The Fungus Among Us

Students in Ground Ed’s program are continually exploring lifecycles in nature, and one of our most engaging lessons focuses on mushrooms—their fascinating biology and the vital role they play in our ecosystem, food system, and beyond.
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When we first mention fungi, students sometimes wrinkle their noses and ask, “You mean like foot fungus?” But their hesitation quickly turns to curiosity as our educators introduce the incredible diversity and benefits of mushrooms. We’re not talking about the everyday button mushroom found on pizza—we’re showcasing locally grown varieties that are as unfamiliar as they are remarkable.

During February’s 5th grade lesson, students:

• Study the mushroom lifecycle
• Explore whether mushrooms are plants or animals (spoiler alert: neither!)
• Discover the many benefits of mushrooms, including their role as nature’s ultimate recyclers
• Examine mushroom substrate (the material mushrooms grow in)
• Dissect and sketch mushroom anatomy
• Create mushroom-inspired art prints and origami

You can even check out our brief Fungus Intro Lesson video to see this learning in action.

A cherished community partner in this work is Long Beach Mushrooms, a local business founded and operated by Justin and Mia Nguyen. Deeply committed to sustainability, they are passionate about sharing the benefits of local farming with both our educators and students.

As part of Ground Education’s ongoing effort to integrate local farmers and food-based businesses into our curriculum, Long Beach Mushrooms recently hosted our educators for a behind-the-scenes tour of their thriving indoor mushroom farm. In this carefully managed growing space, our team witnessed firsthand the wide variety of mushrooms flourishing under attentive care. Justin shared insights into the precision, patience, and dedication required to cultivate multiple varieties and harvest them at peak quality.
Shortly after this team visit, students enjoyed learning directly from Justin, who visits our schools as a guest instructor. He brings stunning samples of his homegrown mushrooms, giving students the opportunity to observe their textures, shapes, and structures up close while learning about their nutritional, ecological, and culinary benefits.

We are deeply grateful for partnerships like these. They help students develop a deeper appreciation for the natural world and provide meaningful, real-world examples of how local businesses contribute to a more sustainable community.
In case you’re interested –

Not only does Long Beach Mushrooms provide their myriads of mushrooms to local restaurants and food establishments, but they’ve created a Mushroom Farm School, imparting their experience through easy-to-follow instruction on how to grow your own mushrooms, from beginner to mastery level. They also sell individual grow kits for DIYers (which we make available to all of our 5th grade classrooms.) And, of course, their freshly harvested mushrooms are available to the public via farmer’s markets across the region. 
Don’t stay in the dark--learn more about Long Beach Mushrooms, here.