Instructions
Read each section and complete the fun activities to learn all about the amazing world of fungi!
Activity 1: What is a Fungus?
Fungi (that's one fungus, many fungi!) are a special group of living things. They are not plants because they can't make their own food from sunlight. They are not animals either! Many fungi are nature's best recyclers. They help break down, or _______________, dead things like fallen leaves and old logs, turning them back into soil for new plants to grow.
Fill in the blank with the correct word from the paragraph.
Activity 2: Parts of a Mushroom
Use the words in the box to label the parts of the mushroom described below. A mushroom is the part of the fungus we can easily see!
- Cap
- Gills
- Stalk
- Mycelium
- The umbrella-shaped part on the very top is called the _______________.
- The thin, paper-like lines underneath the top part are the _______________. This is where spores (like tiny seeds) are made!
- The part that holds the top up, like a stem on a flower, is the _______________.
- The hidden, root-like threads that grow underground are the _______________. This is the biggest part of the fungus!
Activity 3: Fungi Fun Facts!
Read each sentence and circle if it is True or False.
- A mushroom is a type of plant.
True / False - It is safe to eat any mushroom you find in the wild.
True / False
(NEVER eat a wild mushroom unless a grown-up expert says it is safe!) - Yeast is a tiny fungus that helps make bread fluffy.
True / False - Fungi help clean up the forest.
True / False
Activity 4: Fungus Word Search
Find and circle the hidden words in the puzzle below.
| F | G | M | Y | C | E | L | L |
| U | I | O | E | A | P | M | I |
| N | L | L | A | P | S | X | G |
| G | L | D | S | Z | T | Q | I |
| U | S | Y | T | A | A | P | L |
| S | P | O | R | E | L | N | L |
| H | V | B | E | M | K | J | S |
Words to find: FUNGUS, GILLS, MOLD, YEAST, CAP, STALK, SPORE
Answer Key
Activity 1: What is a Fungus?
decompoose
Activity 2: Parts of a Mushroom
- Cap
- Gills
- Stalk
- Mycelium
Activity 3: Fungi Fun Facts!
- False
- False
- True
- True
Activity 4: Fungus Word Search
Words are located as follows:
- FUNGUS: Row 1, Column 1, reading down
- GILLS: Row 2, Column 1, reading right
- MOLD: Row 1, Column 3, reading down
- YEAST: Row 1, Column 4, reading down
- CAP: Row 1, Column 5, reading down
- STALK: Row 4, Column 4, reading down
- SPORE: Row 6, Column 1, reading right