lima bean baggie experiment

How To Grow A Lima Bean In A Bag

Things needed.

Dry lima beans

Paper towels

Spray bottle

Gallon-size plastic zippered bag

You can safely transplant the lima beans outside after three to four weeks. They will need plenty of direct sunlight as they grow, and the soil will need to stay moist. Wait one or two weeks after the last frost before transplanting to prevent the seedlings from being damaged.

Sprouting lima beans in a plastic bag creates an exciting experiment for young children. Lima beans can easily begin growing roots and shoots when supplied with the right growing conditions. Soaked paper towels create enough moisture to allow the beans to grow, while sunlight heats the plastic bag and generates humidity. Once the lima beans inside the plastic bag sprout, you can transplant them to a flower pot or grow them in your garden.

Soak the lima beans overnight in cold water to help start germination. You will only need to soak four or five beans to get at least two or three that will sprout. Place enough water in a bowl to cover the lima beans.

Lay four or five sheets of paper towels on top of each other. Spread the soaked beans in single layer on the paper towels. Place another layer of four or five paper towels on top of the lima beans.

Fill a spray bottle with water. Spray the paper towels with a fine mist of water until they are thoroughly damp.

Slide the moistened paper towels, with the beans between them, into a gallon-size plastic zippered bag.

Seal the zippered bag tight. Leave some air inside the bag to aid in the germination process. Place the sealed bag on a windowsill to allow the beans to stay warm and receive plenty of sunlight.

Check on the beans in the bag every day and spray more water on the paper towels if they appear dry. Green shoots should begin sprouting from the roots in a few days' time.

Fill a flowerpot with soil. Use your fingers to create a 1-inch hole for each sprouted lima bean. Keep the holes at least 3 or 4 inches apart. You may need to use more than one flowerpot.

Drop one sprout into each hole and cover with soil. Water enough to moisten the soil and place the flowerpot in a sunny location.

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Kid Science: Grow Beans in a Bag with Free Printable

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Growing beans in a bag is an activity I remember doing when I was in school, so I thought it would be fun to do it with my son. He loved seeing the beans grow, and checked them daily to see if there were any changes!

This is such a great way for your kids to watch the process of how a plant grows. It’s something that we normally don’t get to see, since it usually happens while buried in soil.

All you need is a plastic bag, paper towel, beans, and this (optional) free printable, and you can grow beans in a bag too!

What kind of beans can I use?

Lima beans and pinto beans will grow the fastest, but any dried beans that you already have at home will work.

Jack and the Beanstalk

For toddlers and preschoolers, a fun activity would be to read the book Jack and the Beanstalk , and then to grow these “magic beans” in a bag. The kids will be excited to see the beanstalks shoot up!

How do you grow beans in a bag?

• dried beans
• paper towel
• free printable
• markers/crayons

Step 1: Soak your beans overnight. This step is optional, but it will make your beans grow faster.

Step 2: Color the free printable, then cut out the square in the middle.

Step 3: Slightly wet a paper towel so it’s damp (not soaked) and insert it in the plastic bag. Place the beans in the bag and seal it. Then, tape the bag to the back of the paper.

Step 4: Tape the paper to a window that gets a good amount of sunlight. And that’s it! Sit back, and watch your beans grow! The beans will normally start to sprout in 3-7 days.

The paper towel may get a little moldy over time. If so, gently remove it and replace it with a fresh, damp paper towel.

Once your beans have grown roots and a stem, you can plant them and continue to watch them grow. Check out this Easy Self Watering Milk Jug Planter .

Download the Free Printable

Download the free printable to frame your beans in a bag!

Try these other kid science activities!

• How to Make Your Own Dinosaur Fossil Rocks

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Hi! I'm LeeAnne, a homeschooling mom of two. Thank you for visiting Raising Veggie Lovers, a resource for fun crafts, educational activities, parenting tips and vegetarian recipes.

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Science Fun

Bean In A Bag Plant Science Experiment

We love plants at Science Fun For Everyone and in this plant science experiment we are going to show you how to start your very own bean plant in a bag. Once your bean in a bag sprouts, you can then transfer it to soil and watch it grow. The bean in a bag plant science experiment is a fantastic activity to alter and manipulate to learn many fascinating things about plants for your next science project. 

• 2 – zip close plastic baggies
• 2 – paper towel sheets
• Dry beans – Pinto, lima, navy, and black beans all work well for this plant science experiment.

