You don't need a yard to teach your kids about how plants grow! Growing beansprouts in a jar is an easy indoor gardening activity for kids. This is an immensely satisfying activity since it produces results so quickly. No waiting around days or weeks to see anything growing!
Sprouting beans is a classic classroom science project and gives kids the opportunity to learn about how seeds sprout and grow.
Materials
Glass jar
Paper towels
Bean seeds, any variety
Water
Instructions
Wet the paper towels and bunch them up into the bottom of the glass jar.
Nestle 5 or so beans into the wet paper towels and place the jar in a sunny spot.
The very next day we saw sprouts and we are amazed at their progress. The sprouts grow nearly an entire inch each day! In addition, the glass jar allows children to observe root growth and notice how seeds germinate first by growing roots.
If the paper towel starts to dry out, use a spray bottle to keep it moist. You can't imagine how much kids enjoy using spray bottles!
(Almost) Instant gardening gratification!
Resources
These books about seeds sprouting are excellent resources to teach kids about the garden science they are witnessing as they watch their beans sprout. (Book titles are affiliate links.)
A Seed is the Start by Melissa Stewart
A Seed is Sleepy by Dianna Aston, illustrated by Sylvia Long
A Bean's Life Cycle by Mary R. Dunn
A Seed Grows by Antoinette Portis
Explore more plant science:
- Growing paperwhites
- Plant Science Activity with Kids (seed sprouting race!)
- Regrowing Vegetables from Scraps
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