Bean In A Jar
A bean, a jar, and a week of checking on it every morning.
- Ages
- 3–11 yrs
- Play
- 10–20 min
- Prep
- 10 min
- Mess
- barely any
- Energy
- calm
- Where
- at the table
You’ll need
Mostly things you probably have at home.
- dried beans or seedsGet it on Amazon
- a clear jar or glass
- cotton wool or paper towelsGet it on Amazon
- water
Optional
- a ruler to measure growthGet it on Amazon
- pens to draw the diaryGet it on Amazon
- paper for a growth diaryGet it on Amazon
How to play
Before you start: Soak a couple of dried beans in water overnight — it speeds everything up by days.
Pack the jar with damp cotton wool or paper towels.
Push two beans down the side so they are pressed against the glass and visible.
Put it somewhere warm and light, and agree whose job the daily check is.
Draw what you see each day on a strip of paper — one box per day.
After about a week the root comes first, then the shoot. Measure it and add the number to the diary.
Keep it safe
- Dried beans are a choking hazard and some varieties are toxic raw — this is a look-don't-eat activity.
Make it different next time
- Put one jar in a cabinet and one on the windowsill and compare.
- Plant the sprouted bean in soil once the shoot appears.
Cleanup: Once it outgrows the jar, plant it outside or compost it.
Three more like this
- Good for siblings