Instructions:

• Fold each of the paper towels in a way that they will lay flat inside the zip close baggies.
• Saturate the paper towels with water.
• Put one of the folded paper towels into each zip close baggie.
• Put a few beans in each baggie on top of the wet paper towel.
• Zip the bags closed.
• Carefully place one bag in a sunny place and the other in a dark place without disturbing the beans.
• Check each bag daily and record any changes you observe in the beans. 

EXPLORE AWESOME SCIENCE EXPERIMENT VIDEOS!

How it Works:

The dry beans are simply the seeds of bean plants and only need water, oxygen, and warmth to germinate. Once the seeds sprout, they will then need soil and sunlight to survive and grow.  

Make This A Science Project:

Test different types on beans and record your observations. Try other types of seeds. Try the bean in the bag plant science experiment at different temperatures by setting a bag in the refrigerator.  

EXPLORE TONS OF FUN AND EASY SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS!

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Next experiment.

Growing lima beans in a bag

Growing lima beans in a bag is easy, and the activity can be brought inside the classroom, where they can be checked on each day. In bags, the conditions can also be easily changed to extend the activity into an experiment to test where beans grow best.

Pre-soaked beans will germinate quickly, after two to five days, and students will get to see both the leaves and root systems as they grow.

Before you start, soak the lima beans overnight to speed up germination.

Place the beans into a bag with some moist paper towels.

Tape the bag onto a window or sunny wall and make sure it is in a warm position.

Use a couple of staples half-way up the bag to keep the beans in position, leaving space in between for the roots to grow.

Growing the beans inside allows students to check on their growth each day, and to check that they are kept moist.

Germinate seeds in paper towel

Most seeds will germinate if they are kept in a moist paper towel at the right temperature.

Once the roots start growing into the paper towel, they can be hard to separate without damaging them.

To avoid damaging the roots, you can plant the entire paper towel and seed directly into the soil.

Growing lima beans in a baggie

Lima beans can be grown in a baggie which allows you to see the growing process that usually happens beneath the soil. The plastic stops the seed from drying out too quickly, and baggies are easy to tape onto a window, where they will get enough light even indoors.

The bags are also easy to tape up onto a window where they will get enough light, and there is no risk of spilling soil all over the classroom.

Steps to planting a seed worksheet

You can ask about what they think they will see, and how long they think it will take for the seed to sprout and start growing.

After the growing baggies have been set up, ask the students to write down the things that the plant needs to grow.

See here for our full post on the science of photosynthesis.

Before students begin the activity, ask them to write down what they think will happen and how long they think it will take to start growing. After seeds have been planted, ask them to list the things that the plant needs to grow. Finally, make a journal for the students to record the plant’s growth.

Advanced students can use a keyword list of scientific plant parts, and label them as they see them appear on the growing bean.

Check out our post on the life cycle of a bean plant.

Lima bean experiment

Ask students to set up bags in different conditions, changing the temperature, amount of light, amount of water and amount of air that the growing plants get.

To turn lima bean growing into an experiment, set up baggies with different conditions. Depending on the size of your class, change the amount of water added to bags, the lighting conditions, the temperature and try keeping bags closed or open. See which bags have the fastest growing beans.

Lima bean life cycle

Lima beans absorb water to start the germination process.

They sprout their first root, called a ‘radicle’, which starts to absorb extra nutrients, followed by more roots.

The bean plant grows bigger, forming a stalk and more and more leaves.

When lima beans germinate, they sprout the first root called the ‘radicle’. More roots grow, then the part of the bean that contains the first leaves is pushed above the soil. You will see the first leaves come out, then see the stalk grow bigger with more and more leaves.

When the flower is pollinated, it will start to grow a pod with more beans inside of it.  

How long does it take a seed to germinate

The time it takes for a seed to germinate depends on the type of plant.

If the conditions are right, a lima bean should germinate after 2 – 5 days in a bag. This is much faster than in soil, which is about eighteen days. Some seeds, like radishes, germinate very quickly after a couple of days. Some trees have a very hard seed coat and take two years to germinate!

The bag method speeds up germination, which takes around 18 days when lima beans are planted in soil.

Some seeds can germinate in as little as 2 days, depending on temperature.

Growing lima beans in a bag is a fun and easy classroom activity that can also be extended into an experiment.

Students are not only introduced to the amazing process of growth, they will get to learn about the life cycle of a plant and understand the conditions that a plant needs in order to grow.

