Morning Starters: Spring 2 - The Deep
Did You Know?
The Dumbo octopus is so named for its ear-like fins that resemble Disney’s flying elephant – Dumbo. It inhabits the deep sea at depths of 9,800 to 13,000 feet. Notable for its ability to withstand extreme pressures, it uses its ‘ears’ and flaps of skin between its tentacles to hover above the ocean floor in search of food.
Credit: BBC One - The Blue Planet
Word Challenge
The prefix ‘oct’ originates from the Greek word ‘oktō,’ meaning ‘eight.’
Use a dictionary to record the meanings of the following words:
1) octave
2) octahedron
3) octogenarian
Grammar Challenge
Copy the following sentence, adding the correct punctuation.
As the octopus glided gracefully through the water the scientist exclaimed in awe I ve never seen anything so enchanting and peculiar
Number Challenge
- The Dumbo octopus inhabits depths ranging from 9,800 to 13,000 feet.
Critical Thinking
- With sections of their brain devoted entirely to learning, octopuses are the most intelligent invertebrates in the ocean.
Can you think of some alternative names for the Dumbo octopus that reflect this fact?