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Check the Claim: Are maple seeds edible?

SKILL: Check the Claim

DIFFICULTY: Simple

SUBJECT(S): General

Students will use a keyword search to confirm that ‘helicopters’ can indeed be an edible wild snack.

Related Lesson

Lesson 3: Check the Claim (sign-in required)

Link to Example

How to eat helicopters (Instagram)

Background

Helicopters, whirligigs, and keys are names used to refer to the winged seeds of maple trees, which are technically called samaras.

Teacher Note: While this example teaches us to check the claim that maple seeds are edible, it does not go into detail on how to identify a maple tree. Take care to explain to students that other trees produce similar-looking seeds and it is best practice to consult multiple sources (such as a field guide) to positively identify a wild plant before eating it since some plants may be dangerous to humans.



About the Example

Note: If you can’t access Instagram at your school, you can access the video clip here, hosted on the CTRL-F YouTube channel

Have you ever spotted those twirling, winged seeds falling from a maple tree? This Instagram reel tells us that “[t]hey’re fun to play with, but they’re also edible.”

Before we run outside to start snacking on handfuls of these little helicopters, we should use a keyword search to check the claim to make sure these seeds are indeed edible. The search “maple seeds edible” brings up an article from the CBC with the headline “Maple trees provide more than just syrup.” The article quotes an expert from the Atlantic Wildlife Institute who confirms that not only the seeds, but the young leaves and parts of the bark are edible as well.



Activities 

  1. Show students the Instagram reel, and ask them to identify the main claim of the video.
  2. Have students check the claim using a keyword search. Since there are several keywords in this video, they may need to try a few search terms to find a recognizable result. The search “Maple seeds edible” should turn up an article from the CBC.
  3. Have students click into the CBC article. Guiding questions:
    • Is the claim true, false, or something else? Explain your reasoning.
    • Did you learn any more details about the story?
    • Even when a claim turns out to be true, why is it important to trade up to a higher quality source of information before sharing or repeating the claim?
    • What could happen if we followed tips from a social media video without checking the claim first?


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