Legumes Botany Exploration

Montessori Botany Work — Legume Identification & Classification

Name:

Date:

Legume plant illustration showing pods and seeds

🌿 Part 1: Legume Identification Cards

Direction Card: Read each description carefully. Write the name of the legume that matches each clue on the line provided. Use your identification cards to help you.

Control of Error: Flip your identification cards over — the name of each legume is printed on the back. Check your answers when you are finished.

1. This legume produces flat, green pods and is commonly found in Canadian gardens. Its seeds are round and smooth. Name: _______________________

2. This legume has a hard, speckled seed coat and is often used in soups and stews. It is a popular source of plant protein in Canada. Name: _______________________

3. This climbing legume produces long, narrow pods. It fixes nitrogen in the soil through root nodules. Name: _______________________

4. This small, lens-shaped legume comes in red, green, and brown varieties. Canada is one of the world's largest producers of this crop. Name: _______________________

🔍 Differentiation — Emerging Learners: Use your picture identification cards and match the image to the name before writing your answer.

🚀 Extension — Advanced Learners: On the back of this sheet, sketch one legume and label its root nodules, pod, seed, leaf, and stem.

🌱 Part 2: Classification Activity

Direction Card: Legumes belong to the plant family Fabaceae. They share special features that set them apart from other plants. Sort the characteristics below by placing a ✓ in the correct column.

Control of Error: A completed classification chart is kept in the teacher's answer envelope at the Botany shelf. Compare your work when you are done.

5. Which of the following are characteristics of legumes? Check ALL that apply.

Seeds grow inside a pod

Roots contain nitrogen-fixing nodules

Flowers are always blue in colour

Belong to the family Fabaceae

Produce cones instead of flowers

Are an important source of protein

6. Which part of the legume plant fixes nitrogen in the soil?

The pod

The leaf

The root nodule

The seed coat

7. Why is nitrogen fixation important for the soil? Write one or two sentences.

🔍 Differentiation — Emerging Learners: Use your legume vocabulary card to find the meaning of nitrogen fixation before answering Question 7.

🚀 Extension — Advanced Learners: Research one legume crop grown in your province. Write two facts about how it is farmed and why it is important to Canadian agriculture.

🕯️ Part 3: Legumes & Candle Making Connection

Direction Card: Some legumes produce oils and waxes used in candle making. Soy wax, made from soybeans (Glycine max), is a popular natural alternative to paraffin wax. Read the information below and answer the questions.

Control of Error: A completed answer key for this section is stored in the red answer folder on the Botany shelf. Review it after completing your work independently.

Did you know? Soybeans are legumes grown across Canada, especially in Ontario. Their oil is extracted and hydrogenated to create soy wax, which is used in eco-friendly candles. Soy wax burns more slowly and cleanly than paraffin wax, which is made from petroleum.

8. Name the legume that is used to make soy wax: _______________________

9. How is soy wax made from soybeans? Circle the correct answer.

The pods are melted directly

The oil is extracted and hydrogenated

The seeds are ground into powder and heated

The roots are boiled and filtered

10. Give one reason why soy wax candles are considered more environmentally friendly than paraffin wax candles.

11. Draw and label a soybean plant below. Include at least three plant parts in your diagram.

🔍 Differentiation — Emerging Learners: Use the soybean diagram card from the Botany shelf to help you label your drawing in Question 11.

🚀 Extension — Advanced Learners: Compare soy wax to one other plant-based wax (such as carnauba or bayberry wax). Write three sentences explaining similarities and differences. Use the research cards in the extension basket.