Give the children dried beans and let them hold them in their hands. Discuss how small and hard the bean is and ask the students if they know how it might change if they add water to it and expose it to sunlight.
Fold one sheet of paper towel into a square that is small enough to fit inside the sandwich bag. Moisten it and place it inside the bag.
Place the beans inside the bag within the folds of the damp paper towel. Tape the unsealed bag to a window in the sunlight. If the climate in the room is dry, the paper towels might dry out. If that happens, add a tablespoon or two of water to the bag to keep the paper towel moist. Sprouts should begin to appear in five or six days.
Remove the bags from the windows when sprouts begin to appear. Discuss the children's observations and return the sprouts to the window. The sprouts will grow taller each day. Children can plant them in pots or in a garden.