Fun, easy and educational, this activity shows children how, like other fruits and vegetables, mushrooms have “seeds” too. See what kind of spore print your kids can make.

Step 1: Pick a Portabella

To make this activity fun, ask your kids to come to the grocery store with you to pick out their portabella mushroom. You want to pick one that is fairly large (3-4 inches), and has dark visible gills that are not damaged.

Step 2: Prepare the Mushroom

When you are ready to start cut the mushroom stem off just below the cap, so that it sits flat with the gills side down.

Step 3: To Make the Spore Print

Place the mushroom cap side up (gill side down) on a white sheet of paper and cover the cap with a glass bowl. Leave it covered, undisturbed for 24 hours, which could be hard, the kids are really going to want to take a peek. Carefully remove the bowl and remove the mushroom cap from the paper. Voila, your first mushroom spore print.

Step 4: Preserving the Spore Print

Be sure to stray the paper with a thin layer of hairspray, this will keep all the mushroom spores intact. Let the kids colour them, frame them or just post them on the fridge.