Mushroom Dissection + Spore Prints: try this fun mycology activity in your classroom!

Studying the parts of a mushroom is a fun biology activity for students at many levels. One of the best, hand-on ways to learn mushroom anatomy is by dissecting one. In this mushroom dissection activity, students will observe the internal and external parts of a mushroom. Students will operate a microscope to observe spores and mushroom gill anatomy. Finally, students will create their own spore prints by allowing mushrooms to release their spores onto paper.

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Please Note: I’ve made the directions for this mushroom dissection activity available for free here in this post. If you would like printable directions and worksheets for this activity, you can purchase them in my shop. You can also find all these materials and more mushroom learning materials in my complete Mushrooms Unit!

Printable Directions and Worksheets

Complete Mushroom Unit

Materials

Printed copies of the Mushroom Dissection Student Guide (1 per student)
Printed copies of the Mushroom Dissection Lab Worksheet (1 per student)
Printed copies of the Mushroom Anatomy Diagram (1 per lab bench)
Fresh, mature mushrooms like portabella, shitake, etc… (a few of each variety per lab bench)
Plastic butter knives (1 per lab bench)
Forceps (1 per lab bench)
Microscopes (1 per lab bench)
Microscope slides w/ coverslips (1 per lab bench)
Eyedroppers & water (1 per lab bench)
Sheets of white and black paper (1 of each per lab bench)
Small containers or bowls (1 per lab bench)

Safety Notes and Suggestions

Do not eat the mushrooms handled during this lab.
Use caution and always supervise your students when handling sharp instruments including forceps, butter knives, and glass microscope slides.
You will have a better chance of observing spores using fresh, mature mushrooms (i.e., the gills are visible) rather than immature button mushrooms.
If you do not have a microscope skip steps 6-8 in Part 1.

brown mushrooms on beige surface — Photo by Laker on Pexels.com

Directions

Part 1: Mushroom Dissection

A mushroom is the fruiting body of certain fungi. By dissecting a mushroom, you can see the parts of a mushroom up close. These parts help the fungi produce and release spores to create more fungi.

Examine your mushroom. Locate the cap, stipe, and gills (or veil covering the gills). Sketch your mushroom on the student worksheet, labeling the cap, stipe, gills, and other parts you see such as an annulus, volva, or mycelium still attached.
Using fingers or forceps, gently peel away and remove any veil covering the gills (if needed).
Remove the stipe from the cap by gently pulling or twisting on the stipe.
Break or cut the stipe in half length-wise.
Do you see any long, thin filaments or strings on the inside of the stipe? These are hyphae. Sketch the inside of the stipe on the student worksheet, labeling any hyphae.
Remove one gill from the mushroom. Use the forceps to grasp and gently pull away one gill.
Place the gill on a microscope slide. Add a drop of water and a coverslip.
Examine your gill under the microscope and sketch what you see. Basidia are tiny knobs on the gill that make spores. Label the basidia and any spores you see attached to them in your sketch.
If you have a second type of mushroom, repeat steps 1-8 with the second mushroom.
Once finished, discard all mushroom parts EXCEPT for the cap(s) and clean your microscope slide.

Part 2: Spore Prints

Spores are released from mushrooms as part of the life cycle of a fungus. You can make unique artwork by allowing mushroom caps to drop their spores onto paper.

You can use the mushroom cap(s) from part 1 to make a spore print. Ask your instructor for additional mushrooms to make additional prints.
With any new mushrooms: remove the stipes and peel away any veils covering the gills.
Spores may be light or dark-colored. Try using both black and white paper for your spore prints to ensure the spores are visible.
Place the mushroom caps with the gills facing down on top of the papers.
Place an upside-down container or bowl over the mushroom caps to protect them.
Leave the caps alone overnight. During this time, the gills will release spores which will fall onto the paper.
The next day: remove the containers and mushroom caps to reveal the spore prints.

Study Mushrooms with Wild Earth Lab!

There’s no need to scramble to put together mushroom dissection worksheets and print directions – I’ve already made them for you! You can save time and support my blog with your purchase from my shop.