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Science Sunday: How does an octopus move?

March 18, 2012 Ticia 7 Comments

how do octopus move

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.

octopus craft
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?

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.

turkey baster to illustrate how does an octopus move
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.

 

using an eye dropper to show how does an octopus move

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

science Science Sunday, swimming creatures, zoology

Comments

  1. Crisc says

    March 18, 2012 at 9:52 am

    Fun activity! I seem to use a lot of things from around the kitchen, mights as well be a science class in there..lol

    Reply
  2. Wonder Mom says

    March 18, 2012 at 5:57 pm

    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…

    Reply
  3. Phyllis says

    March 18, 2012 at 10:41 pm

    Great lesson! I have pinned it.

    Reply
  4. Books4Learning says

    March 19, 2012 at 12:54 am

    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

    Reply
  5. MaryAnne says

    March 19, 2012 at 1:39 am

    I love the turkey baster illustration idea!

    Reply
  6. alex nguyen says

    March 19, 2012 at 9:56 pm

    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!

    Reply
  7. Raising a Happy Child says

    March 20, 2012 at 6:31 pm

    I love your octopus art!

    Reply

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Ticia Adventures in Mommydom Hi, I'm Ticia! This is the adventures of my family in life and learning. Follow along with us as we share our adventures. We're having a lot of fun and learning as we go.

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