Making Mold

This lesson developed by Reach Out!

Recommended Age: Early and later Elementary

Questions

What is mold?

Can I grow mold?

What you need:

• 3 glass jars with lids
• Mixing spoon
• Mixing bowl
• Measuring spoons
• Measuring cup
• White bread (with the crust cut off)
• Water
• Cooking oil
• Table salt
• Flour

What to do:

1. Measure and put 2 cups of flour, 1 cup of salt, 1 tablespoon of oil and 3/4 cup of water into your mixing bowl.

2. Mix these ingredients until they make a dough.

3. Put the mixture in a covered jar until you use it. It will dry fast if left uncovered.

4. Rub your hands in some oil.

5. Pick up a piece of bread. Rub your hands on both sides of the bread.

6. Put the bread in a covered jar. Put the jar near a window so it gets some sunlight.

7. Take a chunk of the dough you made. Rub your hands on the dough.

8. Put the blob of dough in a covered jar.

9. Put the jar next to the one with bread in it on the windowsill or table.

10. Every day, check out what is happening to the bread and the dough.

What is happening?

You should see mold growing on the bread. Is there mold growing on your dough ball? Why isn't mold growing on the dough? What is different between the bread and the dough? Mold needs certain conditions in order to grow. See if you can guess what these are from this experiment.

Look up mold in an encyclopedia. You might like to find out about cheese-—it needs mold to grow! Also, check out what penicillin is made from. Molds can look disgusting to us, but they are often pretty useful little things!

Try repeating this experiment and put jars in a darker place. What happens? Why?

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