PRACTICAL USE OF MUSHROOMS AS TEACHING MATERIAL

Abstract

In this study, a practical use of mushrooms as teaching material in the lower secondary school biology classes is described. SAITO (1986) reported on the growing of fungus hypha in newspaper after steam disinfecting. The present study substitutes mushroom for fungus hypha. The experiment is as follows: (1) Cut off the heads of two or three clumps of mushrooms. (2) Cut the remaining portions (stems and roots) into dice. (3) Disinfect newspaper in boiling water for a few minutes and make into small balls. (4) Pack alternately the mushroom dice and small newspaper balls into a beaker or a jar. (5) Keep for three months. After three months many mushrooms will have grown on the balls. The best season for this experiment is from autumn to winter. Too much moisture will rot the mushrooms and newspaper. If mould grows, the material can be used to teach about fungus. This teaching material can be put to practical use during a class about “the chain of living things.”