Early Science  /  Plants  /  Math  /  Activity

Bean Growth Sequence Cards

 

Plants
Hands-On

Children arrange Bean Growth Sequence Cards in the correct order to show how a bean grows from seed to mature plant.

Two students look at cards illustrating the stages of growth from a bean to a plant. Two students sort cards showing different stages of a plant's growth into the correct order.

Put the picture cards in order. Start with the bean seed.

What comes next?

 

Materials


 
Materials PDF
  • Bean Growth Sequence Cards (PDF)
  • One Bean by Anne Rockwell
  • Optional: Magnetic board or flannel board
  • Optional: Magnetic tape, Velcro, or felt to glue to the back of the Bean Growth Sequence Cards
  • Optional: Cardstock (if Bean Growth Sequence Cards have not yet been printed)

Preparation

  1. If the Bean Growth Sequence Cards were not created for the One Bean activity, create them now by printing out a copy of the cards on cardstock, if available, and cutting them into six cards. Laminate if possible.
  2. If you have a magnetic board or flannel board, consider placing a strip of magnetic tape, Velcro, or flannel on the back of the cards so that they can be used as magnetic board or flannel board pictures.
 

Directions: Lessons 5, 6, 7, 11


Learning Center
  1. Have children arrange the sequence pictures of the bean plant in order, from little seed to fully grown plant with bean pods hanging from its branches.
  2. Encourage children to describe the pictures as they put them in sequence. Possible discussion ideas:
    • How many leaves do you see on this little plant? Let’s count them. How about this one? Which one has more? Which one has less?
    • Which plant is smaller? Which one comes first? How do you know?
    • What are the little bumps on the stem of this bean plant? (buds) What do you think is going to happen next? What will those buds become?
    • What do you think is inside the bean pods? If we opened up a bean pod, what would we see inside? (seeds) What could we do with those bean seeds?
    • Invite children to look through the book One Bean and make comparisons to the bean’s growth in the book and the stages of growth represented on the Bean Growth Sequence Cards.

Length of Play

5–15 min.

Group Size
In the Schedule

 
Vocabulary

  • bean
  • bean pods
  • buds
  • flowers
  • grow
  • leaves
  • less
  • more
  • plant parts
  • roots
  • seed
  • stem
 
Learning Goals

Science
  • Observe and describe plant parts and their functions.
Math
  • Compare quantities (more/less).