Exploring Maple Sugaring and Colonial Cookie Making: An Interdisciplinary and Multi-Grade Learning Experience

At CET the District’s Vision Map comes to life through hands-on, interdisciplinary learning and creative, multi-grade experiences on Tiger Day. Recently, students engaged in two exciting activities that blended science, history, literacy, and math while fostering collaboration between different grade levels.

Maple Sugaring in the CET Woods

Second graders and their parents took part in an on-campus field trip to explore the process of maple sugaring guided by Mrs. McManus. The experience began in the library, where students learned about tapping trees, boiling sap, and the different grades of syrup. They even tasted sap collected from CET’s own sugar maple trees!

Outside, students used the Plant Net app to identify sugar maple trees based on their bark. Each class found a healthy tree to tap and hung a sap collection bag labeled with their name, allowing them to track how much sap their tree produces over time. This activity integrated multiple subjects:

• Science – Tree identification and understanding the sugaring process
• Technology – Using the Plant Net app for tree recognition
• Math – Measuring and comparing sap collection

Second grader teacher Eileen Deacy shared, “Tiger Day was a golden opportunity for our 2nd graders to explore the outdoors with their teacher, parents, and the maple savvy Mrs. McManus!”

If Willy Wonka (2nd Grade) Lived in Colonial Times (4th Grade)!

Second and fourth graders came together for another interdisciplinary learning experience. In this activity, students explored both the whimsical world of Willy Wonka and the practical realities of colonial-era baking.

The “Shacobis” buddy class (Jenna Jacobi’s 2nd grade class and Jill Shapiro’s 4th grade class) baked molasses cookies and conducted a candy float-or-sink experiment.   In the afternoon, they decorated cookies in true Willy Wonka style before enjoying their sweet creations!

This project was made possible by collaboration from parents, including Danielle Aquilino, a Jacobi parent and former pastry chef, who helped perfect a large-group-friendly recipe. Parents also donated ingredients, assisted with stations, baked, and helped clean up.

This activity combined:

• Science – Experimenting to test whether candies would float or sink
• Math – Measuring ingredients for baking
• History – Comparing modern candy-making to colonial-era baking

By blending subjects and grade levels, these experiences brought learning to life in an engaging and meaningful way. Students not only deepened their academic knowledge but also developed teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving skills. The District’s Vision Map seeks to redefine “What School Can Be” by breaking down the barriers that have always been part of traditional schooling. This includes creating learning opportunities that reflect the idea that we don’t learn just one subject at a time, but instead, through making connections between different disciplines.  At CET, interdisciplinary and multi-grade learning creates lasting connections and memorable educational experiences!