Greg Volente

Previous post how to grow beans in a bag, next post how do black beans grow.

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Growing beans in a bag

An experiment to explore germination.

To grow beans in a bag is an experiment that helps children understand germination. It's easy to do, and the children will enjoy it.

Instructions

1. Place several damp, folded paper towels into a zip lock bag. Insert five staples about halfway up the bag. This will keep the beans in the right place so that there's room to watch the roots grow.

3. Place a few beans into the bag.

4. Tape the bag onto a wall or window. Add water as needed to keep the paper towel damp.

5. Watch what happens! About three days after planting the first roots appear...

A few days later: the stems start to push upward.

After ten days the leaves begin to peek out of the seed coat.

Two weeks: the first true leaves appear while the stem continues to grow and grow!

How tall will they get? (Larry is sure they'll touch the ceiling!)

Jessica has been a teacher for more than 15 years, focusing on the Early Years. Her passions are music and art.

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Growing Beans in the Classroom

Nothing like setting up an experiment in the classroom and it not turning out exactly how you expected, right? Well, I’m here to share all my tips and tricks for growing beans in the classroom so your experiments are a success!

• dried beans (pole, bush, or lima beans)
• paper towels
• spray bottle of water
• clear glass jar or small clear plastic cup

My #1 Tip for Success

Before I go any further, I want to tell you the one thing I feel makes or breaks this experiment. It’s what will get you tall, lovely sprouts like the picture above in only ten days:

Soak the Beans in Water Overnight!

I can’t stress enough that you should soak the beans in water overnight beforehand. I’ve tried the experiment with and without soaking the beans. Soaking the beans boosts the germination process and you see roots in a day or two. Within ten days, the bean sprouts have a tall stem with leaves growing out of the top of the jar. When I’ve not presoaked the beans, it took five or six days for the first root to begin to emerge. Even then, the entire germination process seemed to go a lot slower.

Now that you’ve soaked your beans, let’s start the experiment!

• Fill the container about halfway with paper towels.
• Place several beans on the outside of the paper towels in the container so you can watch them grow.
• Spray the paper towels with water to dampen them.
• Place the container near a window or on a window ledge.
• Observe and watch the beans grow over the following days and weeks!

Can the Seeds Grow Without Soil?

We teach students that plants need water, air, sunlight and soil to grow. Some students may wonder how these seeds will grow without soil. It might be helpful to point out that you can germinate seeds, or help them start to grow, without soil. Why? It’s because the food the seed needs to start growing is inside the seed. The seed provides food for a short time and then you must plant the seedling in soil for it to continue to grow.

Experiment Variations

This experiment helps students learn the basic needs of seeds and plants. What happens if they don’t get what they need?

Prepare a few extra jars with beans and alter some of their growing conditions. Observe what happens.

• No water : Don’t soak the beans in water overnight or wet the paper towels in the container.
• No air : Use a sandwich bag for this one. Use a straw to suck as much air from the bag as possible before zipping it shut.
• No sunlight : Place the jars away from windows or even in a dark space like a cabinet.
• Not enough space : Place seeds in a group touching each other.
• No soil : Seeds will germinate without soil, but will they keep growing and produce fruit (beans) if left in the container with no soil? This will take a lot longer to observe. Another option is to plant the beans in sand. Give them water and sunlight, and observe what happens.

Growing Beans FAQs

What beans did you use? I used pole and lima beans. I’ve successfully germinated both kinds.

Do I need beans from a seed packet or can I used dried beans from the grocery store? While you may certainly use a purchased seed packet of beans, I’ve always had success germinating and sprouting dried beans I’ve brought at the grocery store. I recommend soaking and germinating a couple of dried beans at home to make sure your dried beans will work before doing it with your students.

How long will it take to see anything? One or two days if you soak the beans overnight, five or six days if you don’t soak them. I soaked my beans overnight and put them in a jar and baggie. The very next day I already saw the root coming out of most of the beans.

Can I do this experiment anytime of year? I think so! I live in the Midwest and germinated these seeds towards the end of January! Even though it was cold outside and the windows themselves felt cold, there was enough sunlight and warmth to begin germination. If you want to keep the plants alive or transfer them into a garden, you will need to begin germination closer to actual planting time.

What if the paper towels get dry? Use a spray bottle of water to moisten the paper towels if you feel they are too dry.

Can I germinate beans in a sandwich bag? Absolutely! Just place a damp paper towel and several beans in a zip-top sandwich bag and seal it. Then tape or place the bag on or near a window and watch them grow!

