bean grow experiment

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Bean in a jar

April 30, 2012 By Emma Vanstone 13 Comments

This germination investigation is very simple but fascinating. Did you know you can grow a bean in a jar with just a little water? Germination is the sprouting of a seedling from a seed.

What is germination?

Three factors are important for germination .

Water – seeds need water for germination to occur. When a seed absorbs water, it starts to swell up, the outer coat of the seed cracks and roots start to grow through.

Oxygen – oxygen is needed for a plant to grow (oxygen is needed for respiration to occur ). Seeds buried too deeply in the soil won’t grow.

Temperature – the temperature can be important ( warm or cold ) depending on the type of seed.

Once a seedling has used all the nutrients from the seed, it then needs to take nutrients from the soil. Once your seed has germinated and grown a little bit, you’ll need to transfer it into a pot of soil.

Light is not needed for germination but is needed for a plant to grow.

Roots grow downwards to anchor the plant in the ground and find nutrients, and shoots grow upwards to find light.

How to grow a bean in a jar

What you need.

• A broad bean seed
• Kitchen roll or a napkin

Instructions

• Swirl a small amount of water around the jar.
• Fold your napkin or kitchen roll and place it in the jar ( we made the kitchen roll very slightly damp also ).
• Place the bean seed in the jar resting on the napkin.
• Spray some water on the bean every few days.

The bean should start to grow roots after a few days. This is called germination.

We kept one bean in the dark and one in the light. Both seeds germinated and grew into small bean plants. This shows that light is not necessary for germination .

You can see here that the plant grown in the dark is slightly less green than the one grown in the light. We have seen this before when growing cress .

What amazes me the most is that all this can grow from one tiny seed with no additional nutrients other than those contained in the bean itself.

After a few days in the light, the bean plant kept in the dark was as luscious a green colour as its counterpart.

Bean in a jar instructions

Download the instructions completely free.

More plant science

Little ones will enjoy growing a bean for Jack and the Beanstalk.

Inspiration Laboratories has a lovely plant science experiment growing seeds in different soil types , such as sand and stones.

Playdough to Plato has a gorgeous sprout house !

Another idea is to dissect a plant or try one of our other fun plant science experiments for kids .

Suitable for:

Key Stage 1 Science – Plants

Identify and describe the basic structure of a variety of common flowering plants, including trees.

Last Updated on March 29, 2023 by Emma Vanstone

Safety Notice

Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

Reader Interactions

April 30, 2012 at 8:52 am

You keep coming up with really inspiring ideas. Thankyou!

May 04, 2012 at 7:39 pm

So glad you like them!

April 30, 2012 at 12:53 pm

I love this idea. It is so much better than the ziploc bag on the window. (Maybe it is just me, but those always get so nasty. Plus it would be great to have where the students could see actually grow and record the height. Love it.

May 04, 2012 at 7:41 pm

oooh yes, what a good idea!

May 02, 2012 at 10:17 pm

It is fascinating and beautiful! We have to try this!

It was great! and so simple x

May 06, 2012 at 8:29 pm

We love this activity. Ours is growing strong and we’re going to try transferring into the soil and growing further now

Thank you for linking to Tuesday Tots this week

May 07, 2012 at 2:26 pm

love this idea.. will find some jars x

May 11, 2012 at 3:01 am

How fun!! I love the lessons where they get to see the roots that would be underground. Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday! I hope you are having a great week!

March 08, 2013 at 6:55 pm

Ooh great way to use my jars! Now to get some beans x

March 08, 2013 at 8:28 pm

We grew a bean in a glass Mason jar for each kid a couple months ago. Can you believe they ate still thriving? One even grew a bean pod with beans in it. I should transfer them to a pot with soil.

April 10, 2013 at 6:14 pm

I would like to know just why this works. Why is the one kept in the dark white? I know it has something to do with light. And why did it grow faster that the one in the light? Thank you!

April 23, 2020 at 10:28 am

Hi there, can you use any seed for this?

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Growing Beans in the Classroom

Nothing like setting up an experiment in the classroom and it not turning out exactly how you expected, right? Well, I’m here to share all my tips and tricks for growing beans in the classroom so your experiments are a success!

• dried beans (pole, bush, or lima beans)
• paper towels
• spray bottle of water
• clear glass jar or small clear plastic cup

My #1 Tip for Success

Before I go any further, I want to tell you the one thing I feel makes or breaks this experiment. It’s what will get you tall, lovely sprouts like the picture above in only ten days:

Soak the Beans in Water Overnight!

I can’t stress enough that you should soak the beans in water overnight beforehand. I’ve tried the experiment with and without soaking the beans. Soaking the beans boosts the germination process and you see roots in a day or two. Within ten days, the bean sprouts have a tall stem with leaves growing out of the top of the jar. When I’ve not presoaked the beans, it took five or six days for the first root to begin to emerge. Even then, the entire germination process seemed to go a lot slower.

Now that you’ve soaked your beans, let’s start the experiment!

