Learning activities/Growing Beans

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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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 or partly cloudy day, set the sprouts on window sill or table that receives some direct sunlight. Use Record or Pippy to make a timelapse of the sprouts. 1, 5, and 10 minute intervals are all good options. A total film time of 3-4 hours shows substantial movement in sunflowers. 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 apparent sun motion.

To share power consumption, use each XO for an hour or less. Before starting, make a chalk, pencil, or tape outline at the corners of the first XOs so the next ones can be positioned. The children work out among themselves which XOs to use for the timelapse. When filming is finished, the movie is "spliced" together from the parts and shared.

Afterwards, write a description of the movie and compare it to the original hypothesis description. Another "integration and creation" activity for the next day could include drawing "flip-book" comics of a growing bean.