1. Jack and the Beanstalk Challenge
Can you grow a beanstalk like Jack’s and help save lives in Africa?
A strategic health initiative from Project HOPE UK
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2. A plant needs... Water Air Light Nutrients Warmth
FERTILISER
...to grow and be healthy
A strategic health initiative from Project HOPE UK
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3. Air
Plants can make their own food via a process called Photosynthesis.
Plants absorb carbon dioxide from the air and draw water and minerals (nutrients) up from the earth by the roots. The green leaves use the energy from sunlight to change these into oxygen (which we need to breathe) and food.
Water
Nutrients
FERTILISER
Light
Warmth
A strategic health initiative from Project HOPE UK
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4. Do you know the story of Jack and the Beanstalk?
Once upon a time there was a boy named Jack. Jack lived in a little cottage with his mother. They were very poor and had no money to buy food. All they had was a cow.
“It’s no good”, said Jack’s mother one day. “We’ll have to sell our cow. Take her to the market and see how much you can get for her”. Jack was very sad to see the cow go, but knew they had no choice.
“Come along, cow”, he said
A strategic health initiative from Project HOPE UK
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5. On the way to the market, Jack met a man
On the way to the market, Jack met a man. “Hello there, young man”, the man said. “Is that cow for sale?”. “Yes, sir”, said Jack, “my mother told me to sell her at the market”.
“I don’t have any money”, said the man, “but I do have these magic beans. Will you trade your cow for them?”. Jack agreed. He traded the cow for the magic beans and headed home.
Jack’s mother was very angry. “You traded our cow for magic beans?!”, shouted his mother. “How can you be so silly, Jack?” Jack’s mother threw the beans out of the window of the cottage.
The next morning, Jack looked out of his window and saw that, as if by magic, a huge beanstalk had grown overnight.
A strategic health initiative from Project HOPE UK
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6. Jack went outside and looked up at the giant beanstalk
Jack went outside and looked up at the giant beanstalk. It disappeared up high into the clouds where Jack could see a beautiful castle. Jack decided to climb the beanstalk all the way to the top.
Jack climbed... and climbed... and climbed until finally he reached the top. Jack walked into the beautiful castle.
“FEE FI FO FUM!” heard Jack. Jack quickly hid before a huge, scary giant appeared. He sat down at the table. “LAY!”, the giant shouted at a hen seated at the table. The hen laid a golden egg. “PLAY!”, the giant shouted at a golden harp. The harp began to play the most beautiful song Jack had ever heard.
A strategic health initiative from Project HOPE UK
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7. The beautiful song made the giant fall asleep
The beautiful song made the giant fall asleep. “SNOOORRREE” growled the giant in his sleep.
Jack took his chance. He jumped out from his hiding place and grabbed the hen, the golden harp and a bag of gold he saw lying on the table. “Mother and I will be rich!”, thought Jack.
Just then the giant woke up. Jack ran out of the castle, down the beanstalk and back into the cottage as fast as he could. The giant came running after him, shouting and bellowing in anger. “FEE FI FO FUM!”.
A strategic health initiative from Project HOPE UK
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8. Jack and his mother lived happily ever after.
“Help, Mother!”, Jack said. “The giant is after me!”
Quick as a flash, Jack’s mother grabbed her axe and chopped the beanstalk down. The giant came tumbling and crashing down, never to be seen again.
Jack showed his mother the bag of gold coins, the hen that lays golden eggs and the magical harp and she was overjoyed. “Thank you, Jack”, she said. “Now we’ll never have to be poor again”.
Jack and his mother lived happily ever after.
A strategic health initiative from Project HOPE UK
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9. Now it’s your turn...... can you grow a giant beanstalk like Jack’s?
You will need:
A pot, compost, runner bean seeds, plastic bag, water, a sunny spot indoors (e.g. windowsill), tape measure, growth diary.
3. Water your pot well
2. Push your bean seeds approximately a thumb depth, into the compost. Cover your seed with compost.
1. Take your plant pot and fill it with compost almost to the top
Fill compost to here
A strategic health initiative from Project HOPE UK

10. Now it’s your turn...... can you grow a giant beanstalk like Jack’s?
4. Seal your pot inside your plastic bag and place on a windowsill. Keep the compost moist but don’t over-water
5. After about a week, your seeds should start to germinate. Remove your plant from the bag and continue to look after your plant by watering occasionally. Remove the weakest seedlings.
A strategic health initiative from Project HOPE UK

11. Now it’s your turn...... can you grow a giant beanstalk like Jack’s?
6. Monitor and record the growth of your plant using your tape measure and growth diary. You could do this every few days or once a week?
You Grow-They Grow.
Runner Bean
7. Label and bring your plant to the You Grow-They Grow plant sale.
A strategic health initiative from Project HOPE UK

12. What do you think might be at the top of your beanstalk?
Our beanstalk will look like Jack’s when it is fully grown (but not quite as tall!)
At the top of Jack’s beanstalk was a castle where a giant lived with a magical harp and a hen that lays golden eggs?
What do you think might be at the top of your beanstalk?
Can you draw a picture or write a story about the land at the top of your beanstalk?
A strategic health initiative from Project HOPE UK
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13. How tall do you think your beanstalks will grow?
Can you remember the five things plants need to grow?
Think about the seeds you have just sown. Do you think seeds also need all five conditions to grow?
Water and warmth are needed for seeds to grow.
How tall do you think your beanstalks will grow?
Light
Water
Warmth
Air
Nutrients
A strategic health initiative from Project HOPE UK
Clip art purchased from