Learning activities/Growing Beans
Contents
Notes from Nigeria 5/07
All the children in Primary 4, 5, and 6 were given materials to grow three beans. The idea is to keep a detailed journal of growing methods. Some carry the beans to the school on a daily basis. I saw one girl nursing her beans in her dress pocket..
I took the beans and the cups and asked them if they knew what they were for. Since they knew I was going to give [the beans] to them, they paid attention. Some knew that we were going to try to grow them... that they would have to keep a journal of their growing beans... so we can analyze the ones that in a week have survived and those that haven’t. And [the teacher] asked if they had understood and asked questions. Then he repeated the directions and asked for confirmation after every sentence. And the class was over... --Carla Gomez Monroy, Learning Consultant, OLPC
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Activity: Growing Beans
Commentary: Growing Beans
Comments, feedback, links to other classes using this activity.
The Waiting Game - Timelapse of Growing Beans
Once the beans sprout, they get planted and begin to grow. But how fast do they grow? Do plants move on their own and, if so, how ? Let's find out!
But wait! Why not formulate a hypothesis first? Write a description of how you think a bean sprout moves during one day.
On a sunny day, set the sprouts on a sunny window sill or table, and use Record or Pippy to make a timelapse of the sprouts. The children should work out among themselves whose XOs will be used for the timelapse, and then share the movie afterwards. Two XOs "filming" at right angles to each other (or at least not co-linear) shows the side-to-side movement best (for older students, this could make a great trigonometry lesson about sines, cosines and the sun).
Afterwards, write a description of the movie, and compare it to the original hypothesis. Another "integration and creation" activity for the next day could include drawing "flip-book" comics of a growing bean.
