Sharing a simple science experiment that we did together and enjoyed. We planted a bean in a plastic bag and watched its roots and leaves emerge before our eyes.
Materials
- Paper towel
- Scissors
- Small ziplock bag or any plastic bag
- Water
- Uncooked dried beans, peas or seeds
Steps
- Cut a paper towel in half and fold it a few times so it will fit into the plastic bag.
- Soak the paper towel with water, squeeze out the excess water, and put it into the bag. Smooth it as it’s almost flat.
- Plant two or three beans about 3cm from the bottom of the bag, on the same side of the paper towel.
- Seal the bag partway, but leave an opening near the top so the plants can get some air.
- Tape the bag in a window with the beans facing you so you can watch them as they grow.
Tips
- You can soak them overnight before doing the experiment to make them sprout more quickly.
- Choose a window where the bean gets plenty of light, but won’t be blasted by intense sun all day.
Enrichment
Record by draw and measuring them each day. What happens if you do the same experiment put one bag of beans in window and another one in a dark closet?
Science
- Germination is the name for the processes the embryonic plant goes through to sprout from the seed and form leaves.
- Environment signals that plants need to germinate include adequate light, air and water. Seeds shrinks as the plant grows.
