Jack and the Beanstalk: Plants 5-7
The story of Jack and the Beanstalk makes a great starting point for teaching the topic of plants to younger primary aged children. In particular it would help children to notice and describe how seeds and bulbs grow into mature plants. It would also help them to explore what plants need to grow and stay healthy. This would give a great context for working scientifically by observing over time and by trying out different growing conditions for growing your plants.
BBC Bite Size Time lapse of runner bean plant growing
This short time lapse clip shows runner bean seedlings emerging from the ground, climbing up bean poles, flowering and, eventually, producing beans. Children who are waiting for their own beans to grow might like to watch these beans growing, apparantly at the speed that Jack's beanstalk gew! They could create their own photographic record of their beans, to show the change over time as the plant grows.
If you are growing runner beans with your class how about growing several varieties? Children can explore the seeds which come in a range of colours and patterns. Then they can work scientifically by observing how the beans change over time and by comparing how the different varieties grow.
Perhaps they could do a seed trial for Jack and let him know what would be the best variety to grow? Which variety grows the tallest? Which one has the most beautiful flowers? Which has the biggest beans? The most beans? The tastiest beans? Perhaps they could write a report for Jack.
Do be aware that the beans might start fruiting in the summer holidays. If they are picked regularly over the holidays they will still be cropping when the children come back in September. Don't forget that beans need to be grown up poles. These can be arranged in a wigwam and can double up as a den for the children.
Grow Sunflowers, Make Plant Pots *suitable for home teaching*
Sunflowers are another crop which grows quickly and soon reaches a dramatic height.
If you are growing runner beans in the school grounds you might choose to send the young sunflower plants home. However, it is not uncommon for the plants to become neglected or forgotten about once they are at home.
One way to maintain interest and to ensure that the plants continue to be looked after is to let families know that this is to be their 'homework' for the rest of the term and expect them to regularly report back with information about the height of their plant and maybe with photographs. This information could be recorded in a graph where everyone can see it and make comparisons between the relative heights of the plants. If there is space, a life size graph is particularly dramatic as the children have to stand on tip toes and, eventually, on a chair to keep it up to date. The value of this is that it helps young children begin to realise how the information on a graph represents real life.
This resource will also support children to understand that crops are not only grown for food.
Do plants need soil to grow?
Would Jack's beanstalk have grown if it had not been thrown out of the window and landed in garden soil? It would be interesting to ask your children this question.
This set of short video clips show that in fact plants can be grown without soil. You might like to try this with your class. However, even if the beans germinate I wonder if they could grow into strong health plants without soil? Your children may enjoy comparing seeds grown in soil or compost with seeds grown without soil or compost.
Marie Curie Pots of Care
In the summer and early autumn this link will enable you to sign your school up for the Marie Curie Pots of Care project.
Each child is given a daffodil bulb a plant pot and some compost. They then plant their bulbs in the autumn term. Once the bulbs start to flower, in early spring, children decorate the pots. The flowers and pots are then sold to families to raise money for Marie Curie cancer care. Schools often combine the plant sale with an open afternoon
Growing bulbs contrasts nicely with the seed sowing and beanstalk growing. Why not grow a hyacinth bulb in a glass vase so children can see how the roots grown down into the water? Be sure to purchase a specially prepared bulb as these will flower in these circumstances.
Having Fun Growing Plants
This resource has more ideas to support children to explore the topic of plants. It gives detailed instructions about how to grow a pelargonium plant (often known as a geranium) from a cutting which is an exciting process for children to become involved in and observe. Again, this contrasts nicely with the experiences of growing a beanstalk from a bean or a flower from a bulb.
Snap science: teaching framework - year 1
This resource gives children opportunites to observe changes over time, to identify different plants and to classify leaves based upon their observable characteristics.
Children observe differences in the leaves of a plant as the seasons change. It encourages them to notice similarities and differences in leaves that they have collected and to use this information to sort them into groups. Children also investigate if all trees lose their leaves in the autumn.
Snap science: teaching framework - year 2
The introduction to this resource gives ideas for growing crops in a primary school by planting a 'square foot garden'. This is a very manageable way to give individual, or pairs of, primary school children the experience of growing and eating food.