Parents teaching at home, here is a free resource. A little story-telling and discussion with the help of one of the most fascinating creatures of the ocean: the Octopus.You may choose to read this aloud to your child or student, or they may read it aloud with you. Once you have finished this short work, here are some things to discuss:
1. The octopus was using it’s natural ability to camouflage to blend in with a rock. Why did you think it wanted to blend in with the rock?
2. What was the action that the story-teller took to ease the fear or sense of danger that the octopus had?
3.How did the octopus respond?
4.Do you get the sense that the story-teller believes they have communicated with the octopus?
5. Most octopuses are not large. Make a fist for your child. The size of your fist is about the size of the body of the octopus
6.Think about some of the wildlife around where you live. Have you ever seen an animal that uses camouflage to blend in with it’s surroundings? Many insects uses camouflage.
7. What kinds of wild animals do you like to watch? What have you learned about animals by watching them?
8. Have you noticed that the birds are calling and singing much more now, during spring, than they were during winter? How many different kinds of birds can you identify?
9.The other day I saw a chipmunk gather dried leaves from the ground, stuff them into the pouches in it’s cheeks, and then take the leaves to it’s underground den. What do you think it was going to do with the leaves? Have you noticed any nesting behavior by the wild animals near where you live?
10.Since we can’t talk to wild animals with words, what ways can you think of to try to let them know that we only want to watch them and not hurt them? Do you think this is what the story-teller was able to do in “The Octopus and I”?
THE OCTOPUS AND I
The octopus and I
met quite by accident
as a rock appeared to have more to it
than a rock
so I paused and looked and saw that reddish knob
move
ever so slightly.
I knew her intent was that I should not see her
atop that rock
in daylight
in open water
for she maintained her imitation
of an outcrop
of a rock
most persistently
and I believe as her eye saw
the recognition
in my eye
she sensed danger
so I considered her predicament
and hovered away
ever so slightly
in my way to say to the octopus
“I am no predator.”
to which she responded
by stretching out her arms
and gliding away
slowly
beneath my gaze
in open water
in daylight
from her hiding place
atop that rock.
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