1. Fungi and bacteria

2. Questions to think about…
What are the characteristics of fungi?
What are the characteristics of bacteria?

3. What are the characteristics of fungi?
Fungi come in different shapes and sizes.
Mould and yeast are some examples of fungi.
Some fungi, like yeast, are too small to be seen with the naked eye.
You can see them with the help of a microscope.
Living things which can only be seen using a microscope are called microorganisms.
mould on bread
yeast

4. What are the characteristics of fungi?
Some fungi can be seen without a microscope.
Mushrooms and toadstools are also fungi.
bracket fungi
toadstool

5. What are the characteristics of fungi?
Fungi can be useful or harmful to us.
Some fungi can be eaten.
Yeast is used to make bread.
Other fungi can turn food bad.

6. How do fungi obtain food?
Fungi feed on other living things, which can be dead or alive.
Fungi cannot make their own food.
They cannot move around to look for food.
mushrooms growing and feeding on wood

7. Where are fungi found? Fungi grow in places with a lot of moisture.
Fungi can grow in toilets, on buildings or even on the bodies of some animals!

8. How do fungi reproduce? Fungi reproduce through spores.
Spores are very small and light. They look like brown dust.
In mushrooms, spores are found in the gills under the cap.

9. What are the characteristics of bacteria?
Bacteria are very tiny, and can be seen only under a microscope.
They can be found everywhere.
Bacteria come in various shapes.

10. What are the characteristics of bacteria?
Bacteria can be useful or harmful to us.
Yoghurt contains useful bacteria.
Some bacteria can cause food to spoil.
Bacteria cannot make their own food.
They feed on other living things.
Some bacteria can grow on food and cause them to spoil!

12. The end