Mushrooms and mycoprotein (non-statutory Climate Change & Sustainability) | Science

Starter quiz

Which of these is not a plant?
- cactus
- oak tree
- dandelion
- egg ✓
Protein is a __________ found in a wide range of food.
- vitamin
- nutrient ✓
- fibre
- mineral
Protein in food helps to build and repair bones and ...
- 'muscles.' ✓
Which of these foods are high in protein?
- chickpeas ✓
- pasta
- chicken ✓
- watermelon
Which of these sources of protein come from plants?
- baked beans ✓
- cheese
- almonds ✓
- salmon
Which of these helps to produce foods containing protein in more sustainable ways?
- Put animals in smaller pens so they take up less space.
- Grow more plants to produce protein-rich foods. ✓
- Grow more plants to feed cows, pigs and sheep to produce more red meat.

Exit quiz

True or false? A mushroom is a plant.
- True
- False ✓
Which of these statements are correct?
- Mushrooms are low in protein.
- Mushrooms are high in protein. ✓
- Mushrooms are one of the least sustainable foods to grow.
- Mushrooms are one of the most sustainable foods to grow. ✓
Izzy wants to grow mushrooms as a sustainable source of protein. What advice would you give her?
- Grow mushrooms in direct sunlight.
- Grow mushrooms in the dark or in shaded light. ✓
- Keep the growing materials moist throughout. ✓
- Keep the growing materials dry throughout.
Mycoprotein is made from ...
- plants
- animals
- fungus ✓
What is mycoprotein used for?
- A protein-rich food made from plants.
- A protein-rich food that is an alternative to meat. ✓
- A protein-rich food that looks and tastes like beans and lentils.
The process used to produce mycoprotein from a fungus is called ...
- fermentation. ✓
- evaporation.
- condensation.
- precipitation.
- photosynthesis.

Worksheet

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Presentation

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Lesson Details

Key learning points

A mushroom is not a plant; it is a fungus.
Mushrooms are high in protein and are one of the most sustainable foods to grow and eat.
Mushrooms grow best in dark, moist conditions and continue to provide food over several weeks.
Mycoprotein is a sustainable protein made from fermented fungus.
Mycoprotein is made into 'meatless' foods such as burgers, mincemeat and 'chicken'.

Common misconception

Pupils often think that a mushroom is a plant.

Explain to pupils that mushrooms are not plants (or animals), rather they are the fruit bodies of a group of micro-organisms called fungi (singular fungus).

Keywords

Protein - Protein is in foods like meat, fish, and eggs. It helps your body grow and repair.
Sustainable - If something is sustainable, it meets the needs of people now without having a negative impact on the needs of people living in the future.
Fungus - A fungus is a type of micro-organism that feeds on organic matter.
Mycoprotein - Mycoprotein is a sustainable protein made from fermented fungus.