We have two field trips coming up in March. The first trip is to the History Center on Wednesday, March 6. The second trip is to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum for their Maple Syrup Time program on Tuesday, March 19.
Our trip to the History Center includes an hour long class called, "They Chose Minnesota." It focuses on why different groups immigrated to Minnesota and how they traveled, packed, and got settled. We are also scheduled for a time at Grainland, one of the fourth graders favorite activities at the museum! Much of the rest of the time will be used to explore the museum. I'm especially excited about the exhibits that they will have when we visit. Then, Now, Wow is an exhibit designed for school-aged children about Minnesota History. Minnesota's Greatest Generation, Open House: If These Walls Could Talk, Weather Permitting, Grainland, and the US-Dakota War of 1812 are ongoing exhibits. I am especially excited because a special new exhibit, Minnesota and the Civil War, will have opened about a week before our trip. I attended the educator's preview and it looks like an interesting exhibit for those interested in that part of our country's history.
When we go to the arboretum we will split our time between three different sections. In one section we learn about the history of maple syrup and maple sugar, the tools that have been used throughout history, and how to identify a maple tree when there are no leaves on the trees. Another section shows us how they actually turn the sap into syrup and sugar. (There is a taste test!) The third section takes us into the woods to find a tree and tap it. It's a lot of fun!