• Fill the container about halfway with paper towels.
• Place several beans on the outside of the paper towels in the container so you can watch them grow.
• Spray the paper towels with water to dampen them.
• Place the container near a window or on a window ledge.
• Observe and watch the beans grow over the following days and weeks!

Can the Seeds Grow Without Soil?

We teach students that plants need water, air, sunlight and soil to grow. Some students may wonder how these seeds will grow without soil. It might be helpful to point out that you can germinate seeds, or help them start to grow, without soil. Why? It’s because the food the seed needs to start growing is inside the seed. The seed provides food for a short time and then you must plant the seedling in soil for it to continue to grow.

Experiment Variations

This experiment helps students learn the basic needs of seeds and plants. What happens if they don’t get what they need?

Prepare a few extra jars with beans and alter some of their growing conditions. Observe what happens.

• No water : Don’t soak the beans in water overnight or wet the paper towels in the container.
• No air : Use a sandwich bag for this one. Use a straw to suck as much air from the bag as possible before zipping it shut.
• No sunlight : Place the jars away from windows or even in a dark space like a cabinet.
• Not enough space : Place seeds in a group touching each other.
• No soil : Seeds will germinate without soil, but will they keep growing and produce fruit (beans) if left in the container with no soil? This will take a lot longer to observe. Another option is to plant the beans in sand. Give them water and sunlight, and observe what happens.

Growing Beans FAQs

What beans did you use? I used pole and lima beans. I’ve successfully germinated both kinds.

Do I need beans from a seed packet or can I used dried beans from the grocery store? While you may certainly use a purchased seed packet of beans, I’ve always had success germinating and sprouting dried beans I’ve brought at the grocery store. I recommend soaking and germinating a couple of dried beans at home to make sure your dried beans will work before doing it with your students.

How long will it take to see anything? One or two days if you soak the beans overnight, five or six days if you don’t soak them. I soaked my beans overnight and put them in a jar and baggie. The very next day I already saw the root coming out of most of the beans.

Can I do this experiment anytime of year? I think so! I live in the Midwest and germinated these seeds towards the end of January! Even though it was cold outside and the windows themselves felt cold, there was enough sunlight and warmth to begin germination. If you want to keep the plants alive or transfer them into a garden, you will need to begin germination closer to actual planting time.

What if the paper towels get dry? Use a spray bottle of water to moisten the paper towels if you feel they are too dry.

Can I germinate beans in a sandwich bag? Absolutely! Just place a damp paper towel and several beans in a zip-top sandwich bag and seal it. Then tape or place the bag on or near a window and watch them grow!

Students learn so much about plants by growing beans in the classroom. It’s really fun to watch the little beans grow so quickly. Sometimes there’s a huge difference from day to day. I hope these tricks and tips help you and your students become expert germinators!

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29 Comments

I really enjoy to see the plant growing.

hi this is cool info

Hey there! I am soaking my Lima beans to grow in our classroom and I noticed they are wrinkling and some of them are splitting. Is this normal? Thanks so much for your info! We’re excited to try it!

That’s a great question! The wrinkles are completely normal. As for splitting, when the inside of the bean rehydrates quicker than the outside, the bean will split. It happens sometimes. You can have students examine the split beans to see what’s inside the seed. Good luck and I hope your students enjoy growing their beans!

Hi, I’m a PreK teacher and have found the past several years, that the beans get moldy in the children’s ziplock bags. How can I avoid the mold?

That’s a great question! I might try doing it with glass jars instead of baggies. I’ve never had an issue with mold when growing them in glass jars like I shared in the blog post. I also leave the lid off to allow air circulation.

If you need to use bags, you might try leaving the top open or making a few holes near the top of the zipped bag. Another idea is to only leave the beans in the bags for just a few days and plant them as soon as you can.

I hope these ideas help! Good luck!

Hi Cara! Two easy tricks are 1) spritz rather than soak the towels in water 2) staple a horizontal row of staples about two inches down the bag and place lima beans along the staples before sealing. Veteran teacher tip—best of luck!

They need to wash their hands thoroughly before “planting”.

When do you put the bean in soil?

Hi! I plant them as soon they look like the one pictured with roots, stem, and a few leaves. They shoot up very quickly, so it’s not long before they’re ready to be planted.

Now that my granddaughter brought home her bean,what do we do with? A single plant. Does it need something to climb? Or will it get bushy? We weren’t given any follow up info sadly. HELP

That’s a great question! If you can find out what kind of bean it is, that would be helpful. Some beans are runners and need to be staked or have something to climb, while others don’t. Other than that, just plant it in soil and watch it grow!

I tried this experiment with my class and we have a few moldy plants. We wet the paper towel again every day. Does this mean the plants are dead?

Hi! If you do this experiment again, I suggest just lightly spraying the paper towel with water whenever it feels dry instead of watering them each day. If you soak the beans beforehand, they already have a good bit of water inside them. I also take the top off of the jar after they begin sprouting so air can circulate. Hopefully, doing those two things will stop the mold problem. Good luck!

