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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