Octopus Odyssey

🎓 Audience

Education: Grade(s) 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, Teacher(s)/Educator(s), Parent, Adult Learners, Homeschool/Family, Learning Pod; Public Library: Library Patrons, Library Staff

• For younger learners (PK, K, 1, 2), explore our companion program: Next Time You See a Seashell

 🐾 Topics

Career & Technical Education (CTE), Economics/Business, Health & Physical Education, Industrial Technology, Professional Development, Science, STEM, Technology/Information Science

🗂️ Format

• Introduction and Prior Knowledge: Introduction to cephalopods, discussing their unique characteristics and inviting participants to share any facts or questions they may have about octopuses, cuttlefish, squid, and giant squid.

• Segment 1 - Meet the Octopus: Participants are introduced to the octopus at Mote, learning about its behaviors, adaptations, and roles in the marine environment.

• Video 1 - Eight Amazing Octopus Facts: A cartoon is shown, presenting fascinating facts about octopuses.

• Segment 2 - Octopus Cousins: Meet the other cephalopods on display at Mote - the cuttlefish.

• Video 2 - Behind the Scenes: A short behind-the-scenes video is shown, giving participants a glimpse into how we care for our octopuses and cuttlefish at the aquarium.

• Segment 3 - Questions and Answers: The program concludes with a Q&A session, allowing participants to ask questions and engage in discussions about cephalopods and marine conservation.

• Segments may vary due to weather and veterinary priorities. We will make every effort to deliver the segments as described but may use a combination of live and recorded video when necessary.

🎯 Objectives

1. Explore the unique characteristics and behaviors of octopuses, cuttlefish, and squid.

2. Compare the adaptations of octopuses and their cephalopod cousins in their marine environments.

3. Engage in a discussion about the enrichment activities and care practices used to stimulate the intelligence of cephalopods.

4. Develop an appreciation for the role of cephalopods in marine ecosystems and the importance of their conservation.

✏️ Standards this program supports

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

• LS1A 3–5 –– Structure and function. Learners observe how octopus structures, like arms, suction cups, and siphons, support movement, feeding, and escape behaviors.

• LS1A 6–8 –– Structure and function. Learners explore the relationship between specialized body systems in octopuses, such as their muscular hydrostatic limbs, advanced eyes, and chromatophores used for camouflage and communication.

• LS1A 9–12 –– Structure and function. Learners analyze how octopus adaptations represent complex evolutionary solutions for survival, including a decentralized nervous system and the ability to change shape and color instantly.

• LS1D 3–5 –– Information processing. Learners discover how octopuses sense their surroundings and use sight, touch, and chemical cues to interact with their environment.

• LS1D 6–8 –– Information processing. Learners examine how octopuses process information through a distributed nervous system and demonstrate problem-solving, decision-making, and memory.

• LS2A 3–5 –– Interdependent relationships in ecosystems. Learners investigate the octopus’s role in marine food webs as both predator and prey, and how it interacts with other reef organisms.

• LS2A 6–8 –– Interdependent relationships in ecosystems. Learners evaluate how octopus behaviors—such as hiding, foraging, and mating—are influenced by their environment and other species in the ecosystem.

• LS4C 3–5 –– Adaptation. Learners explore how traits like camouflage, flexibility, and ink defense help octopuses survive in their habitats.

• LS4C 6–8 –– Adaptation. Learners analyze how different octopus species have evolved to thrive in diverse ocean environments, from coral reefs to the deep sea.

• LS4C 9–12 –– Adaptation. Learners evaluate how the octopus’s unique biology demonstrates evolutionary innovation, and consider how adaptation drives diversity in marine life.

Ocean Literacy Principles

• • Ocean Literacy Principle #5 – The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems.

  • Ocean Literacy Principle #6 – The ocean and humans are inextricably interconnected.

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• • 14 - Life Below Water

Florida Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS)

• SC.3.L.15.1 – Classify animals into major groups based on physical characteristics and behaviors. Application: Learners identify octopus as invertebrates, their classification as cephalopods, and how they differ from other marine animals.

• SC.4.L.17.4 – Recognize ways plants and animals, including humans, can impact the environment. Application: The program discusses how octopus and marine life interact with their environment and the effects of human activities on them.

• SC.5.L.15.1 – Describe how, when the environment changes, differences between individuals allow some plants and animals to survive and reproduce while others die or move to new locations. Application: Learners examine cephalopod adaptation and resilience in changing marine environments.

• SC.6.L.15.1 – Analyze how organisms are classified based on shared characteristics. Application: Learners examine cephalopods within the Linnaean classification system and their distinguishing biological traits.

• SC.7.L.17.3 – Describe limiting factors in an ecosystem and their impact on populations. Application: The program investigates factors affecting cephalopod populations, such as water quality, habitat availability, and disease.

• Adaptation: A trait or feature that has evolved in an organism to enhance its survival and reproduction in its specific environment.

• Arm: One of the flexible, muscular appendages of cephalopods, equipped with suckers and used for movement and capturing prey.

• Beak: A hard, sharp structure in cephalopods used to bite and break down prey, similar to the beak of a bird.

