Bean Buddy Smithsonian
GROW A
BEAN BUDDY Smithsonian
Institution
What’s Inside A Seed?
Bean Buddy, a gardening activity, was produced as a resource
for early childhood education teachers by the Smithsonian Institution’s
Seed Coat
Baby Plant
Horticulture Services Division. The objective of this activity
is for students to learn about the basic parts of a seed and what seeds
need in order to grow (or germinate) including water, sunlight and
nutrients from the soil. Creating a living necklace is a fun and educa-
tional way to demonstrate what the requirements are for seed germi-
nation.
What Do Seeds Need In Order To Germinate?
• Water helps to start germination. The baby plant inside the
Food
seed cannot gr
ow without it.
Identify seed parts by soaking a bean in water
overnight and dissecting its parts.
• Sunlight provides warmth to the seed.
Located on the outside of the seed is a seed coat.
• Soil holds moisture and nutrients that the baby plant needs.
This covering protects the baby plant inside just like a
• Air surrounds the seed and helps to control temperature and
winter coat protects you from the cold.
humidity. Plants need fresh air to thrive.
Can you find the baby plant (embryo) inside the
seed? Do you see its tiny leaves and roots?
With the right combination of these elements (water, sunlight, soil,
Surrounding the baby plant is food. This food
and air) your Bean Buddy will emerge within 7-14 days.
provides the embryo with the nutrients it needs to
grow.
Bean Buddy Activity: Create a mini greenhouse that can be worn as a necklace.
How to Prepare:
Supplies Needed
• Package of Bean Seeds
• Cut yarn to a length that will fit around each child’s neck.
• 2” x 3” Small Resealable
• Cut paper towels into small squares that fit inside a small resealable plastic bag.
Plastic Bags
• Punch a hole at the top of each plastic bag.
• Hole Puncher
• Fill spray bottle with water.
• Paper Towels
• Water
• Scissors
Activity Instructions:
• Spray Bottle
• Yarn
Give each child one plastic bag, one strand of yarn, one bean seed and one paper towel square. Have the child place the
paper towel square and bean seed inside their bag. Explain that the paper towel represents soil. It will hold the water that
the seed needs to begin germination. Have each child hold the bag upright and moisten the towel inside the bag with two
squirts from the spray bottle. Explain that seeds need water to germinate. The hole at the top of the bag allows for air flow.
Explain that without air the seed will fail to germinate. String the yarn through the punched hole in the bag and have the
students wear the necklace. Explain that the warmth from their body acts like the sun. Students can wear the Bean
Buddy until the bean seedling sprouts in about 7 to 14 days. When not worn, the Bean Buddy should be kept in a warm
place. Squirt more water inside the bag when the towel feels dry.