Students learn so much about plants by growing beans in the classroom. It’s really fun to watch the little beans grow so quickly. Sometimes there’s a huge difference from day to day. I hope these tricks and tips help you and your students become expert germinators!

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29 Comments

I really enjoy to see the plant growing.

hi this is cool info

Hey there! I am soaking my Lima beans to grow in our classroom and I noticed they are wrinkling and some of them are splitting. Is this normal? Thanks so much for your info! We’re excited to try it!

That’s a great question! The wrinkles are completely normal. As for splitting, when the inside of the bean rehydrates quicker than the outside, the bean will split. It happens sometimes. You can have students examine the split beans to see what’s inside the seed. Good luck and I hope your students enjoy growing their beans!

Hi, I’m a PreK teacher and have found the past several years, that the beans get moldy in the children’s ziplock bags. How can I avoid the mold?

That’s a great question! I might try doing it with glass jars instead of baggies. I’ve never had an issue with mold when growing them in glass jars like I shared in the blog post. I also leave the lid off to allow air circulation.

If you need to use bags, you might try leaving the top open or making a few holes near the top of the zipped bag. Another idea is to only leave the beans in the bags for just a few days and plant them as soon as you can.

I hope these ideas help! Good luck!

Hi Cara! Two easy tricks are 1) spritz rather than soak the towels in water 2) staple a horizontal row of staples about two inches down the bag and place lima beans along the staples before sealing. Veteran teacher tip—best of luck!

They need to wash their hands thoroughly before “planting”.

When do you put the bean in soil?

Hi! I plant them as soon they look like the one pictured with roots, stem, and a few leaves. They shoot up very quickly, so it’s not long before they’re ready to be planted.

Now that my granddaughter brought home her bean,what do we do with? A single plant. Does it need something to climb? Or will it get bushy? We weren’t given any follow up info sadly. HELP

That’s a great question! If you can find out what kind of bean it is, that would be helpful. Some beans are runners and need to be staked or have something to climb, while others don’t. Other than that, just plant it in soil and watch it grow!

I tried this experiment with my class and we have a few moldy plants. We wet the paper towel again every day. Does this mean the plants are dead?

Hi! If you do this experiment again, I suggest just lightly spraying the paper towel with water whenever it feels dry instead of watering them each day. If you soak the beans beforehand, they already have a good bit of water inside them. I also take the top off of the jar after they begin sprouting so air can circulate. Hopefully, doing those two things will stop the mold problem. Good luck!

Suggestions on the bean plant being towering over the cup? Do I need to get dowel rods? I feel bad because my kids are taking them home and I wanted them to be successful .

That’s a great question! Even though the plants stick up over the cup, they’re usually sturdy enough to send home. If you want to give them extra support, you might stick a straw in the cup and gently tie the plant to it. I hope your students have a great experience sprouting seeds!

hi im in 5th grade and when i grow up i will show my children this and might do this for their birthdays

If the seeds have mold, does that mean they are dead? Or can I salvage them?

Additionally, how do I safely transfer them to plant so that students can take home? Do I need a certain type of soil? A pot?

Hi, Alex! Those are great questions. First, if your seeds have mold, I would throw them out and start over. When you try again, here are my tips to avoid mold:

1. Just lightly spray the paper towel with water whenever it feels dry. If you soak the beans beforehand, they already have a good bit of water inside them so they don’t need lots of water. Too much water in the jar or bag will allow mold to grow.

2. Take the top off of the jar after they begin sprouting so air can circulate. If you use zip-top bags, open the bags after the beans sprout.

3. Avoid direct sunlight for long periods. Too much heat inside the jar or bag will cause mold to grow. The beans will still sprout near a window with indirect sunlight.

If you want to plant them for students to take home, use potting soil (not garden soil) and any small plastic container like yogurt cups, bottom half of a water bottle, or other small plastic cups you might have in your recycling bin.

I hope those ideas help! Good luck!

Will pinto beans grow?

Hi, Maria! I’m so sorry I’m just seeing your question! I’m not getting emails when someone posts a comment like I usually do, and I’m not sure why. I haven’t tried pinto beans because I’ve read they don’t sprout as reliably as other beans. It might be interesting for kids to try to grow pinto beans along with other types of beans to see which ones sprout the best.

I have jars without lids. Do I need lids to begin this process?

