Discover the Octopus — Stories, Science Questions and Imagination for Kids

78 pages of underwater adventures · 7 question boards · 252 tasks with answers

A rock that suddenly crawls away. Arms that gather information through touch. Three hearts inside one body. The octopus is full of surprises—and invites children to wonder, ask questions and think further.

In this comprehensive printable pack, a female octopus guides children through her underwater world. She tells them about hiding places, hunting and encounters with predators. Along the way, children suggest decisions, compare clues and develop their own explanations.

The conversations go beyond remembering facts: Why is matching the background’s colour not always enough for camouflage? Do empty shells outside a den prove that an octopus ate there? And what might happen if an octopus grew a hook-shaped tail?

What’s inside the complete pack?

• 6 factual boards with 216 questions: body structure, sensitive arms, camouflage, movement, food and development.
• A first-person story: eight short chapters with humour, discussion pauses, myths and research examples.
• “A Day with Me”: eight adventure scenes that invite children to consider choices and explain their decisions.
• A research lab: six tasks about observing, comparing and testing explanations.
• Myths and relatives: twelve statements to investigate, plus comparisons with squid, cuttlefish and nautiluses.
• Six marine mysteries: new clues encourage children to reconsider their first ideas.
• A fantasy workshop with 36 tasks: invent tails, wings and unusual suckers—then explain their benefits, discover drawbacks and improve the design.
• Answers and guidance for adults: keys for every board question, examples for open-ended tasks and six new funny dialogues.

Simply read aloud and start a conversation

All activities are completed orally. No game pieces, craft supplies or experiment equipment are needed. Choose a story, a board or a few questions to suit your group. Just a handful of tasks can provide material for a short discovery session.

The activities give children opportunities to explain connections, consider different possibilities and put their ideas into words. Facts, possible explanations and fantasy are clearly distinguished. Creative questions welcome different well-reasoned answers.