This lab sheet walks your student through growing different types of beans under identical conditions, measuring plant height every seven days over four weeks, then harvesting, drying, and grinding the beans to test protein content using a Biuret Protein Test Kit. The data table tracks Black Beans, Pinto Beans, and Kidney Beans across Day 0 through Day 28, with columns for average height, protein test color reading, and a relative protein rank. It is designed for grades 4 through 6 and covers independent, dependent, and controlled variables explicitly so your homeschooler practices real experimental design alongside the biology.

This experiment fits naturally into a plant biology or nutrition unit study, and because the procedure runs four weeks, it works best as an ongoing strand within a longer science block rather than a single session. Completing it asks your student to form and evaluate a hypothesis, collect longitudinal growth data, operate a protein test kit, and write a conclusion that connects observations back to the original question. The safety reminders printed on the sheet flag blender use, chemical handling, and the instruction not to eat beans after testing, which gives you a built-in moment to discuss lab safety before your student touches a single pot.