Minerals are actively uptaken, transported passively in dead xylem by pulling forces in leaves, and accumulate in leaves by means of evaporation. If the hypothesis is true, then shoots should transport a red dye through xylem when a severed stem is placed in the dye. Notice color changes along the pathway of movement of the dye. Be sure to observe long enough to determine whether the hypothesis covers the whole pathway and every aspect of the pathway. Observe freehand sections of stems and petioles.
Examine leaf blades with transmitted light on the dissection microscope.
Carry those out. Record the results. This first experiment tested the hypothesis through the pathway variable. Also observe that a bean plant has two opposite simple leaves. Now carry out a series of experiments to test the hypothesis through the other variables you might think of.