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Germination of a Lima
Bean
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Author: David Riddick
Date Created: 7/28/2003 8:13:15 PM PST
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Grade/Level:
4
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Students:
27 Students. 14 boys and 13 girls. 4 EO's; 6 IFEP's; 3 RFEP's; 14 ELD3-4:
GATE class - advanced learners
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Subject Area(s):
Language Arts (English), Science
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Concept(s):
Students will learn to observe the growth of a seed into a plant and describe
the germination of a seed.
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State
Academic Content Standard(s):
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 CA- CCTC: Aligned CSTP's and TPE's
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• Standard : CSTP: Standard for Creating and Maintaining Effective
Environments for Student Learning
TPE: E. Creating and Maintaining Effective Environments for
Student Learning
CSTP Description: Teachers create physical environments that engage all
students in purposeful learning activities and encourage constructive
interactions among students. Teachers maintain safe learning environments
in which all students are treated fairly and respectfully as they assume
responsibility for themselves and one another. Teachers encourage all
students to participate in making decisions and in working independently
and collaboratively. Expectations for student behavior are established
early, clearly understood, and consistently maintained. Teachers make
effective use of instructional time as they implement class procedures
and routines.
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• CSTP Key Element : Using instructional time effectively.
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 Question : pace and adjust
instructional time so that all students remain engaged?
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CA- California K-12 Academic Content
Standards
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• Subject : Science
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• Grade : Grade Four
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• Area : Life Sciences
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• Sub-Strand 2: All organisms need energy and matter to live and
grow. As a basis for understanding this concept:
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Standard a: Students know plants are
the primary source of matter and energy entering most food chains.
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Objective(s):
Cognitive: Students will learn the growth cycles of plants. Students will
know plants are the primary source of matter and energy entering most food
chains.
Observable: Students will record six observations of bean growth in their
journals. Students will create a table or graph that matches the results in
their journals and displays bean growth over the duration of the activity.
Criteria: Given a bean seed, students will measure and record in their
journals bean germination within 1/4 inch accuracy.
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Prerequisite Background Skills/ Knowledge:
Students know the difference between living organisms and nonliving things.
Students should know all organisms need energy and matter to live and grow.
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Vocabulary/Language Skills:
Listening: Students listen to verbal instructions given on how to observe and
measure growth of a lima bean.
Speaking: Students participate in inquiry lesson by discussing what they
observe from their investigation.
Writing: Students write what they observe in their science journals.
Reading: Students read instructions on the board with teacher.
Vocabulary: energy, matter, food chains, producer, light, germination,
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Materials:
Lima beans—at least two per student
• Resealable bags—one per student
• Paper towels—at least two sheets per student
• Water
• Bleach (for advance preparation of the beans only)
• Paper—6 sheets per student
• Stapler(s)—for binding student-created journals
Preparation:
1) Quickly dip lima beans into a solution of 1 part bleach to six parts water
(to clean the bean and get rid of fungi). Be sure to do this or your beans
will mold.
2. Soak the beans overnight in water prior to handing out to students.
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Classroom Management:
During directed lesson, students are seated in assigned seats, which are
2-person desks.
I will give out extra credit points for students who participate and
cooperate with lesson.
Extra credit points for actively engaged students
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Models of Instruction:
Inquiry
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Procedure
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Open:
As an attention getter, have each student create a journal "Inquiry into
Beans" by folding six pieces of paper in half and stapling along the
folded edges. Students can label and decorate journals as appropriate.
Show beans and a bag with wet paper towels inside. Tell the students that
they are going to place beans onto the wet paper towels in the bags and leave
them in the light.
What do they predict will happen? Can they draw a picture of what they think
they will end up with? How long will it take? Do they know the names of any
of the parts of a seed? Record the predictions in the journal.
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Input:
Start the bean germination with the class by having each student (or pair):
1. Label bag with student name(s).
2. Dampen paper towels with water. Towels should be completely wet, but not
dripping.
3. Fold wet paper towels to fit into zip lock bag. Don't worry about towels
being perfectly flat. It works better with a few wrinkles in the paper
towels.
4. Put two beans in the bag. Make sure students do not handle the beans too
much or they will redeposit bacteria that may cause mold. The beans should be
separate and visible with the bag lying on its side.
5. Close the bag and leave in a location with light. Windowsills work great!
6. Record an observation of the bean seed at day #1 (noting the date and
time) in their journals.
The bean inquiry will continue over the next two weeks. Have the students:
1. Check the bag at least three times per week. Make sure that paper towels
remain damp. Record observations (descriptions and drawings) in a journal
with the date and time of each observation.
2. When sprouts appear, measure and record length of sprouts at each
observation. Germination and observations should continue for several weeks.
High achieving students may express measures on excel as a table or graph.
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Guided Practice:
Direct students how to start the bean germination. Students model instruction
from teacher.
Ask open-ended questions of students. What do they think will happen next?
Visually demonstrate the procedure for starting the seed germination.
Encourage English learners to use drawings and to make measurements during
their observation of the germination process over the two weeks following the
lesson.
Use student pairs for language support.
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Independent Practice:
After learning about plant growth and germinating bean seeds, students will
record six observations of bean growth in their journals.
On a daily basis, students will measure and record in their journals bean
sprout growth within an accuracy of 1/4 inch.
The students will demonstrate that they are curious about the events of the
lesson by asking questions, using science processes, and remaining actively
engaged throughout the bean growth activity.
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Close:
Students share day #1 observations and their predictions of what will happen
during the seed germination process.
After two weeks, students will present their planted lima beans as a potted
plant.
In a grand conversation, students will reflect on what they learned and their
surprises.
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Assessment/
Reflection
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Assessment:
Students will measure and record in their journals lima bean germination
within 1/4 inch accuracy.
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Reflection:
The objective of the lesson was achieved. Students were able to measure and
record in their journals lima bean germination within ¼ inch accuracy. The
lesson was modified to allow students to record their observations in
centimeters. This is a lesson I have done in the past. I was glad to see I have
matured in my instruction of the lesson. The first time I instructed this
lesson, I was bogged down by all the supplies. I allowed for very little
discourse to explain what the students were thinking and doing. This time, I
was able to ask open-ended questions throughout my instruction to encourage
scientific inquiry. The materials became less cumbersome to me. I was able to
allow students to participate more in preparing supplies. I enabled monitors
to prep, pass out supplies, and clean up. This allowed me to concentrate on
using instructional time appropriately.
In addition, I made sure to allow time for students to reflect on their
learning. I allowed students to keep measurements of their lima beans after
their were planted. Many of them grew into plants, some even flowered.
I did not anticipate the writing and making of the “Lima Bean” journals would
be so sloppy. I used bank paper for the students to take and record notes. If
I were to teach this lesson again, I would be sure to provide students with
lined paper to create the journals. This lesson was appropriate because it
was on grade level and made good use of instructional time.
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