Suggestions on the bean plant being towering over the cup? Do I need to get dowel rods? I feel bad because my kids are taking them home and I wanted them to be successful .

That’s a great question! Even though the plants stick up over the cup, they’re usually sturdy enough to send home. If you want to give them extra support, you might stick a straw in the cup and gently tie the plant to it. I hope your students have a great experience sprouting seeds!

hi im in 5th grade and when i grow up i will show my children this and might do this for their birthdays

If the seeds have mold, does that mean they are dead? Or can I salvage them?

Additionally, how do I safely transfer them to plant so that students can take home? Do I need a certain type of soil? A pot?

Hi, Alex! Those are great questions. First, if your seeds have mold, I would throw them out and start over. When you try again, here are my tips to avoid mold:

1. Just lightly spray the paper towel with water whenever it feels dry. If you soak the beans beforehand, they already have a good bit of water inside them so they don’t need lots of water. Too much water in the jar or bag will allow mold to grow.

2. Take the top off of the jar after they begin sprouting so air can circulate. If you use zip-top bags, open the bags after the beans sprout.

3. Avoid direct sunlight for long periods. Too much heat inside the jar or bag will cause mold to grow. The beans will still sprout near a window with indirect sunlight.

If you want to plant them for students to take home, use potting soil (not garden soil) and any small plastic container like yogurt cups, bottom half of a water bottle, or other small plastic cups you might have in your recycling bin.

I hope those ideas help! Good luck!

Will pinto beans grow?

Hi, Maria! I’m so sorry I’m just seeing your question! I’m not getting emails when someone posts a comment like I usually do, and I’m not sure why. I haven’t tried pinto beans because I’ve read they don’t sprout as reliably as other beans. It might be interesting for kids to try to grow pinto beans along with other types of beans to see which ones sprout the best.

I have jars without lids. Do I need lids to begin this process?

That’s a great question! You don’t need lids to begin the process. You might put plastic wrap or aluminum foil over the jar for the first few days. I think it’d be interesting for kids to observe a covered jar and one that isn’t. Then, they can see if covering the jar affects growth.

This activity is perfect for children who love to explore what is in store for them in the real world. Thank you so much for sharing this.

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How to Grow Beans in Cotton

Last Updated: June 24, 2023 References

This article was co-authored by Olivia Choong . Olivia Choong is a Plant and Gardening Specialist and the Owner of The Tender Gardener. With more than six years of experience, she specializes in gardening, permaculture, and self-sufficient and low-impact living practices. Her work has been featured in media outlets such as The Straits Times and Channel NewsAsia (CNA). Olivia holds a Bachelor of Mass Communications in PR and Journalism from Murdoch University. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 184,234 times.

Growing beans in cotton is a fun experiment that you can use to teach kids how plants grow, or that you can use to start seeds for your garden. Use a cup or jar to hold your cotton balls, then add beans, water, and sunlight to make your beans sprout. Once the plants have spouted, you can transfer them to the ground to keep growing.

Sprouting the Beans in Cotton

• To keep the plant compact, opt for a bush bean plant. This will not require a trellis or pole to support it and it will only grow to about 2 ft (0.61 m). If you opt for pole beans, then the vine may grow to 15 ft (4.6 m), so it will need plenty of room to climb. [2] X Research source

• Don’t use hot water as this could partially cook the beans. Use cool or lukewarm tap water.

Tip : If you accidentally add too much water, pour it out while holding onto the cotton balls so they don’t fall out of the cup.

• Don’t try to sprout more than 3 beans per cup as they will not have enough room to grow.

• Do not place the beans in a dark place, such as a cupboard.

• If the beans don’t sprout, this may be because they are not getting enough sunlight or because the cotton is too dry or too wet.

Transferring the Plants to Soil

• Do not separate the bean roots from the cotton or you may kill the plants.

Tip : It is possible to continue growing the bean seeds in cotton only, but they may grow more slowly and they may not get as big as they would by transferring them to soil. [18] X Research source

• Spacing the beans too close together may cause them not to grow, so make sure that they are at least 3 in (7.6 cm) apart.

• You can check the soil by inserting your finger 1 in (2.5 cm) into it next to a bean plant. If it feels dry, it’s time to water the plants.

• You can purchase 10-20-10 fertilizer in a home improvement store or nursery.

• For example, green beans are ready when they are about the size of a pencil. Be careful not to let the beans get any bigger than this as they will become tough and stringy. [23] X Research source

Expert Q&A

• Do not leave the beans in full sun light or in the dark. You must let them expose to sun for a few minutes daily, but extensive exposure will cause the cotton to dry. In the dark, they will not have enough light to perform photosynthesis. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 0

Things You'll Need

• Cotton balls
• Plastic cups or glass jars
• Poles (optional, for pole beans)

