‘Wear a Bean’
Materials needed:
- Small plastic ‘Ziploc’ sack, the size of a coin envelope (can use the smallest size ‘Ziploc’ sack if that is all that is available)
- 2 sheets of moistened paper towel, folded in half
- 1 large lima bean
- Piece of yarn or string
Process:
- Place the bean on a paper towel, fold the towel over the bean & place it in the sack, closing the sack.
- Punch a hole on either side of the top of the bag, insert yarn or string, and tie around the child’s neck for the day, taking off the sack from around the neck each night and leaving it flat on a table.
- Each day, open the sack, remove the bean, blow on it to introduce carbon dioxide, and replace the ‘bean necklace’ around the child’s neck. The warmth of the body stimulates germination.
Notice:
- The bean increases in size after several days as water is drawn into the seed.
- The seed coat softens.
- Using your fingers, carefully scrape off the seed coat & separate the seed halves.
- It’s fun to notice the first emergence of a baby ‘root’, stem and later, the first seedling leaves.
