Mold Project

The following sample mold project experiment is meant to give you ideas on how to perform experiments and arrange your project. Use this mold growth project to come up with ideas for your own experiments.

Mold Science Project - Mold Growth

The purpose of this mold project experiment is to determine the best conditions for mold growth.

Background:

Research information on mold. Obtain drawings or images of mold samples. Answer the following questions: What is mold? How do molds reproduce? What kinds of mold typically grow on bread? In what types of environments do molds grow quickly? How do molds appear under a microscope?

Hypothesis:

From your research you will predict under which conditions bread mold will grow best - hot and moist, warm and moist, or cold and moist.

Materials: (Adult supervision of kids is always recommended.)

• Suggested microscopes:

       

       Science Kit: Boreal Cordless SKope

       Scientifics Online: Basic Biological Microscope

• Suggested microscope specimen staining kit: Includes slides, cover glasses, dyes, and eye droppers.

       

       Scientifics Online: Specimen Staining Kit

• 3 slices of bread (preferably without preservatives)
  
  
• 3 small plastic bags
  
  
• paper towels
  
  
• safety goggles
  
  
• gloves
  
  
• margarine container
  
  
• lamp
  
  
• thermometer
  
  
• tooth picks
  
  
• magnifying glass
  
  
• dropper
  
  
• tweezers
  
  
• paper
  
  
• pencil
  
  
• book on fungi identification
  
  

Procedure:

1. Gather materials needed for your mold project experiment.

2. Place one slightly damp paper towel in each of the three plastic bags.

3. Add one slice of bread to each of the bags and seal them.

4. Place one of the bags in a warm, dark place - like a cabinet near a stove.

5. Place another bag in the refrigerator. Be sure to note the temperature of the refrigerator.

6. Punch several holes in the lid of a clean, empty margarine container.

7. Place the third bag in the margarine container and cover with the lid.

8. Place the container in a hot place (under a lamp). Be sure to note the temperature within the container.

9. Check each bread sample daily to see if mold appears. You can use a magnifying glass to look through the holes in the margarine container. Make drawings and take notes.

10. After about two weeks, make a wet mount of any mold that appears on each of the three samples.

11. To make a wet mount, put on gloves and goggles. Using a dropper, add a drop of Methylene Blue dye (from your specimen staining kit) onto the middle of a slide.

12. Use a clean toothpick to scrape a sample of the mold onto the slide.

13. Using tweezers, carefully place a cover slip, at an angle, over the sample. Make sure there are no bubbles.

14. Use a paper towel to absorb any excess dye.

15. Observe your sample under a compound microscope at 100X magnification. Draw and describe your sample.

16. Observe under high power 400X. Draw and describe your sample.

17. Identify mold structures such as spores and hyphae. Identify the types of mold on each slice of bread. Use books with information and pictures on fungi or molds to help identify the mold.

18. Throw away the slices of bread and clean all instruments. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly.


Results:

Record your data and compare your results. Graph and chart your data. Under what conditions did your mold grow best? What types of mold did you find growing on each sample?

Conclusion:

Summarize what happened in your mold project experiment based on your results. Explain patterns in your data. Did your data support your hypothesis? If not, explain why. Evaluate your project and make suggestions for improvements. What additional experiments can you think of for a mold project?

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