5th Graders Focus on Fungi
For the past few months, 5th graders at Chesterfield School have participated in an in-depth study of fungi diversity in our local environment, guided by Harris Center teacher-naturalist John Benjamin and classroom teacher Laura White. Their foray began in the classroom, where students learned about the biology of these unique organisms and the essential ecological role that many fungi play as decomposers in the forest. Then, they practiced making detailed scientific drawings of common mushroom specimens.
“Fungi has spores and mycelium. Mycelium is like little tiny roots of white. They give water and nutrients. Also they have spores. Spores are like tiny seeds that can be picked up in the wind and can reproduce. The science of fungi is really cool!” — Chesterfield 5th grader
“Many fungi are decomposers. Decomposers are something that eats dead organic matter and puts it back into the environment. Fungi break down and release nutrients. Fungi is important to the ecosystem because it helps plants get building blocks.” — Chesterfield 5th grader
To the Outdoors!
Next, the students ventured outdoors to conduct two field surveys of local mushroom diversity, learning to identify a variety of species in both the Chesterfield School woods and the nearby Friedsam Forest.
John Benjamin and a student find a mushroom in the fall woods. (photo © Laura White)
Chesterfield 5th graders ventured into the outdoors to discover fungi firsthand. (photo © Laura White)
“There are so many types of fungi, and these are a couple of them. First, the turkey tail has velvety strips on the top with tiny whitish pores underneath. Pores are tiny little holes underneath the cap of the mushroom. There is another fungus called the false turkey tail that has no pores underneath and is thin as parchment. There is also the Artist’s Conk and the Tinder Conk. On the Artist’s Conk you can draw on the bottom of the mushroom with your finger or a stick. The Tinder Conk works like tinder to start a fire with. Lastly there is the jelly fungi and the Lemon Disco. The jelly fungi look like orange jello, and the Lemon Disco looks like a tiny lemon.” — Chesterfield 5th grader
Click on the image to see a larger view.
Learning Through Creating
Back in the classroom, they learned about symbiotic relationships, including lichens (fungi that harbor photosynthetic algae) and mycorrhizae (fungi that partner with trees and plants via their roots). The students then depicted the mycorrhizal relationship using a creative medium, including drawings, sculptures, and skits, and finally, they wrote essays describing all they had learned about fungi (excerpts of which have been included here!).
“Fungi is like a dance you are learning, it takes time and patience to learn it, but you are having fun when doing it!” — Chesterfield 5th grader
