Schools
Fungi are poorly represented within the National Curriculum for Science. It is difficult to teach biology without mention of the fungi and what they do for us. The fungal kingdom is arguably the largest kingdom of organisms on this planet and without them, we humans could not survive on Earth. They are a vital component of the terrestrial ecosystem, they are the planet’s best recyclers, every plant has a fungus associating with it; fungi provide foods and medicines and even put the flavour in chocolate! - Yet some fungi can rot our homes and food, cause devastating losses to plant and animal populations, and pose a serious threat to the immunocompromised patient. Help us to bring fungi back into science teaching in the UK!
Ideas for teachers
We have teaching resources and lesson plans for each key stage of the curriculum, which are designed to promote a greater awareness of the importance of fungi. We also have competitions to enter and practical activities to try.
Invite a fungus expert into school
UK Fungus Day can put your school in touch with a local fungus expert or academic, who would be willing to come in and talk to your class about fungi.
Discover how the mushroom got its spots
Teach the class about the fly agaric, Amanita muscaria and how it got its spots
Why not make a spore print?
This resource guides you through making a spore print of a mushroom
Fun with fungi for Primary schools
Why not run a fun with fungi day? Fungal science, Art & Craft fun for primary school children.
Classroom resources for Secondary schools
Why not explore our fungi4schools webpages. Specially-produced and ready-to-use lessons and classroom activities, teacher’s guides and pupil class sheets, are among the many resources available for free download.
Write a blog for us
Why not get your class to write a blog on an interesting fungus fact or a recent fungus research discovery. We will publish the best ones on our UKFD Blog space.
Encourage your class to attend a local event
Encourage your class to come along and meet fungus experts, talk science with leading researchers, go on a fungus walk of just have fungus fun!
Download our Activity Pack!
Our UK Fungus Day activity pack is full of activities you can organise for your classroom! UKFD Activity Pack
Photo showing arbuscules, spores and hyphae of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonizing raspberry root. (Photo credit Alison Bennett)