Letter O > O is for
Ocean | Seashore >
Crafts > 3-D Octopus Windsock & other links
Numbers > Counting 1 to 8
Holidays and Events
April > Int'l Week of
June > Zoo and Aquarium Month
Seasons > Summer
Here are some activities to learn about
the octopus a fascinating and intelligent ocean creature.
Print as many of the learning aids and crafts the materials page
to prepare for the presentation and activities.
Activity #1: Observe
Visit this link to see realistic pictures of octopuses. Click on
the images to enlarge.
Activity #2: Discuss Facts about the Octopus
Using this coloring
page read some very basic facts about the octopus. Point to
body areas as you mention them.
Activity #3 - Alphabet
Letter O is for Octopus Activities
Visit the link provided for detailed suggestions and printable
activities for a letter O Octopus presentation.
Activity #4: Printable Craft-3D
Skills: Tracing-Pre-writing skill, Counting 1-8 and
scissor cutting skills
Print the template.
Ideas: Print on white paper or directly on a light/pastel paper
or construction paper
This craft offers the opportunity to practice scissor cutting skills,
counting 1 to 8 and tracing dotted lines a pre-writing skill.
Step 1: Tracing
Ask the children to trace with a crayon along the dotted lines first.
Step 2: Counting 1 to 8
*The octopus is great to practice numbers one to eight because it has
*Count the legs on the template. Count the eight suckers (ovals)
on one of the legs.
Step 3: Color/Paint and Decorate the Template
The children can color or paint the template. Provide a variety
of materials to do this: sponges, cotton balls, brushes,
markers, pastels etc. Once the picture is dry (speed up drying
with a hair dryer) proceed to the next step. Idea:
Encourage the children to use the color orange that starts with the
letter O for and Orange Octopus - use a variety of orange
crayon shades or mix red and yellow to obtain different shades with
Step 4: Scissor Cutting
Once the octopus is decorated, children can cut it out with preschool scissors.
This is an easy project to start
practicing cutting straight lines. There is no age
specific guidelines for when a child can accomplish this. The
sooner the child is allowed to use scissors (ages 2.5 approx) the sooner
he/she will master the skill. Use your discretion to do this
type of activity and it should be supervised.
Indicate to the children to cut just outside the straight dotted
lines. Ideally make a presentation and show a finished product
so they have an idea of what it looks like.
Step 4: Assemble the craft
Apply glue to the "lip strip" and glue to the inner side of
the paper. You may add a handle with a piece of yarn or ribbon
on the sides (as the illustration shows) and tape in place.
Special Events & Occasions: June is Zoo and Aquarium Month -
Idea: Make plans to visit an aquarium and see a real octopus!
The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister has a wonderful octopus
character that teaches Rainbow Fish some wonderful lessons about
sharing. Visit DLTK's
Rainbow Fish Book Break for further ideas and activities for this
TP Roll Octopus 3+
*materials to color or paint with