Spore prints
My two year old and I have been learning about the seasons and plant reproduction basically since the first spring he was born and we went for walks and I told him how in awe I am with spring blossoms.
We have broken apart seed pods probably since his first fall and now during his second fall we have been enjoying spotting mushrooms and making spore prints.
This project pairs well with
-Exploring Nature with Children by Raising Little Shoots
-Amdy Goldsworhy - Spiral Jetty is one of his most famous works. Ephemera, Temporal, and Site Specific Art are good terms to know
-Reproduction conversations. We often talk about how plants reproduce, the endosperm and other parts of a seed, as well as pollination. We have talked about bird, fish, and spider eggs in books and in nature. I do follow the Foundation World View advice of starting to talk about reproduction at an age appropriate level young. Mushroom spores are another way God created a spices to reproduce in nature.
-Mandala Art and Eastern Religions or therapeutic art.
-Math and radial symmetry.
Supplies
Mushrooms
Paper
Optional
Hairspray
Rubber or garden gloves
How To
Pick the tops of the mushrooms.
I use gloves when handling themwith my toddler to show him they are not food and to not confuse them with ones we eat.
Place the caps on paper spore side (grooves) facing down.
You can place a container or glass jar over them to keep spores from blowing around. It can also help hold the paper if it is windy.
Prints take between 20 minutes and 24 hours depending.
I found that medium to large ones from our yard took the least time and store bought ones took the most.
After you are happy with your print spray it with hairspray or a charcoal/pastel fixative.
Variations
Some store bought spore prints tend to be white so use colored paper and experiment.
I didn't have much lunch with wild mushrooms smaller than a penny.
I also had some mushrooms leave yellow rings. I think they were too young and the spores hadn't really opened up.
Some spore prints are more fragile and blow away when being sprayed. Others stay put. Be ready for this to be a “temporal art” project.