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://teachpreschool.org/2011/09/18/planting-and-growing-beans-in-our-preschool-window/
• ↑ https://www.almanac.com/plant/beans
• ↑ Olivia Choong. Plant & Gardening Specialist. Expert Interview. 3 September 2021.
• ↑ https://blogs.massaudubon.org/moosehilltracksandtrails/how-to-grow-beans-in-cotton-very-easy/
• ↑ https://lifeatthezoo.com/growing-beans-science-home/
• ↑ https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/library/gardening/green-beans/
• ↑ http://cssf.usc.edu/History/2010/Projects/S2001.pdf

About This Article

If you have any dry bean seeds, you can easily grow them in damp cotton balls. All you’ll need to do is fill plastic cups or glass jars ¾ full of damp cotton balls. Then, bury the beans 1 inch apart with 2 or 3 to a cup. The beans only need 30 minutes of direct sunlight every day. The rest of the time, keep them in a well-lit area away from windows. When the cotton balls start to get dry, water them to keep them damp. Your beans should start to sprout after about 3 days. Once they’ve reached 8 inches, they’ll be ready to replant in soil. For more tips, including how to transplant your beans, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Germinate Seeds and Watch Them Sprout on the Windowsill

No need for dirt in this gardening activity, your child will "plant" a bean in a plastic bag - then watch it sprout.

Get ready for gardening with this simple experiment that lets kids observe seed germination, minus the dirt!

Watching a sprout emerge from a dry seed is nothing short of miraculous. Plant a bean in a plastic bag to watch roots form and leaves emerge before your very eyes.

You’ll Need

• S mall plastic zipper storage bag
• Dried, uncooked beans, peas, or seeds
• Paper towels

Safety Tips and Hints

• Dried beans are choking hazards for small children.
• For this experiment, choose a window where the seeds will get plenty of light, but won’t be blasted by intense sun all day. If your windows are freezing cold, tape the bag to a clear glass or vase in a sunny spot indoors, rather than a window.

Step 4: Seal the bag part way, leaving an opening near the top so the growing plants can get some air. 

Step 6: Read the section below, on the science behind the fun, to your child so that she knows what to look for as the seed germinates and grows.

The Science Behind the Fun

Dried beans and peas are seed that contain dormant (sleeping) baby plants. These tiny plants need signals to make them “wake up” and emerge from the seed. Germination is the name for the processes the plant goes through in order to sprout from the seed and form leaves.

Plants need special signals to germinate, including light, air, and water. Temperature can also play a role, which is why you don’t want to put your seed against a freezing cold window.

When a plant first sprouts, it gets nutrients from the seed. You can see the seed shrinking as the plant grows. As a plant matures (gets older), it depends on roots and leaves to collect the energy it needs. Once it reaches a certain size and uses up the nutrients in the seed, your window sprout will have to be transplanted into soil to survive.

Creative Enrichment

Record the beans’ germination by drawing and measuring them each day. Have your child make a science notebook and use it to record his observations. 

What happens if you do the same experiment, but put one bag of beans in a window, and another one in a dark closet?

Plant more than one type of bean or seed to compare how quickly they grow.

You can find more experiments like this one at kitchenpantryscientist.com , and in my books Kitchen Science Lab for Kids (Quarry Books), Outdoor Science Lab for Kids (Quarry Books), and my upcoming book STEAM Lab for Kids: 52 Creative Projects Exploring Science, Technology, Art and Math (available wherever books are sold).

All photos © Kitchen Science Lab for Kids (Quarry Books)

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Kid Science: Grow Beans in a Bag with Free Printable

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Growing beans in a bag is an activity I remember doing when I was in school, so I thought it would be fun to do it with my son. He loved seeing the beans grow, and checked them daily to see if there were any changes!

This is such a great way for your kids to watch the process of how a plant grows. It’s something that we normally don’t get to see, since it usually happens while buried in soil.

All you need is a plastic bag, paper towel, beans, and this (optional) free printable, and you can grow beans in a bag too!

What kind of beans can I use?

Lima beans and pinto beans will grow the fastest, but any dried beans that you already have at home will work.

Jack and the Beanstalk

For toddlers and preschoolers, a fun activity would be to read the book Jack and the Beanstalk , and then to grow these “magic beans” in a bag. The kids will be excited to see the beanstalks shoot up!

How do you grow beans in a bag?

• dried beans
• paper towel
• free printable
• markers/crayons

Step 1: Soak your beans overnight. This step is optional, but it will make your beans grow faster.

Step 2: Color the free printable, then cut out the square in the middle.

Step 3: Slightly wet a paper towel so it’s damp (not soaked) and insert it in the plastic bag. Place the beans in the bag and seal it. Then, tape the bag to the back of the paper.

Step 4: Tape the paper to a window that gets a good amount of sunlight. And that’s it! Sit back, and watch your beans grow! The beans will normally start to sprout in 3-7 days.

The paper towel may get a little moldy over time. If so, gently remove it and replace it with a fresh, damp paper towel.

Once your beans have grown roots and a stem, you can plant them and continue to watch them grow. Check out this Easy Self Watering Milk Jug Planter .

Download the Free Printable

Download the free printable to frame your beans in a bag!

Try these other kid science activities!

