How to Make a Spore Print

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In this activity (p.25 of PDF), learners investigate spores. Mushrooms produce millions of spores which are equivalent to the seeds of plants but without the massive food reserves. Spores are so small that you normally need a microscope to seem them, but with spore prints thousands of spores are all seen together. Use this activity to talk about biodiversity by comparing spore prints from different mushrooms.

Quick Guide

Preparation Time:
Under 5 minutes
Learning Time:
2 to 4 hours
Estimated Materials Cost:
1 cent - $1 per student
Age Range:
Ages 11 - 14
Resource Type:
Activity
Language:
English

Materials List (per student)

  • A mushroom
  • A sheet of white paper
  • A sheet of black paper
  • A jam jar or similar container
  • Double-sided tape
  • Hair spray (optional)

Keywords

Subjects

  • Life Sciences
    • Diversity of Life
      • Protists and Fungi
    • Ecology

Informal Categories

  • Arts and Crafts
  • Nature and Environment

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see
  • touch

Learning styles supported:

  • Links STEM to other topics of interest such as arts and humanities
  • Involves hands-on or lab activities

Other

This resource is part of:

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

  • Assinder, Sue ; Rutter, Gordon

Rights:

  • All rights reserved, British Mycological Society and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, 2002

Funding Sources:

  • British Mycological Society
  • Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council