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Comprehension ExerciseYear 4Level 1 · Easier

Free Year 4 How to Grow a Bean Plant in a Jar — Reading Comprehension

A procedure for sprouting a bean seed against the glass of a jar so children can watch roots and shoots appear. Students read a materials list and numbered steps, explain why each step matters, and learn words like 'damp' and 'shoot'. Ends with writing their own short procedure.

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Year
Year 4
Subject
English
Topic
Reading Comprehension
Difficulty
Level 1 · Easier
Estimated time
20 minutes
Curriculum
New Zealand Curriculum
Questions
14
Answers
Included, with working
Format
PDF (A4) + print

Students will practise

  • reading a procedure in sequence
  • locating details in a materials list and steps
  • explaining the purpose of a step
  • understanding instruction verbs and science words

Curriculum: New Zealand Curriculum. We show specific outcome codes only where they have been verified against the official curriculum document.

What's next?

Completed: How to Grow a Bean Plant in a Jar — Reading Comprehension

  1. 1Finding Nouns in Sentences
  2. 2Conjunctions: and, but, so, because

How to use this comprehension exercise

  1. Print the PDF or complete it on screen. Write the student's name and date at the top.
  2. Read the instructions for each part together before starting. Encourage working to be shown.
  3. Mark with the answer sheet. Use the model answers and success criteria as a guide rather than a single right answer.
  4. Record the score, celebrate what went well, then follow the "What's next" suggestion.

Common questions

Who is this comprehension exercise for?

Year 4 students (typically ages 8–9) working on reading comprehension. It is pitched at level 1 · easier.

Are the answers included?

Yes. The PDF includes a full answer sheet with model answers and success criteria where there is more than one good answer. You can also view the answers online.

How long does it take?

About 20 minutes for 14 questions. Short, regular sessions work best: two or three a week beats one long one.

Do I need to sign up to download?

No. Click Download Free PDF and it opens immediately. It is free for personal, classroom and homeschool use.

What should we do next?

Try Finding Nouns in Sentences.

Preview

Year 4 · English · Reading Comprehension

How to Grow a Bean Plant in a Jar — Reading Comprehension

Success Tutoring

Student name:

Date:

Score: /

Read the whole procedure first. Then answer the questions.

Part A — Find the answers

Look back at the procedure to find each answer.

1.How many dried beans do you need?[1 mark]
2.Where should you put the jar?[1 mark]
  1. Ain the fridge
  2. Bin a dark cupboard
  3. Con a sunny windowsill
  4. Doutside in the rain
3.Where exactly should you slide the beans?[1 mark]
4.What should you see after three to five days?[1 mark]
5.When should you move the bean to a pot of soil?[1 mark]
  1. Astraight away
  2. Bwhen the root appears
  3. Cwhen the shoot has two leaves
  4. Dafter one day
6.What does the safety note tell you to do after touching the beans?[1 mark]

Part B — Think about it

The procedure does not tell you these answers directly. Use clues and what you know.

7.Why should the paper towel be damp but not swimming in water?[2 marks]
8.Why should the beans be pressed against the glass?[2 marks]
9.Why do you think the beans should not be touching each other?[2 marks]
10.Which step would you most likely forget, and what might happen if you did?[2 marks]
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Preview — the PDF contains the full resource and answer sheet.

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About this resource

Created by
Success Tutoring
Last reviewed
1 October 2026
How it was made
Written by our team

Free to print and share for personal, classroom and homeschool use. Please don't resell. Spotted an error? Let us know.