Growing beans is a wonderfully simple science activity to do with your preschool or kindergarten class. Kids will love watching their own magic beanstalk grow right in front of their eyes.
There’s a reason why growing seeds is classic science for kids. With a little effort, young children can learn about the different parts and the life cycle of a plant.
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More Spring Science Activities for Kids
Here are some more easy science activities that are perfect for spring. These Spring play ideas will delight and fascinate your toddlers and preschoolers.
- Color Changing Flower Experiment
- Butterfly Life Cycle
- Spring Flowers Math Game
- Chromatography Flowers
- Flower Exploration Center
- …
For more ideas, check out these other 20 Spring STEM Activities for Kids.
Materials needed
- Bean plants
- Glass jar
- Cotton balls, or wet paper towel
- Cold water
Growing Beans – step by step instructions
Step 1. Soak the beans
If you’ve bought dried beans from the grocery store, soak them in a bowl of water overnight. This will speed up the entire process and help your plant growth occur a bit earlier.
2. Lay cotton balls on the bottom of your glass jar
Fill the bottom half of your glass jar with cotton wool or a damp paper towel. Either will work wonderfully.
3. Place the beans on the side of the jar.
Putting the beans on the side of the jar makes it easier to watch them as they grow. You’ll be able to see the roots through the glass without any cotton wool getting in the way.
4. Complete by adding more cotton balls
Cover the beans with another layer of damp cotton balls. You only need enough to keep the beans damp, so don’t use too many for your final layer.
5. Find a sunny spot.
Place your bean jar by a sunny window. You don’t want to put them in direct harsh sunshine, because it’ll dry out your beans and inhibit their growth.
6. Watch and wait.
Over the next few days you’ll be able to see the whole process of bean growing in action.
The first roots will develop into more complex root systems. The stems will grow their first true leaves.
Since the jar is glass, your class will be able to see the different stages without any risk of damaging plants as they grow.
7. Plant your beans in the garden.
If you like, plant your seeds in the children’s garden or just a pot of soil. That way your kids will still be able to watch it grow until it’s a mature plant producing its own beans.
FAQ’s
What beans are best to grow with children?
There are so many different types of beans that are suitable for this fun project. If you already have fava beans or lima beans at home, then use those. If you need to get some from the shops, then choose lentils or mung beans since they are the fastest to sprout.
When should you try growing beans?
Early Spring is the perfect time of year to try this easy activity. If the weather is too cold then the beans will start to rot before sprouting. If the flowers are starting to bloom outside, then there’s a good chance that your beans will grow too.
Are you going to try Growing Beans with your kids?
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Over 90+ pages of Spring themed play based learning activities and craft templates. Perfect for preschool and kindergarten.