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Hi! I'm LeeAnne, a homeschooling mom of two. Thank you for visiting Raising Veggie Lovers, a resource for fun crafts, educational activities, parenting tips and vegetarian recipes.

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Bean Experiment for Kids

How to Grow a Bean in-a-Jar

• An empty jar
• Cotton balls
• A dry bean
• Water & a sunny window
• Begin by wetting several cotton balls and placing them into a jar.  You want the cotton balls to be wet but  not too saturated .  
• Wedge a bean between the cotton balls and the glass of the jar so that your child can easily  observe  the bean growing .

• It is now time to watch & observe.
• Have your child predict what will happen to the bean, and then observe the jar over the next several days.  
• Add a few drops of water to the cotton balls as needed. 

Bean in-a-Jar Experiment

• The bean will begin to change fairly quickly.  Our  beanstalk  began to form after just 1 day.   This is what our bean looked like after 3 days. 

• And this is what we had after just 1 week!

The Science Behind the Fun

• Do you think our bean would grow if it didn't have water?
• Do you think the bean would grow if we put the jar in a closet away from sunlight?
• How do you think the bean is taking in  the water from the cotton balls?
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Written by Brenda • Aug 25, 2022 • Leave a Comment

How To Grow Beans In A Bag – Bean in a Bag Science Experiment for Kids

Doing science with kids is one of my very favorite things. I love how easy it is to show kids the world in a fun, hands-on way. This is why learning how to grow beans in a bag is so much fun!

This bean in a bag science experiment is the perfect simple science experiment to try at home or in the classroom.

It’s super easy, doesn’t take expensive supplies, and the results are impressive. Kids will love learning how simple green bean seeds transform from seed to plant right before their eyes.

How To Grow Beans in a Bag – Easy Bean in a Bag Science Experiment

Whether you’re doing this project in a classroom with a bunch of kids, or doing it at home with just one or two, there is no better or easier science project than the bean in a bag experiment!

You can even experiment with growing other types of seeds like corn, flower seeds, and grass seeds to see if the growing process differs from plant to plant.

Discuss the life cycle of plants and what plants need to grow when doing this experiment with kids.

Germinating Seeds in a Bag Experiment

The bean in a bag experiment is a simple science experiment that shows kids the life cycle of a bean seed up close and personal. This project takes a few weeks to complete so make sure to allow enough time to grow the bean seeds from sprout to plant.

Supplies for Sprouting a Bean in a Bag

You’ll want to have these supplies when you make your green beans in a bag!

• Green bean seeds
• Potting soil
• Plastic baggie
• Paper towels

Directions for the Growing Beans in a Bag

For this activity, you’ll be sprouting green bean seeds and following a plant’s life cycle!

First, dampen some paper towels and put them inside a plastic baggie. Place a few seeds inside the bag and close it. Attach the plastic baggie to a sunny location, like a window.

Wait until the seeds start to sprout. This stage is known as “germination.”

Once the seeds germinate, they are ready to plant. Plant the seeds in a cup or jar filled with potting soil. Place in a sunny location and keep the soil damp.

Over the next few weeks, the sprout will grow into a seedling and eventually a mature plant. Once the seedling has multiple leaf shoots, it is ready to be transplanted outdoors or into a jar.

Plant outside in a sunny location and continue to monitor its growth. In a few months, you’ll see the green bean pods appear!

This simple science activity for kids is the perfect way to watch the growth pattern of the bean. You can try this with other types of beans as well to see the difference.

The kids will learn so much from this simple bean in a bag experiment!

More Science Activities for Kids

• Homemade Thermometer Science Experiment
• Rain Cloud in a Jar
• Exploding Ziploc Bag Experiment

Brenda MacArthur is a STEM curriculum writer, STEM author, and STEM accessibility advocate. She founded the site STEAMsational.com in 2012 which offers hands-on STEM activities for kids and STEM lesson plans for teachers.

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How to Grow Broad Beans in a Jaw – Simple Science Experiments for Kids

This is another childhood favourite of mine – and something that we have done before growing beans in jar it’s a fantastic opportunity for kids to observe the process of plant growth as the seed is visible at all times.

We used a glass jar although you could easily use a plastic jar but clear glass makes the experiment easier to see (if you are worried about the children using glass then like we did last year we grew the beans on our kitchen window sill which the children can’t reach but can easily see inside and outside of the house watching them grow).

Scrunching up Paper Towel J pushed it into the jar and then we watered the paper. From the garden I found a pack of runner bean seeds and explained what they are (J is convinced we are trying to grow baked beans) we talked about how the bean is the seed the same as sunflowers and other seeds that we have been growing in the garden. Demonstrating how to put the beans between the paper and the glass J put in a couple with T observing closely and then T helped as well.

We have added the jar to our window sill nature table and are waiting and watching it grow daily – Last year we did the same experiment as part of the back to basics series E is for Experiments and used Broad Beans which we then grew on the kitchen window sill so that neither J nor T could get the jar off and break it.

Why not keep a seed journal as you grow your bean in the jar with this Activity Pack that includes information about the seeds, seed journal and more.

