Today, I’m sharing 6 gross facts about mold.
It is gross. And we definitely don’t want to take a bite of something that has green fuzz growing on it.
But it makes for a fascinating, quick and easy experiment for kids.
Even if you’ve done something similar with younger kids, you can change the variables.
And it adds a little more challenge to the simple experiment.
If you don’t already have a science notebook, consider getting one.
It’s a great place to record your hypothesis, process, and outcome of any science experiments that you do.
A simple composition book is perfect to use for the year.
It can also serve as part of your records for the end of the year assessment if you need them, so it has varied benefits.
You will first want to answer the question -What is mold?
Mold is a type of fungus that thrives in damp, dark environments.
It can be found in homes, schools, workplaces, and other buildings.
Mold spores, which are tiny, lightweight reproductive structures, float through the air and can be inhaled.
When inhaled, these mold spores can cause a variety of health problems, including allergies, asthma, and infections.
Too, mold can contaminate food and other items in the home, making them unsafe for consumption or use.
Growth of mold is influenced by several factors, including moisture, temperature, and the presence of organic matter.
And mold can grow on a wide range of materials, including paper, wood, fabric, and food. It is particularly fond of damp, porous surfaces, such as drywall and ceiling tiles.
Spores of mold are always present in the air, but they become a problem when they start to grow and multiply.
This can happen when there is an increase in moisture levels, such as after a flood or water leak.
Also, mold thrives in warm, humid environments, such as bathrooms and kitchens.
Some molds are used to make medicines and foods, such as penicillin and blue cheese.
So, while not all molds are good, there are many beneficial molds that play an important role in our world.
Books for Kids About Mold
Next, add a few books to your study of mold.
Books About Mold
Unlike plants, molds don't grow from seeds. They grow from tiny spores that float around in the air. When some of these spores fall onto a piece of damp food or other materials, they grow into molds.
They live in the coldest corner of Antarctica and on hot, sandy desert dunes. They're in the air you breathe and the food you eat. But fungi are more than pizza toppings.They form partnerships with plants and help us clean up our planet through bioremediation. Some fungi eat our crops; others protect them. Some fungi cause diseases; others cure them. Some are bigger than you; others are so tiny you need a microscope to see them.
Discusses the parts of fungi, different types, folklore about them, where they grow, how people use them, and how they can be harmful to humans, plants, and animals.
Additionally, look at these facts about mold.
6 Gross Facts About Mold
- Mold belongs to the fungi family alongside yeasts and mushrooms, there are over 200,000 species of fungus total.
- Found almost anywhere, mold can grow on virtually any substance, if there is some moisture present.
- Mold comes in many colors- it can appear in various colors, including green, black, white, yellow, and orange.
- Exposure to mold can cause allergic reactions and respiratory distress in some people, especially those with compromised immune systems, asthma, allergies, or emphysema.
- In contrast, some mold is good and has a valuable purpose. Mold ages and flavors cheese, they are used in bread making, fermenting liquor, producing soy sauce, penicillin, and even in the manufacturing of citric acid used to flavor soft drinks.
- Because of the heavy processing, mold does not like fast food. It will not grow on them. They will shrivel and age but not show signs of molding.
Check out this quick video What is mold? Lesson for kids to learn a little more.
Look at these other posts or activities about fungus.
More Fungus Resources and Activities
- Fun Hands-on Free Mushroom Unit Study and Kids Learning Activities
- Free Life Cycle of a Mushroom Worksheet & Fun Meringue Mushrooms
- Fungi Fun: 11 Unconventional Mushroom Gift Ideas for the Adventurous Spirit
Finally, look at this growing mold experiment.
Growing Mold Experiment – Easy Comparison Activity For Kids
You will need:
- 4 petri dishes
- bread
- Tape
- Science notebook
- Magnifying glass
The first thing you want to do is grab some inexpensive petri dishes.
They’re pretty cheap and reusable and if your kids like hands-on.
You get a lot of bang for your buck using them for different things.
Next, you want to have your child make a hypothesis of which bread sample is going to mold the fastest.
For example, they can write this may look like…
I think the bread in the dark bread box is going to mold the fastest or…
I believe that the moist bread is going to mold quickly.
Remember, this is just a hypothesis so there are no answers.
It is just a step in the scientific process.
Now you will want to wash your hands.
Then cut one slice of bread into four pieces (or however many different variables you would like to have).
Place a small piece of bread into each petri dish and cover with a lid.
For this experiment, we chose to put one in the sunny window, one moist on the counter, one in the refrigerator, and one in a cool dark place like a bread, box drawer, or pantry.
Take a piece of washi tape.
Write on it the location or variable and place it on the top off to the side so that you can still view the bread well.
Place each petri dish in its appropriate spot.
Check your bread at the same time every day.
You could also look at it with a magnifying glass or even under a microscope so that you might be able to view the tiniest of changes.
For the damp piece we used a straw to add a couple drops of water to it each day.
Use their science journal to note any changes in each of the specimens.
We could not detect any after 24 hours
Or 48 hours
72 hours …
You know how when you don’t want something to mold it seems to happen overnight?
But of course, this time it took so long to start forming mold.
We had those dishes sitting for 9 days before literally in one night the moist piece was nearly covered in gross mold.
Science is amazing!
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