Required Project Materials
Multimedia Resources
Optional Multimedia Resources
Before the Lesson/ Background Information
The Lesson
  1. Ask the students to share some types of food that come from plants.
  2. Ask the students to share what types of animals eat plants.
  3. Explain that beans can grow into plants and are part of the food that we eat. Types of food that come from plants include nuts, lettuce, green beans, soup beans etc.
  4. Show examples of tree mosaics made from beans. Discuss merits of trees, such as how they give us oxygen and food as well.
  5. Show a video clip about how trees grow, such as “Parts of The Tree” by XL Kids or read Jack and The Beanstalk or similar.
  6. Students will create a tree with beans and glue on cardstock.
  7. Students should sort the beans and choose the colors for each part of their tree. Use dixie cups to sort them. Beans can be presorted or bought in single types per bag.
  8. Students will glue the beans in a pattern to make the shape of a tree. A template can be used if the teacher prefers*.
  9. Teacher may want to read the story first and then on second day show the video.
  10. Alternative: students can use a cut out of a tree trunk and attach tissue paper “leaves” or leaves made from green “popcorn” packing peanuts (available at Staples).
  11. Alternative: have students trace their hand and arms or have a preset template then glue pre-cut leaves or scraps of construction paper.
  12. At the end of the week, hold a competition or show exhibiting student designs.
  13. Plant remaining beans in the greenhouse or in starter pots and cultivate beans throughout school year.
*Split peas can be used for the leaves, kidney beans for the ground and roots, navy beans for leaves, black beans for the trunk, or any combination of your choosing. Yellow split peas can be fruit in the tree.