It’s great to introduce some simple science at home to your kids lives – we’ve currently got frog spawn in a tank (the tupperware container got too small when J decided we needed more frog spawn to observe) and some seeds growing.

Try these other easy Science Experiments to do at Home

Chromatography Experiment – Separating Ink

Exploring Plant Structure with Celery

Growing Crystals

Testing Materials – what makes balls bounce

Energy transfer with a cotton reel car

Viewing the Constellations – with a show box viewer

Exploring how colours are made (no mess experiment using light)

Sea Turtle Conservation Lessons away from the Beach

Check out these other fun science at home that you could enjoy

Exploring how plants drink with a colour experiment – you can do it with daisies like above or even with daffodils .

With a few easy to set up science experiments our Back to Basics is a lot of science fun for kids.

We grew carrots from the tops cut off – another easy to set up and fun experiment to show growth to kids.

I luv ur blog. How do I helpma kid write a report in a tabular form after observing beans growth for 7 days? Plz help me.

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I love all the projects you have going at once! Our bean seeds still haven’t sprouted but we have high hopes.

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Growing Beans – Science for Kids

Categories Science , Spring , STEM

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.

Disclosure: Adult supervision is required for all activities at all times.

As the weather warms up, now is the perfect time to try some of these Spring activities for kids . I don’t know about you, but there’s something about the change in seasons that gets my kids excited about learning. Or you can invest in the Spring Activity Pack , which is filled with educational ideas for young kids.

Table of Contents

• Materials Needed

Instructions

Faq’s.

• More Spring STEM Activities

Materials needed

• Bean plants
• Cotton balls, or wet paper towel

Growing Beans – Step by Step Instructions

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.

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.

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 .

Spring Activity Pack

Over 90+ pages of Spring themed play based learning activities and craft templates. Perfect for preschool and kindergarten.

Are you going to try Growing Beans with your kids? Don’t forget to pin the idea for later.

Growing Beans Science Activity

Watch as beans sprout into baby plants. This is a wonderful science activity for kids to try this Spring time.

• Soak the beans.
• Lay cotton balls on the bottom of your glass jar.
• Place the beans on the side of the jar.
• Complete by adding more cotton balls.
• Find a sunny spot.
• Watch and wait.
• Plant your beans in the garden.

You May Also Like

STEM Activities for Kids

Spring Activities for Kids

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Beans in a Jar

Spring is in the air and it’s time to get prepared for blooms and blossoms! A fun project for the Spring season is growing a bean plant in a jar. Guess how fast the plant will grow and what conditions will improve its growth. It’s an easy project for the start of the planting season!

Items Needed:

• Dry Bean (Lima beans work well)
• Cotton balls or Napkins
• Sunny Window
• Wet the cotton balls or napkins and place them in the jar. Cotton balls should be wet but not soggy.
• Push the cotton balls up against the side of the jar and wedge the bean into the cotton balls so you can watch the bean develop.
• Put the bean in the jar in a sunny window. Guess what will happen in the next few days. When will it start to grow? How long will it take?
• Observe the bean over the next few days. Add water to the cotton balls if they start to dry out.
• Soon, you’ll have a bean plant of your own!

It’s so much fun to grow plants! Let’s Make it an Experiment!

To expand this project and make it more like an experiment, plant multiple beans in separate jars. Put one in a sunny window, one under a lamp, and one in a dark corner. Write down your ideas about what will happen. Measure the plant growth every day for one week to see the differences. Why do you think there are differences?

You can also use three different types of beans – black bean, lima bean, kidney bean – and place them in separate jars, in a sunny window. Measure the plants every day for one week. Which one grows taller? Which one grows fastest? What other differences or similarities do you notice?

When your bean plant outgrows its jar, you can plant it in your garden or in a pot, and take care of it for the season. If keeping it outdoors, make sure the temperature is above 65 degrees Fahrenheit before putting it outside. Add sunshine and water, and it will be a happy plant!

Photo Credit: http://cottonridgehomeschool.com/2014/12/10/science-with-children-sprouting-beans-and-growing-bean-plants/

More Experiments

Northern Virginia Science Center Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that operates the Children's Science Center Lab at Fair Oaks Mall and STEM programs traveling to schools and other community venues across the region. The Foundation is also developing the Northern Virginia Science Center in Dulles, VA, a world-class, interactive regional science center for families, students and learners of all ages made possible through a pivotal public-private partnership. Learn more about our mission today at childsci.org and our vision for the future at novasci.org.

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Growing Beans on Cotton Balls

April 18, 2012 by Anna Ranson

We have been doing lots of indoor growing recently and planted some beans at the same time that we  grew our cress letters  last month. This is a really easy, visual way to teach children about root systems and is something I used to do with my school children each Spring time. Plus it’s very exciting to watch how FAST the plants grow!

All you need for this easy activity is a glass jar or bottle, some cotton wool balls/ wads and a bean!

