Beech and Chestnut Rooms at Hartcliffe Nursery School have been getting into gardening this month, with broad beans sparking brilliant curiosity and conversation.
It all started with the children taking a close look at some broad bean seeds and sharing what they already knew. The ideas came thick and fast, with children building on each other’s thoughts in the most wonderful way. “It needs to go in soil”, “it will get bigger and bigger”, “it will grow a flower” – the children had so much to say. From there, the children began thinking about what they still wanted to find out, doing some research by looking through books and pictures to learn more about how beans grow and what they need to thrive.
Next came the planting! The children placed their beans on damp cotton wool inside clear cellophane bags, which have been hung up in the classroom window so that everyone can watch what happens. By the end of the month, some beans were already beginning to germinate, which has been incredibly exciting to observe. Meanwhile, some of the children have also been getting stuck into preparing the sensory garden, digging out weeds and turning over the soil ready for planting outdoors.
These hands-on investigations help children develop scientific thinking, collaborative learning and patience whilst building understanding of the natural world through direct observation and active participation in growing their own plants.