That’s a great question! You don’t need lids to begin the process. You might put plastic wrap or aluminum foil over the jar for the first few days. I think it’d be interesting for kids to observe a covered jar and one that isn’t. Then, they can see if covering the jar affects growth.

This activity is perfect for children who love to explore what is in store for them in the real world. Thank you so much for sharing this.

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Make Your Lima Bean Science Experiment Fabulous With These Gardening Tips

Some time during the year, school-aged kids may have to try growing a bean in a jar. This classic experiment is great fun for the kids and there are plenty of opportunities to teach your students about plants and to introduce the scientific method.

In the experiment, keep a control group of beans while changing conditions for other groups, and have students keep science journals to track the beans’ progress. To add some more fun, read growing-related stories like Jack and the Beanstalk!

Lima beans are usually robust sprouts, but if you want to make your experiment extra fabulous, try these tips.

Tip #1. Use glass bottles and cotton balls to help your students with observation and prevent bean rot

Most versions of this experiment instruct students to dampen two paper towels, insert the lima bean between them, and slide everything into a plastic bag. While this keeps the bean moist, it limits what students can see. There’s also the potential to overwater the paper towels, which will cause the beans to rot rather than grow.

As a less risky and more aesthetic alternative, use cotton balls and a mason jar. Dampen the cotton balls and place them at the bottom of the jar, and slide the bean against one side of the jar just under the top layer of cotton balls. Your students will be able to see the bean’s roots and leaves as it grows, and the cotton balls will keep the bean moist.

As an added bonus, it’s easier to re-dampen cotton balls in a widemouth glass jar than it is in a plastic baggie. Get a mister and let students spray the cotton balls to wet them.

Tip #2. If you only have plastic baggies, staple the bottom fourth of the bag for better drainage

Sprouts don’t like sitting in water. In the classic bean experiment, beans tend to sink to the bottom of a plastic bag, where they can end up too moist. It’s easy to overwater a bean and have it grow mold or rot instead of sprouting!

If you’re using baggies, use a stapler to line up several staples horizontally along the bottom fourth of the bag. Let the bean sit on top of the staples. If your students accidentally overwater their beans, the extra water will collect at the bottom of the bag, but the bean will stay properly moist.

Tip #3. Use colored cellophane or film to alter the light in the bottle

Part of the fun of the experiment is to see what happens when you alter the bean’s growing environment. The most common conditions to alter are light and liquid type (like what happens if you add juice? milk? soda?), but if you’re feeling adventurous, try changing the color of the light in the jar to see what happens to the bean. Plants rely on red and blue frequencies to photosynthesize, so using film of this color will allow red and blue rays to get through, and your plant will grow happily. However, using a green or brown film will block photosynthesis and prevent your plant from growing well.  Read our article about how colored bottles affect growth here. 

Try putting one plant in the dark, wrapping a few jars in green or brown film, and wrapping a few jars in red or blue film. All of the beans may sprout, but after a week the ones in the clear, red, or blue jars should be stronger than the ones in the green and brown jars, and all should be stronger than the plant grown in the dark. Talk to your students about how plants need light of a specific type to grow and use prisms or rainbows for demonstratives

Tip #4. Set up your bottles on a windowsill to make a window garden

Many teachers tape plastic bags to the window. That works, but it can look messy. If you’re using jars and you have a windowsill, set all your jars along the sill instead.

For a fun class project, you can have students decorate their jars before you fill them. Provide markers or stickers so each student can personalize their jar. Just make sure that any added decoration won’t prevent light from entering the jar. For more tips,   read our article on how to select the perfect spot for a plant to grow.

Tip #5. Have an adult growing experiment

At Urban Leaf, we think everyone should have fun with plants! (In fact, we love to experiment with our own plants!  Check out how we tested the best growing environment for our herbs. ) Our herb bottle gardens require even less maintenance than the classic lima bean experiment and yield even tastier results. (They’re also really pretty!) We’ve incorporated the principles of light and water above into our garden designs, so that growing plants is easy and hassle-free.

All you need isa good window with plenty of light (or our  LED Grow Light ) and you can keep  your own indoor garden  at home!

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My son is doing an experiment for school to see if the phases of the moon affect plant growth. He planted a lima bean on 02/01/22, in a small glass jar with potting soil and put it in our window seal inside. but 3 days later we had freezing temperatures in the 20’s. We forgot to take the plant out of the window seal, but it was inside the entire time. Will this damage the seedling? It has been 11 days since planting and no growth can be seen.

