State-by-State: Vermont

" Capital comes with the letter C.

Here laws are made to keep us free.
On the banks of two rivers, sitting pretty,
Montpelier is our capital city."

  ~ M is for Maple Syrup: A Vermont Alphabet

Once again, we started off the week by reading our Discover America Series book!  This week we read M is for Maple Syrup: A Vermont Alphabet.  The girls and I love the rhyming, sing-a-long style of the books to learn interesting facts about the states.  The girls then completed their scrapbook page and mini lapbook.

"I introduces Ice cream,

America's favorite treat.

Ben & Jerry's makes dreamy, creamy ice cream 

with sweets we love to eat."

~ M is for Maple Syrup: A Vermont Alphabet

I surprised the girls today with a special little treat from a Vermont Ice Cream maker!!!

"M is for Maple Syrup,

a yummy treat that farmers stir up.

In winter, they tap the sugar maple tree,
for sap to make maple syrup for you and me!"

  ~ M is for Maple Syrup: A Vermont Alphabet

We learned that it takes between 20-40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup.  During syrup season, a mouth watering aroma fills the sugarhouses, and the large water evaporators that boil away the sap's water run constantly.  

We decided to make pancakes topped with apples, Vermont's state fruit, and a special jar of Vermont Maple Syrup.  The syrup was so yummy and definitely a treat!