Lesson LEAFlet

Teaching/Learning Resources

Subject Area: Science---"Grow a Seed Garden"
Grade Level:  K-3
Curriculum Integration:  Science/Geography

Lesson Objectives:

• Students will celebrate Mother Nature and all her gifts.
• Students will learn about how things grow and how to take care of the earth.

Materials Required:

• dried beans
• glass jar
• construction paper
• scissors
• water
• napkins
• styrofoam or plastic plate

Lesson Outline:

1. Soak the beans in water for a few hours. (use beans from Bursting Beans activity--see Extension Activity)
2. Cut a piece of construction paper as tall as the jar, roll it up and put it inside the jar.
3. Stuff napkins or paper towels in the center of the jar---you want the construction paper to press up against the jar.
4. Put the beans in between the glass and the construction paper.
5. Pour some water in the jar on the napkins.
6. Put the jar in a warm place out of the sun.
7. Wait and see what happens...a seed garden will grow!
8. Open a seed up to see what it looks like inside.

Extension Activities:

"Bursting Beans"

• Fill a clear jar with dried beans.
• Add water to the jar until it reaches the top.
• Cover the jar with the tray.
• Leave the beans to sit in the water for a few hours, then go back and see what happened!
• Your beans will have soaked up all the water and expanded...pushing the tray off of the jar!
• Your seeds become very strong when wet (this is what helps them sprout and grow in the dirt in the garden.)

*Taken from www.kinderart.com
 

Submitted by:

Kelly Pfaff
Kellie Luther
Laine Peterson
Becky DeSalvo
 

For:
Lake Erie Arboretum at Frontier Park

Send plans to:

Dr. Charles Elliott, Director
       Educational Technology
       Gannon University
       109 University Square
       Erie, PA   16541