Sixth Grade II Bimester

1. Fungi
Chapter 2
Lesson 4
Sixth Grade
Ms. Membreño

2. My Planet Diary
Fungus Farmers
You may have heard of an
“ant farm,” but have you ever
heard of ant farmers? Leaf
cutter ants act like farmers,
growing fungus for food.
First, the ants cut pieces of
leaves from trees. Then the
ants carry the leaves to an
underground nest, where the
leaves are crushed and
chewed to make a mulch.
Surprisingly, the ants don't
eat the mulched leaves.
They place them in a special
growing chamber or
“garden.” Then they move
stands of fungus from an
existing garden to the new
chamber, where it grows on
the leaves. The ants help the
fungus grows on the leaves.
The ants help the fungus
grow by removing harmful
bacteria and mold. Finally,
the ants eat the fungus!

3. Questions
• 1. How do the ants act like farmers?
• 2. How do the leaf cutter ants and the fungus
benefit from their relationship?

4. Questions
• 1. How do the ants act like farmers?
They prepare special places for the fungus to grow
and remove bacteria and mold.
• 2. How do the leaf cutter ants and the fungus
benefit from their relationship?
The ants make a chamber for the fungus to grow. The
fungus provides food for the ants.

5. Unlock the big ?
• What are the characteristics of Fungi?
• What is the role of fungi in nature?

6. Characteristics of Fungi?
• Eukaryotes that have cell walls
• heterotrophs that feed by absorbing their food.
• Use spores to reproduce.

7. Fungi cell structure
• They can be a tiny unicellular yeasts to large
multicellular.
• Hyphae= are the branching, threadlike tubes that
make up the bodies of multicellular fungi.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5rluxtABGA

8. Parts of the Fungus

9. What is the role of fungi in
nature?
• Fungi may act as decomposers and recyclers, or
provide foods for people. Fungi may help fight or
cause disease. Some fungi live in a beneficial
relationship with other organisms.