• Growing beans can teach students about life cycles, plant development and food ecology.seedling image by Wojciech Gajda from Fotolia.com
  
  Growing beans can be an ideal science project that is easily adapted to all ages. Younger children learn the process of growth from seed to plant by starting beans in foam cups. Older students can design experiments testing the effects of light, temperature and soil acidity on plant growth. Choose from these easy-to-grow varieties to ensure a successful science project.
  
  

Mung Beans

• Mung beans are small, grayish green beans that can be found dried in the bulk section of most natural food stores. They can be sprouted in a jar on damp paper towels or planted in soil. They grow quickly, making them ideal for science projects. The edible sprouts are also useful for projects on nutrition.
  
  

Pole Beans

• For a large-scale classroom experiment, try planting pole beans in the school garden. Pole beans produce in late summer and early fall, so are ideal for a summer project. They grow up to 8-feet tall, so pole beans will need stakes or a trellis for support. Experiment with training the bean plants to grow in unique shapes or changing the pH of the soil to affect the growth and color of the beans.
  
  

Peas

• Peas produce early in the spring, so they can be used for experiments during the school year. Start seeds indoors and transfer them to an outdoor garden, or sow the seeds in the ground as soon as the ground has thawed. Use pea plants to illustrate the concepts of Mendelian genetics.
  
  

Lima Beans

• The large seed size of lima beans make them ideal for students to study the structure of a sprouting bean. Experiment with how the amount of light affects sprouting time, and compare the sprout color and strength between sprouts grown in sun and in shade.