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How To Grow Lima Beans In A Bag: 8 Easy Steps!

Have you ever wondered how to grow lima beans in a bag? Growing lima beans is a great addition to any garden. They are delicious and healthy and can make a great addition to a variety of dishes.

How To Grow Lima Beans In A Bag

One of the best ways you can grow lima beans is by using a bag. It is easy to do and it is almost always successful. You only need a few products and a bit of time to get this project going.

You may wonder: can you grow lima beans from the grocery store? Fortunately, the answer is yes as you can use lima beans from the grocery store for this project.

Step One: Soak The Lima Beans

To start out, you need to soak your lima beans. Place them in a cold bowl of water and allow them to soak overnight. The cold water will help kick off the process of germination.

Step Two: Place Lima Beans On Paper Towels

After soaking your lima beans overnight in cold water, place about five lima beans on about four layers of paper towel. Then, place about another four layers of paper towel on top of the beans.

Step Three: Mist The Paper Towel

Step four: place lima beans in a plastic bag.

After getting the paper towels with the lima beans thoroughly wet, carefully transfer them to a resealable plastic bag. A gallon-size plastic zippered bag will be the best option to use for this project. Tightly close the bag but be sure to leave some air inside.

Step Five: Place Bag On Windowsill

Take your bag of lima beans and place it on a windowsill. You want to put it on a windowsill where it will get plenty of warmth and sunlight.

Step Six: Check On the Lima Beans

Check on the lima beans every day. If you notice that the paper towels have dried out, spray them again to moisten them. You should notice green sprouts on the beans within a few days’ time.

Step Seven: Prepare A Pot

Add potting soil to a pot and create one-inch holes where you will plant your lima beans and spray the soil so that it is moist. You want to space them at least three to four inches apart. You can use multiple pots or even use a growing tray.

Step Eight: Transplant Your Sprouted Lima Beans

Take Out Time to Also Read:

How To Care For Lima Beans

Once your lima beans have grown their first set of leaves you can transplant them into your garden . However, you can also keep growing them in a container if you desire as long as the container is large enough. Planting lima beans is a great option if you enjoy growing vegetables.

Lima beans should be grown in an area where they will get full sun. They need at least six hours of sun a day in order to thrive.

Soil – How To Grow Lima Beans In A Bag

Exceed Pea and Bean Inoculant – Nitrogen for Peas and Beans – Garden Combo

In order for them to successfully grow, you will need to know how much water do lima beans need. During the growing season, lima beans will need at least one inch of water per week to thrive. Using mulch can be beneficial to help lima beans maintain moisture during hot, dry summer weather.

Container Or Garden Bed – How To Grow Lima Beans In A Bag

Depending on the room you have at your home, you can grow your lima beans in a container or garden. If growing lima beans in a container, choose one that is at least a foot wide and has plenty of drainage holes.

A clay container is often a good choice for lima beans when growing them in containers. Water the lima beans in containers when the top inch of the soil is dry.

When To Harvest Lima Beans?

Lima beans reach the shelling stage when their pods change color and the beans plump up inside, but before the pod and seeds dry out. For the dry stage, leave the pods on the plant until they become dry and brittle.

How To Grow Lima Beans In A Bag: Everything To Know

Knowing how to grow lima beans in a bag is great for school projects or simply to start your own lima beans for your garden. It takes only a few supplies and simple steps to germinate your seeds in a bag.

A garden is a place that relaxes us and reflects our personal style, it’s a place to spend time with loved ones and grow our own fruits and vegetables. Maybe you’re looking for design inspiration or plant selection, or you’re concerned about garden privacy, shady areas, or pests, but don’t worry, you’ve come to the right place.

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Growing Beans in Baggies

Spring is filled with opportunities for natural science learning. You can invite your preschoolers to plant seeds and talk about how plants grow. Of course, this is also a good time to talk about life cycles of plants and animals. Recently we explored planting and growing beans . First, we planted some dry lima beans in dirt. Then we experimented with planting seeds in a different environment. This was a great science exploration in my classroom.

Planting Seeds in Dirt

We planted seeds in dirt in some large pots. We watered the seeds and put them on the windowsill in our classroom to see if they would grow.

The children were very curious about would happen to the seeds we planted. Each day they checked on them to see if they had grown.

They were delighted when the seeds began to grow!

A week later, we planted lima beans in baggies. We wet a few cotton balls and dropped them in the bags. We added a couple of lima beans and sealed the bags. Then we attached the bags to the window in our classroom with tape.

