Spore Prints
All fungi use spores to reproduce. Spores are like the pollen in plants. They can be dispersed (spread) by wind, water or insects depending on the species.
For more scientific information about spores please click HERE.
You can use a mushroom (bought or picked in the wild) to make a spore print. We recommend using mushrooms that you know are safe to touch. If you use a mushroom that you have picked from the wild, please wear gloves for this activity. Spore prints are a fun way to see fungi in action and to create a little piece of natural art. It will take a couple of days to make your print. We enjoyed comparing spore prints of different mushrooms. Each mushroom will have a different spore print, different colours (white spores will show up on dark paper) and different patterns.
You can set the spore print with hairspray to keep it. Have fun learning about fascinating fungi!
Click HERE for detailed instructions.
Click HERE for photo steps.
In the video below you can see a really fun way to turn these spore prints into an art project! What other things could you turn spore prints into? Monster’s eyes? Flowers? Other vehicles with wheels? Get creative and remember to share your creations with us!
To learn more about fungi and find more activities, videos and books, go to our Fungi Online Nature Classroom