Mississippi Science L.6.4.3

Science6th GradeLife Science

The Standard

L.6.4: Students will demonstrate an understanding of classification tools and models such as dichotomous keys to classify representative organisms based on the characteristics of the kingdoms: Archaebacteria, Eubacteria, Protists, Fungi, Plants, and Animals.

Analyze and interpret data from observations to describe how fungi obtain energy and respond to stimuli (e.g., bread mold, rotting plant material).

2026 Mississippi College- and Career-Readiness Standards for Science · Adaptations and Diversity

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students use photos and measurements to describe where fungi grow and how that growth changes over time. They explain that fungi break down material such as bread or dead leaves, then absorb nutrients they use for energy. They look for evidence that growth changes with conditions such as moisture.
What Mastery Looks Like: Given photos of damp and dry bread over several days, a student compares mold growth and points to specific observations. They explain that bread supplies nutrients, while moisture affects how well the mold grows.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think fungi make food from sunlight like plants or that water is their energy source. They may also say mold moves toward moisture, rather than describing new growth in moist areas.
How to Assess It: Show two dated photo sets of mold on damp and dry bread. Ask: Where did mold grow more, what observation supports your answer, and what did the mold use for energy?

Lesson moves

Give groups dated photos of moldy bread to put in order, then have them plot the area covered by mold on graph paper.
Ask students to write two sentences explaining what rotting leaves provide a fungus and what a photo alone cannot prove.
Hand out growth-pattern cards and have pairs match each one to a claim about moisture or food that the observations support.
Show photos of a damp bathroom wall and a dry wall, then ask students to explain why fixing a leak could slow mold growth.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to L.6.4.3, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

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