Grow-a-Bean Diary

Sprout a bean in a clear jar so you can watch the roots and shoot grow, recording changes over two weeks in an observation diary.

What children will learn

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Two or three dried beans from the pantry (such as broad beans or borlotti beans)
A clear jar
Paper towel or cotton wool
Water
A ruler

Don't eat the soaked or sprouted beans — some raw beans can make you sick.
Wash hands after handling beans, soil or potting mix.
An adult should handle glass jars with younger children; a clear plastic cup works too.

Soak the beans in water overnight.
Line the inside of the jar with scrunched paper towel, and wedge the beans between the towel and the glass so you can see them.
Add a little water to the bottom of the jar so the towel stays damp but the beans aren't sitting in water. Place the jar somewhere bright but out of direct hot sun.
On each diary day, measure the shoot in millimetres, count the leaves and draw or write what you notice.
After two weeks, plant the strongest seedling in a pot or garden bed and compare your first and last diary entries.

Draw a picture of the bean on each diary day instead of measuring.

Grow two jars — one in a dark cupboard and one in the light — and compare how they grow.

Parent tip: Plant two or three beans in case one doesn't sprout — it avoids disappointment and gives a chance to compare.

Name: ____________________ Date: ____________

Check your bean on each diary day. Measure the shoot, count the leaves and write what you notice.

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Fantastic work! Every little step helps you grow.