We reviewed and discussed what we had learned about plants and what seeds need to grow. I asked the children what they thought would happen to the beans in the  sandwich bags. About half of the children predicted nothing would happen without soil.

Boy, were they surprised when their seeds started to sprout inside the bags!

Growing Beans: Expand the Learning

If you are growing beans both in dirt and in a bag, compare the sprouts. Talk about the differences and similarities with the plants that are growing.

In the bag, check on the growth of the lima bean each day. Encourage your preschoolers to notice how the seed splits to allow the roots and sprouts to grow. Compare what you see with pictures in books about plants.

Read books related to seeds and growing. Two of my favorites are Jasper’s Beanstalk by Nick Butterworth and The Enormous Watermelon by Alison Hawes.

This activity was a great exploration to apply what we had learned, think about what we knew, and expand our knowledge. Hands-on science is the best way for children to learn more about the natural world.

Preschool Science Curriculum

Having an amazing science area in your preschool classroom is wonderful, but without a rock solid science curriculum to follow, you’ll be throwing spaghetti at the wall and just hoping some of it sticks. For true foundational learning to occur in your preschool classroom, you need a standards-based curriculum that is both engaging and developmentally appropriate for young children.

A high-quality science curricula serves as a framework upon which the content is built and delivered to the students. For example, this is how students will begin to understand that cyclical changes take place in nature and animals. Without a research-based science curriculum, they may just think these changes are magical or occur without reason or purpose.

With 18 comprehensive units, the Trailblazer Science Curriculum for Preschool is standards aligned so you can rest easy knowing your little learners are getting exactly what they need to build a strong foundation for future scientific success.

BIO: Kristy Pulcher is currently a Pre-K Teacher in Plano, Texas. She has worked in the early childhood education field for 23 years. Kristy was a recipient of the Teacher of the Year award from CCAEYC. She is very passionate about working with young children and they delight her daily as they explore and learn about the world around them.

More Science Ideas

Sprouting a Seed: Bag Topper Printable

Here’s a printable bag topper for kids’ seed sprouting projects. Sprouting a lima bean (or any seed) in a zip top bag is a simple science project for kids. This seed sprouting activity will go great during your Plants & Seeds Theme .

Having already made several treat bag toppers for different holidays, one day I thought about making a bag topper for sprouting a seed in a zip top bag.

For this activity, you will need:

• sandwich size zip top bags
• lima beans (or other seeds of your choice)
• either paper towels or cotton balls
• cups or bowls
• printable bag topper
• tape or stapler
• water dropper (optional)

Here’s what to do:

Give each child in your group a zip top bag (sandwich size) and a lima bean. You can use either paper towels or cotton balls to place in the bag. If you use a paper towel, have kids fold it, dip it in a cup or bowl of water and squeeze it out a little so it won’t be too wet. Or, have them dip a few cotton balls in the water.

Place the damp, folded paper towel or cotton balls in the ziplock bag. Drop a lima bean or other seed in the bag, making sure it touches the damp towel or cotton. Cut out and fold the bag topper, write the child’s name and date, and either staple or tape the topper to the bag.

Hang these in the window for a few days and watch the seed sprout!

What might go wrong & what to do:

Because the bag is moist and sealed up, the seed can mold. It might help to leave part of the bag’s top open.

Our seeds were very slow to begin sprouting. In the photo above, you can see that it’s just beginning to sprout after about a week. To give them a head start, you can soak the beans or seeds the night before your project.

It’s a good idea to make a few extra bags (or have the kids make a few extra) just in case someone’s seed doesn’t sprout.

Download the Sprout Bag Topper

Download: Printable Bag Topper (Color)

Download: Printable Bag Topper (Blackline)

Note: This is a free printable, just click to download.

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• Science Fair Project Ideas for Kids, Middle & High School Students ⋅

Lima Bean Science Projects

Science Fair Ideas for 5th Grade

Growing a plant from seed is a measurable science project, and lima beans are an efficient seed choice. Lima beans sprout easily and grow quickly, making them a popular choice for science experiments with time constraints. There are lima bean science projects that will help students learn about plant growth, soil and climate.

Planted or Wrapped?

A simple lima bean science project involves asking how beans will grow more effectively: planted in soil or wrapped in a damp paper towel? Students can each plant two lima beans in cups of soil. They can place two more lima beans on a damp paper towel, which they will wrap around the beans and seal in a plastic bag. Place both types of planted beans in a sunny spot, and water as needed. Make a chart to track the progress of each and see which one grows fastest.

