Resources available here for Key Stages 2 and 3

Here we provide you with everything you need to organise a full day of linked activities that introduce children to fungi, mostly undertaken outside, and suitable for 7 – 11 year olds.

The activities provide interactive learning and fun while enabling the children to find out about the kingdom of the fungi.

And we do provide everything here – from the script for the activity leaders (though you don't need to follow it verbatim) through to sample risk assessments and including all the props and class sheets. CLICK HERE to go to the index page of this section.

Fungus Fred goes Foraying  is a story book by Maggie Hadley published by the British Mycological Society (2002). This is a different approach to teaching children about fungi because it tells an engaging story about how Fungus Fred investigates the different types of fungi in nature. The book is full of fungi facts and encourages children to do what Fred has done and have fun learning. Suitable for children in the age range 7-11 years.

Here we offer you the chance to see the entire book, page by page. Just click on START.

You can order the printed version by mail using the order form you can download when you CLICK HERE.

Here we offer you the chance to see the entire book, page by page. Just click on START.

If you want to go directly to the worksheets, CLICK HERE.

To download a PDF file of the complete text CLICK HERE [but beware, it's 3.9 Mb]. You can order a copy of the printed version (it's free, but we charge for postage) using the order form you can download when you CLICK HERE.

The key is aimed at 9 - 12 year olds and is designed to be used by teachers and students as an introduction to some of the more easily recognised fungi present in our woods and fields. It will also be of interest to any non-expert wanting to find out more about fungi. For this key fungi have been grouped according to their shape. The name trail takes you through a series of yes or no questions to help you identify your fungi. Use of dichotomous keys is a requirement of the UK curriculum for the age-group, so this is a useful tool for the classroom. The chart also contains lots of fascinating information such as “What are fungi”, “How do fungi feed?” as well as some “Fun things to do with fungi”.

This is one of an extensive series of FSC identification charts which help with understanding just about everything in the natural environment. The charts are sized to fit easily into your back-pack or map-pocket and have a plasticized finish to cope with our weather.

Order by mail using the order form you can download when you CLICK HERE.

We have a detailed guide to the information you need to enjoy a school trip safely. Download PDF file or MSWord.doc by clicking the hyperlinks.

Many of the wardens in local nature reserves and field centres organize fungal walks so it's always worth checking their programmes to see if they can offer activities for school parties.

There are almost 40 Local Fungus Recording Groups around the country, and the British Mycological Society organizes a Network to which most belong. They're made up of enthusiasts who run them on a voluntary basis. We would recommend schools make contact with their local group(s) because they are very often keen to share their knowledge of wild fungi. The groups offer a friendly and welcoming environment that helps new members thoroughly enjoy the world of fungi and improve identification skills, but members of these groups are sometimes willing to give talks or organize workshops in schools.

You can find a list of contact addresses in TG05: Discover More [CLICK HERE to download]. To make contact, send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to the group(s) nearest to you.

Several of the Local Fungus Recording Groups have their own web pages. This is a list of hyperlinks to those we know about:

Association of British Fungus Groups
Buckinghamshire Fungus Group
Devon Fungus Group
Dorset Fungus Group

Dublin Naturalists Field Club Fungus Working Group
East Yorkshire Fungus Group
Fungi to be With (London Group)
Fungus Group of South East Scotland
Grampian Fungus Group
Gwent Fungus Group
Hampshire Fungus Group
Huntingdon Fungus Group
Melbourn Mushroom Club
Mid Yorkshire Fungus Group
Norfolk Fungus Study Group
Northern Ireland Fungus Group
North East Fungus Study Group
North West Fungus Group
Nottinghamshire Fungi Group
Pembrokeshire Fungus Recording Network
Warwickshire Fungus Survey
West Weald Fungus Recording Group

And don't forget English Nature, The Field Studies Council, Plantlife International, and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), all of which make a considerable investment in environmental education.