us — and even some yummy treats, too!