Garden Lessons: Do beans need water to grow? (1st grade)
Grades: 1st
Lesson Objective(s): Plants need water to live
Ohio Curriculum Standard: Living things have basic needs.
Supplies Needed
“Plants Need Water” book or “One Bean” Book
wooden Popsicle sticks
Markers (to label plant & for decorating pots)
double compartment seedling starters (1 per student)
Jars/close-able containers of seeding soil
small spoons
Bean seeds
Bean Salad Snack with mini-serving containers
hand sanitizer
Several spray bottles with fresh water
2 fold out tables (if in garden)
Harmonica
Introduction (5 mins)
Welcome everyone to garden: introduce self & grown ups
Ask about how their radish plants are doing from the “Do Radishes Need Sunlight?” lesson
Read: “One Bean”
Show class a bean seed
Activity (20 mins)
Just like in our book, we’re going to plant some bean seeds
Every table (gets container of seeding soil, & one double-compartment seeding container per student, Popsicle sticks and markers (if in garden)
Every student write their name on their personal container
show how to plant first: gently use a small spoon to scoop some soil into your containers. Take your bean, poke a hole in the soil with your finger, place the bean in the hole, and gently cover it up (but don’t press down!). When you’re finished planting your bean, you can decorate your container- be careful not to spill any dirt, though!
Explain: one of these seeds, we’re going to water, and one of them we aren’t. Label one stick “no water” and one stick “water.” Place each one in a compartment
Take turns at each table helping students water with spray bottle. Show how to use a flat hand to protect the “no water” seeds from getting any water!
Wrap up (5 mins)
Gather up & Check off on the “sun, space, air, water” chart with everyone:
Make a prediction: What do we think will happen to our “no water” beans? What about our “water” beans?
Everybody wash hands/hand sanitize
Bean Salad Snack