Buy different varieties of beans, such as adzuki, black, white kidney, mung, pinto, red kidney and soybeans. First, ask the children to observe and point out differences and similarities among them. Divide the children into small groups, giving each group an egg carton without the lead and cotton wool. Ask them to place some cotton wool inside each section of the egg carton and put a different seed on the top. Water regularly and leave in a windowsill. Encourage the children to observe and compare the germination process in the different varieties of beans.
Children can make a "seed doll" using a moistened paper towel. Ask the children to place three bean seeds on the moistened towel, leaving some space between them. After, first-graders should fold the edges of the towel, thus covering the seeds. Ask them to roll the towel, forming a cylinder, and fasten using rubber bands. Put the "seed doll" in a plastic bag, to keep it moistened. Unwrap the the towel every two days to observe the germination process. Children can then plant the sprouted seeds in pots with soil.
In pairs, children fill up three small plastic pots with soil and sow two beans in each one of them. Children should never water the first pot and always water excessively the second pot. Establish with them an ideal quantity of water to use regularly when watering the third pot. Help the children to label these pots according to water requirements. Encourage them to compare the results and formulate hypotheses on the relation between water quantity and germination.
Sow some bean seeds with the children in four small plastic containers, using cotton wool or soil. Keep the containers in environments with different temperatures, such as in a refrigerator or freezer, at room temperature, and under a light bulb. During winter, you can simply leave two containers outdoors and the other two indoors. Children should water all pots regularly and observe the seeds daily. They can also register their daily observations through drawings.