Exploring Germination

Here’s an activity to get kids excited for spring! With just a Ziploc bag, a few dried beans, a paper towel, and a dose of patience children can observe the wonder of nature’s new growth right in the classroom!

 Instructions:

1. Place a damp, folded paper towel into a Ziploc bag.
2. Insert 5 staples about halfway up the bag. This will keep the beans in the right place so that there's room to watch the roots grow. 

      3. Place a few beans into the bag.

     4. Tape the bag onto a wall or window. Add water as needed to keep the paper towel damp. 

Watch what happens!

Three days after “planting” the first roots appear.  

And a few days later: The stems start to push upward.  

After ten days the leaves begin to peek out of the seed coat. 

And at two weeks, the first true leaves appear while the stem continues to grow and grow!

One student brought his bean shoot home, transplanted it in dirt, and proudly reported that his plant grew three bean pods!