Throw Back Thursday - Jack and the Beanstalk

I'm joining Cara's Throw Back Thursday Linky Party.

I had so much fun with Jack and the Beanstalk during our Fairy Tale Unit.  We were able to incorporate lots of literacy activities such as comparing different versions of the story and lots of fun retelling.  We also incorporated science (growing beans) and math (measuring with beans) in really cute  and crafty ways.  This was originally posted on March 27, 2012.

This is the Bean Stalk that is in our classroom.  I made it by twisting long pieces of bulletin board paper. I added a giant cardboard boot and used a "snow cover" that I got after Christmas to make the cloud.  The kids made the giant leaves (using tracers).

This is one of my favorite ways to grow plants because the kids can follow the progress of the the roots and sprouts.  The kids put a paper towel in a baby food jar and then a bean and then added water (it is important that just the paper towel is wet and the bean does not sit in water or it will get moldy).  The little castle  and a cotton ball or fluff cloud is attached to a stick (I bought "bamboo" placemats at the dollar store so I got lots of sticks for $1).  They then drew a little picture of themselves that is taped to the jar.  As the bean grows, we wind it around the stick.  So cute!

We also did some Jack and the Beanstalk inspired math that you can read about here.