WVMS students learn about green beans and jelly beans

Warwick Valley Middle School seventh graders in Mrs. Waters Life Science class learned about green beans and jelly beans in a lesson that combined Earth Day and National Jelly Bean Day celebrations on April 22-23. 

The students explored the variety in jelly beans and the variety among green beans (which is caused by their DNA) and also discussed similarities and differences between the plants and the candy.

After talking about how traits in plants are controlled by genes, retired WVHS agriculture teacher Nancy Colgan helped the students plant three varieties of green beans in a plastic cup. The class predicted the possible traits that would result in their bean plants and will observe their growth over the next several days and weeks.

The activity complemented what the students have been studying: reproduction, growth and heredity. The class reviewed key terms such as asexual and sexual reproduction, DNA, chromosomes, genes and traits.

"I think the students were disappointed that we couldn't plant and grow jelly beans," Mrs. Waters said. "I was disappointed too because jelly beans are my favorite."

Towards the end of the period, Mrs. Waters gave the students small bags of jelly beans and showed the class a short video about how jelly beans are made.