Mushroom and Fungi Sorting & Classification

Help students discover just how diverse the fungi kingdom can be with this hands-on Mushrooms & Fungi Sorting and Classification Activity!

Instead of simply learning mushroom names, students observe, compare, classify, and discuss a variety of mushrooms and fungi using multiple sorting activities.

Students can sort fungi into Edible, Poisonous, and Not Typically Eaten categories while learning the important safety rule that wild mushrooms should never be eaten unless they have been identified as safe by a knowledgeable adult.

They can also investigate where and how different fungi grow by sorting them into Wood-Decomposing Fungi, Soil Fungi, and Microscopic Fungi. Some fungi may fit into more than one category, creating a great opportunity for students to explain and defend their thinking.

For an additional activity, separate the mushroom pictures from their name cards to create a picture-to-label matching activity that reinforces scientific vocabulary and mushroom identification.

Use this resource for science centers, mushroom units, fungi units, classification activities, fall science, forest studies, Montessori science, homeschool nature study, small groups, vocabulary practice, and project-based learning.