Lesson Summary Students will make weekly observation of the class bean plants. Through these observations, students will watch the emergence of buds, the blossoming of flowers, development of fruit and new seeds. At the end of two months, students will sequence illustrations that depict the different life cycle stages of a bean plant. Teacher Background 3rd and 4th grade students may confuse the idea of a life cycle with that of a life time. Life cycle is the series of changes in development from its earliest stage to the recurrence of the earliest stage in the next generation. For a bean plant, the life cycle can be defined as the changes that take place as a seed sprouts, grows, flowers, is fertilized and forms the seed of the next generation. The observation of a life cycle takes time, but following the plant through a cycle is an important way for students to develop a good understanding of the idea of a life cycle. Set-up/Management Tips Part 3 will take weekly observation sessions (10-15 min.) for 8 weeks and a final session for harvesting beans and reflecting on the bean life cycle. (30-40 min.) Set up a schedule for weekly maintenance of the hydroponic plants to groups of students. This weekly maintenance will include adding water, adding straws for support, and observation and measurement of the two chosen class bean plants. Prepare a class growth chart following the directions in the teacher’s guide. Post this near the class hydroponic tanks, if possible. Literacy Support Science Stories Seeding Space Scientific Vocabulary The following words are key vocabulary words that will be introduced in this lesson and reinforced throughout the unit: Flower Life cycle