Mycology in the Waldorf Scope & Sequence

One of the things on my wish list is to developed a Science block that is just on Fungi. It really bothers me when people lump fungi in with Botany because they are NOT plants and it just confuses children! Right now, I'm thinking grade 7 along with Microbiology, because the questions about where fungi fall on the Tree of Life are best understood when you are talking about the cellular level. It also could go nicely with Chemistry if you did kombucha.

Actually, here is the full Science range in Waldorf:

Nature Study in grade 1/2
a sense of wonder... respect and appreciation for the natural world

Farming & Gardening in grade 3
how we work with the earth and the living things in a practical way

LIFE SCIENCE

Zoology in grade 4/5

Botany in grade 5/6

Microbiology & Mycology in grade 7 (this is my idea... not traditional)

Human Anatomy & Physiology in grade 7/8

Ecology in grade 8 (I like to put Oceanography in there too)

EARTH SCIENCE

Local Geography in grade 4

Landforms & Water Features in grade 4

North American Geography (or your home continent) in grade 5

Geology in grade 6

Astronomy in grade 6

Physics in grade 6/7/8

Chemistry in grade 7/8

Meteorology in grade 8

Here is my list of Mycology books so far. I'll keep adding to it as I brainstorm this block off & on. Suggestions are always welcome!

The Case of the Vanishing Golden Frogs: A Scientific Mystery
by Sandra Markle
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis

Zombie Makers: True Stories of Nature's Undead
by Rebecca Johnson
Entomophthora muscae
Ophiocordyceps unilateralis

Ancient Ones: The World of the Old-Growth Douglas Fir
by Barbara Bash

Fungarium
by Ester Gaya and Katie Scott

Humongous Fungus: The Weird and Wonderful Kingdom of Fungi
by Lynne Boddy

Fungi: Mushrooms, Toadstools, Molds, Yeasts, and Other Fungi
by Judy Wearing

Plants That Never Ever Bloom
by Ruth Heller

The Mushroom Fan Club
by Elise Gravel

Fungus is Among Us!
by Joy Keller

We Are Fungi
by Christine Nishiyama

Tales of the Mushroom Folk
by Signe Aspelin
this is lovely but of course it's the mushrooms of Sweden
does drive home the idea that many mushrooms aren't safe to eat!!!!

Mushroom in the Rain
by Mirra Ginsburg

Mushrooms of the World
by Jeannette Bowers (coloring book)

Adventures in Mycoflora: A Realistic Mushroom Coloring Book
by E. M. Ledford

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