Bean Race

Which beans grow the fastest- butter beans, kidney beans, aduki beans, soy beans or cannelloni beans? The children in your summer or after-school program can do this fun, easy science experiment over the course of just a few days to observe which bean sprouts the fastest and grows the tallest.

Select a variety of dried beans and soak them in water overnight. The beans should be covered while left to soak.

Fill a glass with a damp paper towel wrapped around the interior of the glass (the edge of the towel should touch the bottom of the glass). Place the beans approximately halfway up spaced around the inside of the glass so that the children can observe the beans as they sprout. Place the glass in a sunny location and have children monitor the beans over the next several days as they sprout. The towel should be kept damp but not soggy.

The bean that sprouts the fastest and grows the tallest is the winner! Read more about sprouting beans and growing other plants indoors at the Bizarre Labs website.