• Camouflage: The ability of an animal to change its color and texture to blend in with its surroundings, used by cephalopods to avoid predators and ambush prey.

• Cephalopod: A class of mollusks that includes octopuses, cuttlefish, and squid, known for their bilateral symmetry, prominent heads, and highly developed eyes.

• Chromatophore: Specialized cells in cephalopods that contain pigments and can expand or contract to change the color of the skin.

• Conservation: Efforts and practices aimed at protecting cephalopods and their habitats from threats and ensuring their survival for future generations.

• Cuttlefish: A cephalopod mollusk with a unique internal shell called a cuttlebone, known for its ability to change color and texture for camouflage.

• Enrichment: Activities and stimuli provided to captive animals, such as cephalopods, to promote mental and physical activity and improve their well-being.

• Gladius: The internal, pen-like structure in squid that provides support and aids in swimming; also known as the "pen."

• Ink: A dark fluid released by cephalopods, such as octopuses and squids, used as a defense mechanism to create a smoke screen and escape from predators.

• Invertebrate: An animal lacking a backbone or spinal column, which includes cephalopods as well as many other species.

• Jet Propulsion: A method of locomotion used by cephalopods, where water is expelled rapidly from the mantle cavity to propel the animal forward.

• Mantle: The soft, fleshy part of a cephalopod's body that encloses the internal organs and is responsible for creating jet propulsion.

• Mimicry: The ability of an organism to imitate the appearance or behavior of another species for protection or predation.

• Mollusk/Mollusc: A diverse group of invertebrates that includes cephalopods, as well as snails, clams, and oysters, characterized by a soft body and often a hard shell.

• Nautilus: A cephalopod mollusk with a spiral-shaped shell, known for its buoyancy and ability to navigate using gas-filled chambers.

• Octopus: A cephalopod mollusk with eight arms lined with suckers, known for its intelligence, problem-solving abilities, and camouflaging skills.

• Radula: A rasping, toothed structure found in the mouths of some mollusks used for feeding, often to scrape algae or small particles from surfaces.

• Senescence: The process of aging in organisms, characterized by gradual deterioration of physiological functions and a decline in reproductive capabilities.

• Siphon: A tubular structure in cephalopods used to expel water for jet propulsion and to draw in water for respiration and feeding.

• Sucker: A small, cup-like structure found on the arms of cephalopods, used for grasping and manipulating objects or prey.

• Squid: A cephalopod mollusk characterized by its elongated body, eight arms, and two longer tentacles, known for its speed and agility in the water.

• Tentacle: A long, flexible appendage found in some cephalopods, often used for capturing prey and sensory perception.

Play Octopus Bingo:

Play virtual bingo using a computer, smartphone or tablet during your program to reinforce key concepts and vocabulary.

• Online

• On paper/PDF

🌐 Websites

• Shape of Life: Molluscs

📚 Books & Publications

Elementary

• Octavia and Her Purple Ink Cloud by Donna Rathmell German (Arbordale Publishing) – A story-based introduction to octopus defenses and ocean life, complete with fun facts and learning activities. https://www.arbordalepublishing.com/bookpage.php?id=Octavia

• Octopus or Squid? A Compare and Contrast Book by AnnMarie Lisi (Arbordale Publishing) – A nonfiction early reader that uses simple comparisons to help learners distinguish between octopuses and squids. https://www.arbordalepublishing.com/bookpage.php?id=OctopusSquid

• What About an Octopus? by Deborah Kerbel (Owlkids Books) – A playful, rhythmic board book that introduces curious young readers to the mysterious octopus. https://shop.owlkids.com/products/what-about-an-octopus

Middle

• The Lady and the Octopus by Danna Staaf (Lerner Publishing Group, 2022) – The true story of Jeanne Villepreux-Power, a 19th-century trailblazer who became one of the first scientists to study octopuses in captivity. https://lernerbooks.com/shop/show/21976

• The Octopus Scientists: Exploring the Mind of a Mollusk by Sy Montgomery (HMH Books for Young Readers, 2015) – Part of the Scientists in the Field series, this book follows researchers studying octopuses in the wild and offers a close-up look at their intelligence and behavior. https://symontgomery.com/the-octopus-scientists/

  • 📑 Activity Guide

High/Adult

• The Lives of Octopuses and Their Relatives: A Natural History of Cephalopods by Danna Staaf (Princeton University Press, 2023) – A vibrant natural history of cephalopods that blends science and storytelling for readers interested in evolution, behavior, and biodiversity. https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691244303/the-lives-of-octopuses-and-their-relatives

• Underwater Wild: My Octopus Teacher’s Extraordinary World by Craig Foster & Ross Frylinck (Mariner Books, 2021) – A visual and narrative companion to the documentary My Octopus Teacher, offering reflections on marine life, connection, and conservation. https://www.hmhbooks.com/shop/books/Underwater-Wild/9780358664758

🖥️ Videos

• Caribbean Reef Octopus in The Aquarium at Mote Marine Laboratory

• World Octopus Day

• ArtSea with Mote | Plastic Bottle Squid

• My Octopus Teacher