In The News
April 16, 2024
Step aside Northern Cardinal, white oak, and common blue violet – make room for the ‘Giant puffball’ mushroom.
While School House Rock is one way to learn about legislation, The 3rd - 5th-grade class at Prairie School of DuPage in Wheaton, IL is taking a different route. These young changemakers are learning about state government by creating legislation that would designate the Calvatia gigantea, commonly known as the ‘Giant puffball’, as the official mushroom and state symbol for Illinois.
This past fall, after a conversation in class about state symbols, the upper elementary students from Prairie School of DuPage decided to learn about Illinois state government by creating legislation that would designate the Calvatia gigantea, commonly known as the ‘Giant puffball’, as the official mushroom and state symbol of Illinois.
With field guides in tow, the students began collecting data on mushrooms they observed on the school grounds and in nearby parks. Guided by their teachers, they surveyed over 100 Illinois-based educators, scientists, and specialists. The information gathered from these stakeholders allowed the students to compile a list of the best possible nominees for a state mushroom. They held a class primary election to narrow the choices to two mushrooms. Then they held an all-school general election – campaign posters, stump speeches, and all – for the two mushroom candidates. Students in grades K-8 voted in the general election and the overwhelming winner was the Calvetia gigantea.
There are many reasons why the Giant puffball was a clear winner. It is fairly common and can be found in various habitats throughout the state, allowing all residents of Illinois to have an opportunity to interact with or observe it. It is non-toxic and, in its early stages, even edible. It can grow to about the size of a large beach ball and according to the National Park Service, “Giant puffballs can produce a mind-boggling several trillion spores.”
Amid all the mushroom research and election planning, the Upper Elementary students also researched who their elected state officials were and requested a sponsor for the bill. State Senator Seth Lewis took up their cause and facilitated the official legislative process with the students. The students traveled to Springfield, IL to testify in front of a Senate committee hearing and tuned into the final vote on the Senate floor. As of 4/10/24 the student’s state mushroom bill (SB3514) passed the Senate unanimously. Rep. Mussman will sponsor the bill as it goes into committee in the Illinois State House of Representatives sometime in May.
Read more on the WBBM Newradio channel or visit Illinois State Sentator, Seth Lewis’ website for more details.
April 11, 2024
2:33 pm
November 21, 2023
City Of Wheaton Announces Inaugural Sustainability Award Winners
At the Nov. 20, 2023 Wheaton City Council meeting, Prairie School of DuPage was one of the recipients of Wheaton’s first-ever Sustainability Awards from the City’s Environmental Improvement Commission.