As part of their English unit ‘Fun in the Jungle, 4th grade elementary level students from classes A and B took part in a special project that brought learning to life. The unit’s cross-curricular activity focused on recognizing the parts of a plant — and their English teachers, Ms. Valentina Oyarzo and Mr. Marcos Riveros, decided to take it a step further by turning the lesson into a real gardening experience.
The school’s greenhouse became the perfect setting for this hands-on activity. With just a bean, some cotton, and a plastic cup, the students carefully prepared their planting cups, placing their beans inside and making sure everything was ready for them to sprout. Beyond learning plant vocabulary and science concepts, this project encouraged responsibility, patience, and observation as the children monitored their beans’ progress day by day.
The project also tied in beautifully with the class’s previous reading: Jack and the Beanstalk. Inspired by the fairy tale, students created their own fun versions — “Renata and the Beanstalk,” “Mateo and the Beanstalk,” and many other playful titles that filled the greenhouse with laughter and creativity.
What made this project truly special was the way it wove together different areas of learning. While the focus remained on English language practice, the children also applied science knowledge, developed fine motor skills, and practiced expressing ideas creatively. Every step — from placing the beans to naming their beanstalks — became an opportunity to use English in a natural, joyful way.
The ´’Growing Beans’ project was a simple yet powerful example of how classroom concepts can come alive when paired with practical, hands-on experiences. For these young learners, it wasn’t just about memorizing plant vocabulary; it was about watching something grow, telling stories about it, and feeling proud of what they had created.
