Molds, Mushrooms, and Other Fungi
By Steve Parker
Compass Points Books, 2010
ISBN #978-0756542238
Grades 4-7
NF
“The world is full of living things, from tiny bugs and delicate flowers to giiant trees, huge elephants, and massive whales. But nothing lives forever. Eventually all plants, animals, and other forms of life die. But what happens to them?
The answer: They become food for fungi. This kingdom of living things includes mushrooms, toadstools, molds, mildews, yeasts, and many others. Fungi are nature’s recyclers.”
This upper elementary-middle school level book, presented in a picture book format, defines and discusses the Kingdom Fungi. It begins with an explanation of cells, including the fact that fungi are eukaryotic, and goes on to detail the life processes of the variety of fungi that exist. Places of growth, the below the ground decomposing structures, and the helpful and harmful aspects of fungi complete the book.
The information is broken into sections interspersed with large, fascinating photos of fungi, parts, and their effects. The back matter includes a classification of life table, fungi classification, a glossary, further resources section, and an index. Chock full of facts, my only quibble with the book is that it comes off a bit crowded. The information, however, is excellent and it’s good to see a quality book with some depth on a lesser studied group of organisms put into an interesting read.
Activity 1
Research yeast and find out how it makes bread rise. Look up Louis Pasteur and read about his early experiments with fermentation to find out how yeast is involved in his experiments that lead to the Germ Theory.
Activity 2
Explain how fungi and their hyphae play a role in the food chain and food web.
Activity 3
Look up the symbiotic relationship that exists in lichens.
Activity 4
Design an experiment that has to do with where molds grow well and what might inhibit their growth. Use the scientific method and write up the experiment. Conduct the experiment and then make your conclusions.
Great information for more details.
This site makes fungi about as fun as you can make it!
Take a look at these fabulous mushroom pictures.
National Science Standard: structure and function in living systems; diversity and adaptations of living organisms
Book provided by publisher.
This book looks great. I love seeing pictures of unusual-looking mushrooms. This would be a fun one for my daughter and I to look and I’d love to tie it to bread making.
There was a short section about bread using yeast in the book. I really enjoyed the pictures in this one.
Shirley,
Great review, I liked this book too, particularly the photographs.
Feeling better?
Yes, I am. Thanks. Back to the doctor today and still in the brace. The photos were excellent and I loved the cover. It looked fungi-y and cool at the same time.
Fabulous! Our district teaches “Nature’s Recyclers” at 4th grade, and this would be perfect for supporting that. Thanks for your review!
Vulture View, by April Pulley Sayre, also is a good book.