EyeSiphon

Arms

Suckers

Beack

HeadMantle

THE OCTOPUS

1. Observing and experimenting to learn about the octopus

2. Art workshop

3. “Imagine …” workshop

4. Find out more

1. Observing and experimenting to learn about the octopus

Soft strong body

Allow students the opportunity to observe an octopus, particularly the mucous protection of the animal’s body, the consistency of the mantle, the tentacles and suckers. Draw their attention to the soft consistency and strength of its body, remind them of the attack on the boy in the story, and emphasise the following aspects: function of the mucous, use of the suckers, consistency of the body.

The children draw a parallel between the body of the octopus and the soft but muscular parts of their own bodies (legs, arms) which, like the octopus’s body, seem soft when the muscle is relaxed, but harden when the muscles are contracted.

The children draw conclusions about the important part mucous has to

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Raquel GasparAssociação Viver a CiênciaAv. da República, nº 34, 1º Lisboa | E: rgaspar@viveraciencia.org

The Little Girl of the Sea

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source: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/invertebrates/octopus/

Octopuscoloring.shtml

play in protecting octopuses when they slide over the cutting edges of the rocks by observing how snails and slugs move over rugged surfaces.

The children carry out a simple experiment which will allow them to understand the strength of the octopus’ suckers.

Children blow on the palms of their hands, place them together perpendicularly and press them together for a few seconds, then release the pressure and relax the hands in order to feel the strength of suction in the palms.

Movement

Use a video for the children to observe how the octopus moves in the water, particularly how its tentacles allow it to travel over rocks and sand; the siphon which allows it to move quickly and in the direction of the movement (like a guide or the oars on a boat); and the paleal cavity which assists in pumping water which, along with the siphon, enables the octopus to move by jet propulsion.

Relate these characteristics to the episodes in the story (the octopus is the busiest character in terms of housework because it has lots of arms).

Give the children the materials (balloon, syringe) to carry out an experiment which will allow them to simulate the jet-propelled movement of the octopus. Fill up a balloon with air and then let it go. Watch how it moves as it empties (in the opposite direction to the released air). The children draw and label the procedures, record the observations, ask questions and discuss conclusions.

Master of disguise: camouflage

Ask the children questions which will allow them to reach their own conclusions about some of the characteristics of the octopus (colour of its skin, changes in pigmentation of the octopus depending on the environment).

Through direct observation (rock pools, aquarium) or videos, learn how the octopus uses camouflage and ink to avoid detection.

Draw a parallel between the camouflage of the octopus and the outfits or uniforms of hunters and soldiers; list other animals which use camouflage (the chameleon changes its outer appearance to avoid being seen by insects, the Australian marine dragon which is able to hide from its predators as it looks very like seaweed).

Ask the children to use the ink to paint, drawing a parallel between this and normal painting inks (black watercolour for example).

Put water and some objects in transparent tanks. Put octopus ink or black gauche into the water of one of the tanks and ask the students to record the visibility level before and after the ink is placed in the water. Throw different coloured inks into the other tanks and record the observations, drawing and labelling the procedures.

Discuss the results.

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chromatophores

Ink sac

siphon

mantle

Relate the characteristics of the octopus to the episode in the story when the boy did not see the octopuses hidden in the rocks.

2. Art workshop

The children make models of octopuses and their habitats (sand, holes in the rocks) using everyday materials, preferably recyclable materials (paper, plastic or fabrics) and natural materials.

The children could focus on the following aspects: . marine environments which provide camouflage for the octopus -

this requires them to select materials of identical texture and patterns for the octopus and the habitat.

. plan of the octopus’ body (body composed of head and arms, number of arms, location of the suckers on the inner side of the arms, siphon at the base of the head).

Materials for the children:(1) Materials made of soft rubber (e.g. bath mat with suction pads, a

plunger) which simulate the consistency of the octopus’ body and which allow them to experiment with the strength of the suckers.

(2) Malleable materials (e.g. plasticine) and other fairly inflexible materials (e.g. wood) for the children to understand how the body of the octopus can change its shape so as to hide in holes in the rocks.

(3) Materials which enable them to understand the function of mucus (Wash and soap their hands in order to understand how easy it is to slide a ring off a finger).

3. “Imagine…” workshop

The children could recreate parts of the story about the lifestyle and habitat of the octopus, including the 6-chord violin it makes with its arms, the many tasks it is able to do with its suckers (lay the table, smoothening sand, making the bed, putting the little girl of the sea to bed).

In the story, the octopuses hide in the rocks and attack the boy using their muscular tentacles and suckers. Play out this episode using different materials. For example, you could use a plunger or wrap a child’s arm

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The Little Girl of the Sea

Children making an octopus

gills

heart

Ink sac

siphon

mantle

in a bath mat, with the suction pads on the outside, to simulate the arm of an octopus.

Simulate a predatory scene where the octopus uses its defence strategies. One group of children play the octopus and the other the predator (moray eel or seal). In the octopus group, the children simulate the strength and agility of the octopus’ muscular arms with suckers to cling on to the body of the predator. The children who play the predators try to break free.

Play out a situation which enables the children to draw a parallel with the effect of the black ink and visibility for the octopus’ enemies and visibility in a bright room which is plunged into darkness.

4. Find out more about the octopus

ANIMAL DIVERSITY WEB, University of Michigan Museum of Zoologyhttp://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/pictures/Octopus_vulgaris.html

CephBasehttp://www.cephbase.utmb.edu/spdb/speciesc.cfm?CephID=495

theBIGzoohttp://www.thebigzoo.com/Animals/Common_Octopus.asp

MarLIN: The Marine Life Information Network of Britain and Irelandhttp://www.marlin.ac.uk/species/octopusvulgaris.htm

MARINEBIOhttp://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=555

Enchanted Learninghttp://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/invertebrates/octopus/Octopuscoloring.shtml

Naturlinkhttp://www.naturlink.pt/canais/Artigo.asp?iArtigo=5913&iLingua=1

Wikipediahttp://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polvo

Oceanographic and Fishing Department of the University of the Azoreshttp://www.horta.uac.pt/imagdop/Servicos/Octopus_vulgaris/Octopus_vulgaris_Frederico_Cardigos_lq.jpg

MarLIN: The Marine Life Information Network of Britain and Ireland www.marlin.ac.uk/baski/image_viewer.asp?images=Octvul&topic=Species

Octopus camouflage video:http:www.cephbase.utmb.edu/viddb/vidsrch3.cfm?ID=132

Video: National Geographic: Octopushttp://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/02/070209-octopus-video.html

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