It is time to grow a pea plant! Wondering what is going on? It is my first science project. Each of us has to grow a pea plant and write the observations in a diary – the ‘pea diary’. That is what I will call my diary where I will write all about growing the pea plant.

I told mumma and dadda about the project; they said even they had grown pea and bean plants when they were in school. So I said we have two weeks time, so I would need a large lot, lots of soil and pea seeds as soon as possible. I want to start my project immediately. But they started laughing. Why are you laughing? I said. I am serious! Mumma said, yes we know you are serious, but all that you need to grow a pea plant is a glass jar, some cotton balls and two to three pea seeds. Really! Is that all? But we have all the plants in big pots, so how would a pea plant grow inside a jar?

Dadda said you can see it for yourself when you start growing the plant. Moreover, if you grow it in a glass jar you can see the progress in front of your eyes and take the plant to school easily. Yes, dadda is right! How will I see the plant grow inside a pot! Ok so give me a jar please and some cotton balls and yes peas as well.

We got started immediately. Mumma got a glass jar from the kitchen, some cotton balls from her dressing table and some peas from the fridge. She soaked the peas in water so that they come to normal temperature. She left them for half an hour. Then she took the jar and placed some cotton balls inside the jar. She sprinkled some water. Then she asked me to put three pea seeds towards the walls of the jar. I carefully picked up one pea seed from the water and placed it inside the jar. Then the second one and then the third one; then Mumma put some more cotton balls on the seeds. She placed the balls in such a way that the seeds were clearly visible. I was still wondering how a plant would grow without soil.

Mumma sprinkled some water on the cotton balls and asked me to place the jar near the window, so that it gets enough light and air. She said, you can see the roots come out within three to four days; but you must water the seeds every day. Not too much but a little water every day.

So I decided, I would water the seeds before going to school and in the evening before going to play. All this seems so exciting. I have seen plants, but never seen them grow. This time I can see the plant grow. I will write about the preparation in my diary today and keep writing more as the seeds grow into plants. I will keep you updated as well.

Yesterday even I saw my neighbour ride her pink bicycle. She was having so much fun riding it. There were no supports but still she was not falling down. That’s really great. The way she was riding her bicycle, it almost seemed you can start operating it as soon as you sit on it. But I was wrong.

The moment I saw her riding the bicycle, I had an urge to ride it myself. So I requested her and she agreed instantly. She asked me whether I know how to ride a cycle and I replied I don’t but I can manage. She was a bit sceptical, but she allowed me to ride her cycle. She held the cycle as I climbed up and started paddling, but the moment she took off her hands….I fell down with a thud. I hurt my knees badly and started crying.

Mumma came out running to see what happened and she found me crying with a badly bruised knee. She asked our neighbour how did it happen and she told Mumma that I tried to ride the cycle and then fell down.

She brought me home and cleaned the wounds; then she put some ointment over it. I asked her, why did I fall down whereas our neighbour did not? She replied, it is because she learned how to ride the cycle and I did not. She also said that I can learn it within one day, but for that I need to have a cycle that is perfect for me.

The height of the cycle should be such that I am able to make full circles with the paddle. She also added that falling down is a part of learning but if I had chosen the right place such as a lawn or any other suitable area which is not too hard, I would not have hurt my knees this bad. For the first time it is also good to wear a helmet and knee & elbow guards, so that even if someone falls down they will not get hurt.

There are many other things that we must know before we start learning how to ride a bike. I never had any idea about them. You need to know how and when to brake, how to balance the cycle, etc. Mumma said they were planning to gift me a bicycle on my birthday but since I have an interest to learn it, they will buy me a cycle soon.

I was so happy hearing that but she also said not everyone can learn at the same pace so I need to be patient and keep practicing till I learn how to ride it. Dadda is very good at riding bikes and cycles, so he will teach me. Oh and let me tell you I am going to the swimming pool regularly and I have learned how to float. So I guess I can learn cycling quite fast. I am a big girl now and I can learn a lot of new things very quickly!