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Materials
Bean seeds - Small jars or clear plastic cups
- Paper towel - Water
What
to do
| 1. |
Fold
one paper towel into a strip about 8 centimetres
wide and line the inside of the jar with it.
Wad a second paper towel into a ball and place
it inside the circle made by the first. |
| 2. |
Place
the bean seed between the side of the jar
and the paper towel, about 2 cm. from the
bottom of the jar. You should have a clear
view of the bean. |
| 3.
|
Gently
pour water into the jar until the paper towels
are completely wet. |
| 4. |
Put the jar into a warm, sunny place, on a
window ledge for example, and check it every
day to see that the paper towel is moist and
check what is happening to the seed. |
What
to expect
A few days after the seed has been "planted",
the young stem breaks out of the seed and begins
to grow downward. It will form the main root and
then the smaller roots. At the same time the upper
part of the stem quickly grows upward toward the
sunlight, taking the seed and the food supply
(the cotyledons) with it.
The
plant then breaks through to the surface and the
cotyledons form the first leaves. They
will store the food for the new plant. The real
leaves will grow from the tiny plant inside.
Monitor
plant growth over the next few weeks.
Plant
some seeds in a garden bed, pots or polystyrene
boxes outside. Students can watch the seed in
their jars to know what is happening at the same
time under the ground outside.
Grow
some beans to eat raw, to feed to pet animals,
to cook.
Other
vegetables which are quick and easy to grow and
are likely to appeal to children are peas, especially
snap peas, tiny tomatoes and baby carrots. Grow
some lettuce for the birds and animals at your
school or home.
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