for Letters and Sounds Revised5 Inb li Iserles The Secret Life of Mushrooms
The Secret Life of Mushrooms
Written by Inbali Iserles
Contents After the rain 2 Friendly fungus? 6 Fungal networks 9 Where can we find different kinds of fungus? 12 Science 14 Beware! 16 A lot to learn 18 Glossary 20 Index 21 Amazing fungus 22
After the rain Under a full moon, mushrooms grow in the damp earth. Their round heads bob on the breeze. 2
Mushrooms are different to plants. They are the fruits of a fungus.
3
In many ways, mushrooms are closer to animals than plants. Plants use sunshine, water and air to make their own food. 4
A fungus pulls in food through branching roots.
An animal swallows its food.
Like an animal, a fungus cannot make its own food. It feeds off other things.
5
Friendly fungus? Mushrooms play a useful role in the cycle of life and death. Some kinds of fungus are parasites. This one is eating a fly. 6
Others feed on tree trunks or rotting fruit. 7
The Secret Life of Mushrooms
Phonemes covered: /air/ are, ere /ar/ a /o/ a /oo/ oul, u /or/ a, al, au, oor /s/ sc /ur/ ear, or /z/ ze
Stretch and challenge
They are not animals, they are not plants! Enter the hidden world of amazing mushrooms and fascinating fungus.
Phase 5 Set 4 An information book collins.co.uk/collinsbigcat