Bean Plant Observation Journal

How to keep a bean plant journal

1. Take one photo at about the same time each day.
2. Stand a ruler on the soil and measure to the tip of the stem.
3. Count the leaves.
4. Write one line about what you noticed. Missed a day? That's fine.

Print everything as a one-page A4 observation report: table, height chart and photos on a single sheet.

The bean plant life cycle

Pick a stage when you add an entry and the journal shows where your plant is now. Go with what your child sees.

1. 1. Planted Plant the seed in soil and water it.
2. 2. Sprouted The seed swells, a root comes out, the coat splits and two seed leaves appear.
3. 3. True leaves True leaves grow between the seed leaves. As they get bigger, the seed leaves wither.
4. 4. Flowers The stem thickens, more leaves grow, then flowers open.
5. 5. Pods When the flowers drop, pods (the fruit) form.
6. 6. Seeds saved The beans inside the pods are seeds. Plant one and it sprouts again.

One Korean science textbook (Mirae-N, grade 4) gives this example: roots on day 5 to 7, two seed leaves on day 7 to 10, true leaves on day 10 to 12. Your plant will keep its own pace.

Fits the plant life cycle unit

In England, Year 2 pupils learn to "observe and describe how seeds and bulbs grow into mature plants". In the US, the NGSS asks third graders to model life cycles (3-LS1-1). A daily journal with photos and measurements gives them real data to work from.