Soak untreated planting beans overnight. Dampen a paper towel, tuck it inside an open clear cup, and put the beans between the towel and cup wall. Keep the cup warm in indirect daylight. Keep the towel damp, not soaking. Once roots and leaves develop, ask an adult to help move the seedling into soil.
With a grown-up: use untreated planting beans; do not eat seeds or sprouts. Keep small seeds away from younger children. Wash hands after handling. An adult should discard any mouldy setup.
Read the complete activity guide ↗
Explore before you start.
Seeds need water, air and a suitable temperature to germinate. Their stored food supports early growth. The leaves later use light to help the plant make food.
Look at the picture, talk about what you notice, then use the drawing and writing spaces below. Open the picture for a closer look.
Why a clear cup?
The cup lets you watch roots appear without digging up the seed. Turn it gently to look from different sides.
Damp, not flooded
Squeeze excess water from the towel before placing it in the cup. Seeds need air as well as water; a pool at the bottom is not the goal.
What should I look for?
Notice changes in the seed coat, a small root and then a shoot. Record the order you observe rather than expecting a fixed timetable.
Use a finger, stylus or mouse in each drawing box. Type below it, or ask a grown-up to write your words. Your work stays in this tab. Save before refreshing or leaving.
My prediction
What do you think will happen to your bean?
My setup
Draw your cup and bean. Describe the place where you will keep it.
Your ideas belong here. There is no score.
What are we learning?
Seeds need water, air and a suitable temperature to germinate. Their stored food supports early growth. The leaves later use light to help the plant make food.
Prefer a worksheet?
Open the individual cartoon activity sheet to print or save. Use portrait orientation and fit to page.
Open worksheet to save ↓Try another little investigation.
01My Plant DiaryLook at the same bean over several days. Record what you actually see—even if nothing has changed yet.
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02How Tall Is Your Plant?Once your seedling is planted in soil, measure its height and compare your records.
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03Parts of My PlantLook for a seed, root, stem and leaf. Draw each part, name it and describe what it does.
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04My Bean LeafBecome a leaf detective. Look gently and leave the leaf attached to the plant.
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05Life Cycle of a Bean PlantFollow a bean from seed to new seeds. Use the picture cards, then explain the changes in your own words.
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06Decorate Your PlantDesign an imaginary plant with leaves, flowers, pods and seeds. Draw on screen or use the printable cutouts.
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