Plant a seed and a flower grows. But have you ever seen a mushroom seed? You never will — because mushrooms don't use seeds at all!
So how does a new mushroom appear overnight after rain? Mushrooms use a secret dust called spores. Let's find out how it works — tap, drag and grow your way through!
Tip: try the little activities on each page. Press Next → when you're ready.
A spore is like a tiny magic dot. It is far smaller than a seed — smaller than a speck of dust! Tap each card to discover a spore secret.
Tap all 3 cards to reveal the secrets…
Look under a mushroom's cap. You'll see thin lines called gills. The spores hide there! Tap the gills to shake the spores loose.
👆 Tap the gills under the cap!
Some things grow from seeds and some from spores. Drag each card into the right basket. (On a tablet, tap a card, then tap a basket.)
Pick a card, then choose a basket.
When a spore wakes up, it grows thin white threads called mycelium. They spread underground like a spider web, eating bits of old leaves and wood. Tap "Feed & Water" to help the threads spread!
The threads are still small… keep feeding them!
When the mycelium has stored enough food, it pushes a mushroom up above the ground. That mushroom drops new spores, and it starts all over again! 🔁
Tap the steps in the right order, from first to last:
Tap the one that happens FIRST.
Let's recap the amazing seedless story:
Great work, young scientist! 🌟
Next time you see a mushroom after rain, you'll know its secret.