Growing Magic Beanstalks In The Classroom

Spring is just around the corner, and with it comes the perfect opportunity for lower elementary teachers to engage their young students in a fun and educational activity: growing beans! One way to make this activity more exciting and relatable for children is to tie it in with the classic fairy tale, “Jack and the Beanstalk.”

Why Grow Beans?

First of all, growing beans is a fantastic way to teach children about the natural world and how plants grow. Beans are relatively easy to grow, and they germinate quickly, which means that children will be able to see the results of their efforts within a few days. This can be a great way to build excitement and engagement around the project.

In addition to being a fun and hands-on way to learn about plant growth, growing beans can also teach children about responsibility and the importance of taking care of living things. Children learn about the needs of plants, such as water, sunlight, and nutrients, and how to provide for those needs in order to help their plants grow and thrive.

Using “Jack and the Beanstalk” to Teach about Beans

One way to make the experience of growing beans even more exciting for young children is to tie it in with the classic fairy tale, “Jack and the Beanstalk.” This story sparks the imagination and curiosity of children, and helps them see the real-world connections to the story.

As you introduce the activity, read the story of “Jack and the Beanstalk” to your students, and discuss the role that beans play in the story. Then show the children the beans that they will be planting, and explain how these little seeds will grow into beanstalks, just like the one in the story.

Throughout the process of growing the beans, continue to reference the story and help the children make connections between what they are doing and what happens in the story. Talk about how the beans need to be planted in good soil, just like in the story, and how they will grow up towards the sun, just like the beanstalk.

CLICK HERE to find the magic bean diary!