Many types of seeds will germinate in paper towels, but bean seeds are ideal due to their size. The large bean pods will visibly create new shoots, which adds to the interest of this experiment. Have each student choose several different types of beans to see which germinates the fastest, such as lima beans, black beans, kidney beans and black beans.
Each seed is surrounded by a protective barrier called a seed coat. This is the part of the seed that is visible when you look at it. These coats protect the seed from parasites, physical damage and unfavorable temperatures. Each seed coat contains an embryo, or immature plant with tiny leaves and a root. As part of the experiment, have your students dissect a seed and view its different parts.
Place each bean in a plastic bag lined with two damp paper towels. Plant different types of seeds facing in different directions to see how their growth compares. Record the type of seed and its orientation and clearly label each bag. Avoid soaking the paper towels with too much water. Each day, observe the seeds and maintain their moisture level by adding water as needed.
At the end of the experiment, compare how the different seeds fared. Write down how the orientation of the seeds affected their germination. Provide the answers to questions such as: which seeds grew the fastest, which seeds grew the largest plants and how did upside-down seeds germinate? Note which factors affected the beans' development.