Posted in Homeschool

Simple Journey Ministries Presents

Mom, I’m Bored!

Bean Germination

Summertime is the perfect time for a little project that is simple, yet will give the kids something to do each day for several days. All that sunlight coming through the windows is the perfect setting for a bean germination project. I am willing to guess you have all the materials you need in your home right now. Let’s check it out.

Materials

·         Zip style plastic bag (one for each child)

·         Beans of choice (one or two for each child)

·         Paper towels

·         Water

·         Tape

·         Stapler

See, I told you had everything you need. Now, let’s look at how to do this simple project.

1.      Soak beans in a small cup with some water for 24 hours.

2.      The next day, dampen paper towel and fold in half. Place bean(s) inside fold of paper towel.

3.      Place paper towel in bag and staple the top, so it doesn’t slip down. Seal bag.

4.      Have child pick a window and tape bag to window pane.

5.      Each day have child observe the changes in the bean(s). Have them write a few words or sentences (or have child dictate while you transcribe) about each day. Take photos each day or have your children draw pictures to note the changes they observe. Once the sprouts begin growing, change the direction of the bag and re-tape to the window pane and observe how the sprout changes.

You can ask some great thinking questions such as:

Why does the sprout grow upward?

Did changing the direction of the bag affect the direction of the sprout?

Why does the bag need to be in the light?

Why is the water an important element?

Does the root change in as it grows?

Have fun with this GREAT summertime activity.

These are my thoughts.