Here is a craft that will have children learning more about the Blue-Ringed Octopus.
For those who have visited or heard the rumours, in Australia you can find some very dangerous animals. One of the most deadly (and attractive) marine animal, mainly found off our east coast, is called the blue ringed octopus.
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Here is a real blue-ringed octopus and you can find out lots more about them my clicking here. Otherwise, you might be interested to know these facts –
- When provoked it will turn yellow with blue rings (hence its name)
- Carries enough venom that can kill 26 adults
- No anti venom available as yet
- Spends most of it’s life hiding in small spaces
- Eats mainly small crustaceans
- 12 – 20 cm long
YIKES! In light of these interesting facts I thought it might be a good idea to create a blue ringed octopus craft activity for children.
You will need
- Toilet roll
- Yellow and blue paint
- Scissors
- Googly eyes (optional)
- Glue (optional)
How to make a blue ringed octopus
Begin by painting the paper tube a bright yellow. You may decide to give it a few coats so it intensifies the colour. Once it has dried you can begin to snip up the toilet roll to make the eight tentacles. Remember, an octopus only has eight tentacles!
Stick on some goggly eyes with some craft glue and wait for it to dry completely. Then using the back of a paint brush dot the end into some brightly coloured blue paint and mark along the limbs and head of your octopus. Once it’s markings have dried then you can carefully curl out the tentacles.
Soon you’ll have a fabulously attractive blue ringed octopus that is a lot less dangerous than the real thing. This little guy would be great for promoting their dangers and just a fun craft that children can do easily enough at home and use during imaginative play.
Have you ever seen a dangerous animal up close?
Don’t forget to see more great ideas
This is a great mix of science, geography and fine motor fun. Thank you!
Thanks Christy! 🙂
Kate – love all your ideas. I was a preschool teacher for years and loved every minute of it. A fun thing Possom might enjoy to go along with your octopus craft is to make octopus hot dogs. Leave the top inch uncut – cut the bottom in half, then in half again and even again (looks like fringe). When you boil them, they curl up like octopus legs!
WOW Jenny that sounds AWESOME!!! So you say to boil them???? I’m so curious to hear more.