First of all Cakie stuffed cotton wool balls into a glass jam jar. Then she simply stuck one bean on either side of the jar so that we could watch 2 growing at once. We used butter beans straight out of the packet that we bought in the dried beans and pulses section in the supermarket. (We used these same beans in our Baking Sensory tub!) Next, she watered it until the cotton wool was damp but not too wet, and placed the jar in the window.

Within 2-3 days the bean started to sprout a small root, and 2-3 days later it grew these little tendrils.

Another 4-5 days and the bean developed a large network of shoots coming off the main root, and a sturdy stem grew straight upwards and above the top of the cotton wool. It dropped the shrivelled husk of the bean skin and looked ready to open up!

Just a day or so later and 2 big, dark green leaves began to unfurl. Cakie was very excited by this development!

And finally, 4-5 days later the beans were growing very steadily, tall and spindly with large leaves seeking out more sunlight. 

We carefully removed them from the jar and examined the complex network of roots that had, by this time, entangled themselves around the cotton wool balls at the bottom. We teased the roots off the cotton wool and replanted the beans into soil in pots in the garden. The girls watered them and are now watching their rapid growth outside with much excitement!

Extension Activities:

Older children could measure the beans each day and record their growth progress in a “bean diary.” They can draw a picture of what the plant looks like every 3-4 days, add a measurement and label the diagram with the parts of the plant as they develop. Alternatively, they could record using a digital camera and printing and sticking in their own photos.

Learning Links:

• knowledge and understanding of the world/ science:  talk about what plants need to grow, examine roots and discuss how plants absorb water, talk about leaves and what they are for, discuss life-cycles and growth
• phse:  talk about growing and life-cycles in relation to growing from a baby to a toddler to a child, look at photos over time and note changes
• maths:  measure the growth of the bean and make comparisons, create a growth chart to track progress
• literacy:  make a bean diary and chart the appearance of the bean on each day with diagrams and labels

Cakie: 3 years 6 months

Pop: 2 years

Do you remember doing this at school or at home when you were little?

April 18, 2012 at 3:55 pm

beautifully captures, this activity never gets tired, thanks for the reminder

April 18, 2012 at 4:34 pm

Wow that is really cool! Something I may have to try with my son. Thanks for sharing 🙂

April 18, 2012 at 9:10 pm

I don’t think I realized how fast they grow! This would be something that I could do with my toddler where we’d have a growing plant before he lost interest! 🙂

April 18, 2012 at 9:54 pm

Fantastic photos of this loved activity!

April 19, 2012 at 1:43 am

Great pictures. This is an activity that is always engaging! Renee

April 19, 2012 at 7:40 am

I didn’t realise they grew so fast, great idea for young children

April 19, 2012 at 8:46 am

This is great isn’t it we have some growing at the moment too!

April 19, 2012 at 2:10 pm

Do you need to use a special type of dried bean or will any old bean do?

April 19, 2012 at 5:47 pm

Wow this is impressive! I remember this from my primary school days, we used toilet tissue I think, sadly my tree never sprouted that well, lol.

April 19, 2012 at 9:56 pm

Fantastic post, I’m going to do this tomorrow with The Boy as we’ve been growing seeds but I’d like him to understand the root system and how the plant comes out of the seed.

April 28, 2012 at 2:14 pm

Can you use any bean? Like, for exampel.. uh.. macadamias? peanuts? or do they have to be really dry and all? (I live in sweden so it’s kinda hard for me to find those kind of beans..)

May 17, 2012 at 5:31 pm

Macadamias and Peanuts are not beans, they are nuts. You can use most dried beans though.

May 21, 2012 at 7:14 pm

Actually, a peanut isn’t a nut, it is a legume. You can do this with a raw peanut. Just remove from the shell.

April 28, 2012 at 3:17 pm

This comment has been removed by the author.

April 28, 2012 at 3:19 pm

Well done! I love that you list “Learning Links” explicitly at the end of your post! We are currently watching corn seeds germinate. We live in the midwest with corn around us everywhere. So we planted ours the same day the farmer planted his in the field. We are watching and comparing ours to the field next to our house. Then we’ll pick randomly select, and mark 5 field stalks to measure and observe throughout the summer and fall. I’ll be posting about his project soon. I’m a new follower of your blog, I LOVE it! 🙂

October 27, 2012 at 3:45 pm

Thank you Darci!

September 17, 2012 at 5:49 am

thank you so much for posting this idea, the method in planting the beans, the pictures, and the “Extension Activities”!!!! magnificent!! 😀

thank you so much!

September 23, 2012 at 11:00 am

First of all, thank you so much for making this wonderful blog with many different interesting activities. Please could you let me know what kind of bean you used in this picture? was it Mung Bean? but it is white and quite bigger than Mung Bean. Thank you once again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

October 27, 2012 at 3:44 pm

It’s a butter bean. I did write it in the post but I should edit and make it more obvious as a few people have asked! Thanks for sweet words about the blog!

October 26, 2012 at 7:21 am

what type of bean is this?

these were butter beans

October 27, 2012 at 7:24 pm

is it normal for the beans to start smelling?

