Designing Bean Seed Packets

• This hands-on (and delicious) lesson centers around California-grown beans and will teach students about where food comes from, how to save seeds, the history of bean cultivation, and nutritional benefits of beans. 
• Students will make a seed saving packet using the included PDF diagram, perform a taste test of different bean varieties, and learn how to preserve and plant seeds. 

Positives

• This lesson plan includes learning opportunities, vocabulary lists, reproducible worksheets, templates for bean seed packets, and step-by-step teacher directions. 
• Students will enjoy the opportunities for creativity and the hands-on nature of the lesson. 

Additional Prerequisites

• This lesson plan requires quite a few materials to complete, including printed worksheets, dry beans, clear cups or containers, and potentially cooking materials for a bean taste test. 
• You can substitute beans from your local area instead of California-grown beans.
  

Differentiation

• Cross-curricular connections can be made in health classes studying nutrition or social studies classes considering the types of produce grown in different locations. 
• This lesson would work well in the spring when students can grow their beans in an outdoor garden, if available. 
• As an extension, have students create seed packets for other types of produce that grows in their area.