👍Practical Recommendations Before Starting the Workshop

Preparing the Magic

Welcome to the fascinating world of mushrooms in the classroom! 🌱🍄 Here are some lively tips to make the experience with your students fun, educational, and above all, a big success!

• Create an Impeccable “Lab” 🧼: Mushrooms are small and sensitive, and they love clean environments! Make sure the area is disinfected, like a true scientist’s lab. This helps the mycelium grow without interference from other microorganisms.

• Prepare All Materials Like a Science Chef 🧑‍🍳: Have substrates, spores (or mycelium), bags, gloves, masks, labels, and containers on hand. Organization is key to keeping the activity smooth so students can focus on the experience.

• Scientific-Style Protection 🧤😷: Gloves and masks for everyone! They don’t just give a pro-lab feel; they also keep the cultures contamination-free. Plus, students will enjoy feeling like real researchers.

• Sterilization is the Secret Key 🔥: Explain to students why we need to “clean” the substrates. You can pre-sterilize them in the oven or hot water. This step ensures only the mycelium grows in our cultures—no “unexpected guests.”

• The Power of Moisture 💧: Mushrooms love humidity, but not too much. Keep the environment moist with a spray bottle. It’s like creating a spa for mushrooms! Your students will be amazed to see how something as simple as water is vital to success.

• A Home for the Cultures 🏠: Set aside a special corner for the cultures to rest after inoculation. It should be a place with the right light and humidity conditions. It’s the perfect dormitory for our growing mushrooms!

• Let’s Play with Technology 📲: If you have a P-Bit or Smart Citizen Kit, show students how to use them to monitor temperature and humidity. They’ll have fun being digital scientists, and it’s a great way to integrate technology into the classroom.

• A Clear Step-by-Step Plan 📝: Before starting, go over the whole process with your students. Explain what they’ll be doing in each phase, so they feel confident and ready to work. They’ll love knowing every step of their scientific mission!

• Record, Observe, and Document 📚: Encourage students to take notes and photos of their observations. Every detail counts in the mushroom-growing adventure, and they’ll love seeing their journey in retrospect. They’ll feel like science detectives!

• Patience and an Open Mind 🌱: Mushroom growth takes time and care. Remind students that this process is an opportunity to observe, learn, and have fun, even if something doesn’t turn out as expected.

Get ready for an educational adventure where science, sustainability, and wonder come together! This workshop doesn’t just teach biology; it shows students how they can make a difference in the world from the classroom. 🍄 Let the experiments and the magic of mushrooms begin!