This activity helps children understand deep-sea squid through an engaging craft project. By creating a 3D model using everyday materials, students can visualise and learn about the squid’s distinctive features including its two longer feeding tentacles, eight arms, large eyes, and streamlined mantle.

Activity steps

1. Colour your giant squid template using photographs from the internet or other resources as a guide.

2. Carefully cut out the template and long feeding tentacles.

3. Place the cut-out template along the side of the toilet roll and stick one of the tabs along its length. Make sure that the paper is lined up horizontally with the length of the toilet roll.

4. Gently roll the template around the toilet roll so that it covers it completely and tape the open tab down along the body.

5. Add the two longer feeding tentacles to the side of the squid’s body.

6. Fan out the tentacles and arms.

7. That’s it. Now you can add your giant squid to a display about life in the ocean!

Activity materials

• Toilet paper roll

• Colouring pen(cil)s

• Scissors

• Sticky tape or glue stick

Giant squid are mysterious hunters of the deep ocean, rarely seen alive by humans and known mostly through specimens found in sperm whale stomachs. These elusive creatures can snatch prey with their powerful tentacles in the pitch darkness of the deep sea.