Soaked or Dry?

Some seeds germinate better when they are soaked first. Do lima beans grow better when they are placed directly into the soil, or when they are soaked first? Soak lima beans overnight. The next day, plant the soaked lima beans. Then plant dry beans. Chart which beans grow faster. Discuss whether the results would be true for all beans and seeds.

Do Earthworms Help Lima Beans Grow?

Plant lima beans in two flower pots. Place soil and beans in one pot. Put earthworms in the other pot, along with the soil and beans. Chart which beans grow faster. Discuss why it happens and what effect earthworms have on soil and seeds.

Light, Water and Soil

Plants supposedly need light, water and soil to grow. Conduct an experiment to find out if that's true. Put two lima beans in a cup and give it water and light, but no soil. Plant two lima beans in a cup of soil and give it water, but place it in a dark area with no light. Plant two lima beans in a cup of soil and give it light, but no water. And plant two lima beans in a cup with soil, and give it light and water. Chart your findings. Can a bean grow without water? Without soil? Without light? Which beans do best?

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About the Author

After teaching for 8 years, Susan Braun has been doing freelance writing since 1999. Her writing has been seen in "Parents," "Children's Ministry," Mommytrackd.com, Associated Content and WAHM.com. Braun has a Bachelor of Arts in retail from Indiana University and an Master of Science in education from University of Alabama.

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Find Your Next Great Science Fair Project! GO

Lima Bean in Bag Experiment Instructions *FREEBIE*

Description

Welcome to an exciting hands-on learning adventure with this free resource for conducting the Lima Bean in a Plastic Bag Experiment! Perfect for engaging young scientists and fostering curiosity about plant growth, this resource provides step-by-step instructions and materials needed to embark on a captivating journey of discovery.

In this free resource, you'll receive:

• Clear and concise instructions: Follow along with easy-to-understand directions that guide you through each step of the experiment, making it accessible for educators, parents, and students alike.
• List of materials: Discover the simple materials required to conduct the experiment, including lima beans, plastic bags, water, and more, making setup a breeze.
• Engaging activity: Dive into the world of plant biology as you observe and document the growth of lima beans in a plastic bag, providing a hands-on learning experience that sparks curiosity and encourages scientific inquiry.
• Educational value: Explore concepts such as germination, plant growth, and the role of water and sunlight in the life cycle of plants, promoting a deeper understanding of biology and ecology.

Whether you're a teacher looking to enrich your science curriculum or a parent seeking fun and educational activities for your child, this free Lima Bean in a Plastic Bag Experiment resource is perfect for fostering hands-on learning and scientific exploration. Download it today and watch as curiosity blooms and knowledge grows!

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Monday, March 14, 2011

• Lima Bean Experiment

7 comments:

Hi, I found your blog through this post a few weeks ago. Im a first year, first grade teacher. I'm currently doing this experiment, and I'm curious about when you put the plants in soil. Our plants are reaching this point, any help is appreciated! Thank you!

I planted the lima beans in soil when they reached the stage that you see in the pictures. At this time they had developed a root and were starting to sprout. Hope this helps. Mrs. Lochridge

I'm impressed with the experiment you did with lima beans! I'm sure the children were fascinated! I’m retired now but taught for many years. In my combined first and second grades, we also did experiments with Lima Beans, but with another approach. Please see my blog for experiments with Lima Beans that I did for years. Children really loved these experiments. http://peggybroadbent.com/blog/index.php?s=Plant+Experiments+with+Lima+Beans+for+First+and+Second+Grade

We do a variation on this using clear plastic cups. Depending on the size of cup add 2-3" of soil and then put 1-3 beans against the side of the cup and add more soil. The students can watch the bean sprout and grow along the side of the cup. May have them do this, too, in order to dissect the bean. In the past we have only soaked them overnight to observe the change and split the bean to identify the embryo.

Hi should i plant them in a bag or in a plastic cup? and how long does it take to grow?

I am a pre school teacher of a two year old class and our class did the project and it turned out great. we hung our bags in our classroom window and we found that the window that got the most sun grew the better plants.Then we planted the bean in dirt and they still grew strong. cant wait to see how big the plants get. Mrs.L.Mack

Thank you for the activity! I plan to use this in the next few weeks! This seems to have a better turnout than many others I have looked up! Thanks again!

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