Grow a Bean in a Jar
A bean pressed against damp paper towel in a jar so its roots and shoot are visible over a week.
Thinking
3–9 years
10–15 min
Calm
Low mess
At home
What you need
- Clear glass jar
- Paper towel
- A few dried beans (butter beans work well)
- Water
Setup
- Line the inside of a clear jar with folded damp paper towel
- Tuck two or three beans between the paper towel and the glass
- Keep the paper towel damp and place the jar on a sunny windowsill
Play prompts
- What do you think will grow first, the roots or the leaves?
- Can you check on it each morning and describe what changed?
- Which bean is growing the fastest?
Ways to change it up
- Start a second jar in a dark cupboard and compare growth
- Once it sprouts, plant it in soil and keep watching
Safety notes
- Dried beans are a choking hazard for toddlers who mouth objects, supervise closely
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