October 28, 2012 at 12:21 am

yes it is. then they sprout

November 2, 2012 at 7:01 am

November 2, 2012 at 7:02 am

Do these attract fruit flies? Thanks. Lovely project.

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Science Fun

Blossoming Beans

• 1 pinto bean
• 1 Ziploc bag
• 1 paper towel
• Spray bottle for holding water

Instructions:

• Dampen paper towel with spray bottle
• Place wet paper towel in Ziploc Bag
• Place bean on top of wet paper towel
• Close Ziploc Bag
• Place Ziploc Bag in a warm, sunny spot
• Add water to paper towel when it dries out
• Observe your plant growing in 3-5 days!

VIDEO COMING SOON BUT YOU CAN STILL ENJOY THESE AWESOME EXPERIMENTS!

How it Works:

What’s going on? Germination! That means the plant is sprouting it’s roots. Awesome! Usually, you can’t see the roots sprout when the seed is under soil, but since there is no soil in this experiment you can see the whole process.

Extra Experiments:

• Prepare two bean plants, but put one in a sunny area and one in a dark area. Observe their similarities and differences and chart them down.
• Chart your bean plant’s growth each day using a ruler.
• After 2 weeks, move your bean plant to some soil. Don’t forget to water it and give it some sun!

EXPLORE TONS OF FUN AND EASY SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS!

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Life At The Zoo

Growing beans – science at home.

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We have been very busy here at Life At The Zoo.. but not always had the time to share our activities – such as this Growing Beans activity. We have lots of photos to share and will hopefully do so over the coming days and weeks. We have been particularly busy with Gardening with Kids, and exploring “Growing” Science activities. Today’s activity, has a little twist on the simple, easy and fun “Growing Beans” experiment.

A wonderful image showing the classic “Bean Growing” observations – you can see the roots forming and the shoot and leaves going up “stretching” towards the light.

We decided to watch beans grow… but we also decided to see what happens if you keep one bean in darkness and one in the light. Would one grow quicker than the other? Would one grow BETTER than the other? Let’s see….

2) Line it with kitchen towel paper or cotton wool buds. Then tuck your bean (it can be any bean – a broad bean or a runner bean – between the glass and the tissue.  We actually prepped 6 beans like this “just in case”.

3) Squirt with plenty of water. You want the tissue to wet, but you don’t want the bean to swimming in water – in case it gets mouldy.

4) We placed on glass into a “cardboard box” to darken it and to see what would happen.

Now wait. And make sure the towel stays moist!!!

Growing Bean Experiment – Results

After 2-3 days our beans started to grow. Interestingly… not all beans “hatched” at the same time. In fact some took well over a week. BUT, ONE of the beans in the dark, and ONE NOT in the dark started sprouting at the same time.

This tells us, that the light has little to do with it. The bean itself contains enough energy for it to start growing – the growth is stimulated by the wet and the temperature around the bean – telling the bean it is time to grow.

We continued to keep one been in darkness and one in light. Look at the difference:

I would say that the difference is minimal. Yes, the bean grown in the light has a few more leaves. But then the bean on the left grew better than some of our other “test beans” that DID get light. I would not say that the growth or colour difference is significant enough to say, that light is necessary for the bean to grow well at this stage.

All the bean needs is water, a warm environment and the energy stored within.

You could argue that “this makes sense”. As the bean buried in the earth, doesn’t get light either. It is only once it breaks through the surface, that it starts to stretch and reach out towards the light.

After this, we planted all the beans out in the garden 3-4 weeks later they are quite tall already and have started to bloom. We look forward to the broad beans beginning to from!

Your little scientist may also enjoy these DIY Catapults !

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What type of beans did you use?

Broad Beans! Enjoy

Wow good post. thanks for sharing it with us.

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Grow a Bean Plant

With this fun and simple science experiment, kids can get hands-on planting some beans and watching them grow. All you need is a few beans and household items to grow your own bean plant. Plus, this printable recording sheet makes it easy for kids to keep track of how their plants are doing. Seeing the bean plant sprout and grow is sure to inspire budding green thumbs!

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Bean Plant Experiment for Kids – Update

A couple weeks ago I posted one of my favorite science experiments while I taught 5th grade.  You can see how to set up your bean plant experiment for kids by clicking here.   Here’s an update after 11 days of plant growth.  Please post a comment and let me know how this science experiment worked for your students.

You can barely see the roots growing out of the beans.

See the roots, stems and leaves.

Use your nature journal to track the growth of your bean plant.  Draw a picture of the bean each day.  Be sure to label the date. If you like this science experiment, please pin it with the pin button below the photo.

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How often do you put water in the bags? Is it every day? Or do you just observe what happens from the first day? Thanks!

When the paper towel starts to dry out, the kids pour enough water to wet the towel. Sometimes there’s a bit in the bottom that the towel can soak up (1/4-1/2″). If you have more than 1/2″ water in the bottom of the baggie, you have too much water. Hope that helps.

This is really cool – what a fun idea!

Glad you like it. Hope your kids enjoy it too

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