Beware of Mold

Overview:

Students will learn what food mold is and conditions that can affect mold growth. Students will become better equipped to identify and prevent mold growth.

Time: 

3 weeks

Lesson Materials:

*You can use the document in the link below to either: tailor the experiment to your needs or to have a printable version of this lesson plan*

Beware of Mold Lesson Plan

The plan is editable and printable. Copy the Google Doc in your own drive and make edits or you can just print.

Beware of Mold Lesson Video:

Learning Objectives:

  1. Design an experimental bread mold project 
  2. Compare and contrast bread mold with different variables, such as moisture level.
  3. Compare/Examine the bread mold control groups
  4. Identify bread mold and understand how mold  spreads.

Materials Needed:

  • 2 ziploc bags
  • 2 slices of bread
  • Permanent marker
  • 1 spray bottle
  • Observation sheet

Experimental Methods:

  1. Students will compare/contrast bread mold with different conditions(moisture level). A dry slice of bread will be placed in a ziploc bag. The second slice of bread will be lightly misted with water (moisture) and placed in a ziploc bag.
  2. Students will make a prediction on what slice of bread will have more mold.
  3. Bread will be placed in an area and left sealed for 3 weeks.
  4. Document changes in bread every few days for three weeks.
  5. Analyze results of the experiment.
  6. Draw a conclusion.

Expected Experimental Results:

Students should see that the bread with moisture has more mold.

Questions to Think About:

  1. How does moisture get in our bread at home?
  2. How can we prevent moisture in our bread?
  3. Is bread the only food that grows mold?
  4. What other foods have we seen mold on?
  5. What other conditions can affect bread mold? light/dark

Chemistry:

Molds are a natural part of the environment and can be found almost anywhere moisture and oxygen are present. Mold belongs to the species called fungi and lives in moist places such as soil, plants and dead or decaying matter (old bread). Fungus that grows on bread is known as bread mold. Bread mold grows by absorbing nutrients like sugars, starches and proteins from the bread.

Society:

Old food with mold has health risks such as stomach aches, asthma, headaches, skin rashes. Being aware of mold will prevent us from being affected by these health risks.

Logistics:

STEAM Subjects: 

Food Chemistry

Science Vocabulary: 

Experiment, Mold, decaying

Funding:

CSU Internal Funding Sources:

  • IRA (Instructionally Related Activities Fund)
  • Faculty Small Grant

External Funding Sources:

  • Adobe