I just heard about a linky sponsored by Apologia Science, so I’m gonna link this up to Homeschool Science Show and Tell!
We started studying Octopuses, I learned the PROPER plural for that from our science book this past week. Okay, there’s actually a debate about that, but still.
First I gave the kids some various papers, they chose blue and yellow, and let them have at it to make octopus craft. While they made those I took turns reading with the different kiddos. Afterwards I was very amused to discover the similarities in their projects.
How does an octopus move?
Next, we looked at my terrible brilliant drawing of an octopus expelling water.
We talked about how an octopus sucks in water, and then pushes it out, and that’s what pushes them through the ocean.
Then I got out a turkey baster and we squeezed the bulb to feel the air coming out. That let us feel what the water being pushed out did.
Now, you could follow this up with letting them play with it in the bath tub, or in the summer in the pool, but that would not have pictures of it for obvious reasons.
Finally we took some eye droppers I had and tried squeezing them under water.
This part didn’t work so well because apparently someone had knocked the bulbs off, so we weren’t getting good suction with them.
But, with the various hands on and “illustrations” we did, they did get the idea of how an octopus and other cephalopods move, so that’s all good.
What kitchen things have you found to be good for using in science activities?
Chestnut Grove Academy has some great ideas for studying whales with little guys.
Juggling with Kids shared about Diving Ketchup, and I was thinking this is an excellent example of octopus propulsion also.
We’re about to start on starfish, anyone have some good hands on ideas for them? I’d love to hear suggestions. All I can think of right now is to look at the ones my MIL gave us under a magnifying glass and make a craft using sandpaper.
Cover picture provided by Folbo and was modified to add text and an overlay
Fun activity! I seem to use a lot of things from around the kitchen, mights as well be a science class in there..lol
Excellent lesson…even if things went eyrie in the bathtub…
Here is a cute Starfish ideas I say while out and about on the 'Net:
Starfish Smores-
https://www.hungryhappenings.com/2011/07/recipe-for-fun-in-summer-sun-starfish.html
Also, perhaps there is something you could do with suction cups, like a opening something with a plunger, just like a Starfish opens his prey with his suction cups…just a thought…
Great lesson! I have pinned it.
Nice lesson.
Here is a cute activity I just saved you might enjoy: https://pinterest.com/pin/34058540902059543/
I really like this book (and it has a free teaching guide online):
https://www.books4learning.blogspot.com/2011/03/picture-book-octavia-and-her-purple-ink.html
I love the turkey baster illustration idea!
I found this on another blog about demonstrating the suction power of starfish:
Gather suction cups with hooks, commonly used to hang calendars, and head to a nearby refrigerator. Wet the suction cups with water, then press one to the door and have students attempt to open the door. Add suction cups until the door will open, illustrating the need for several cups to adequately manipulate heavier objects.
Read more: Science Projects on the Suction of Starfish | eHow.com https://www.ehow.com/info_8046775_science-projects-suction-starfish.html#ixzz1pbP2PaCm
Do you have tidepools near you? Whenever we study marine life, I look up tide tables and take the kids to the beach! look for neap tides if you can – there are such great demonstrations of sea life when it's a neap tide!
I love your octopus art!