Elementary School: My Octopus Teacher
MARI-90059
The octopus is one of the most amazing and intelligent animals around. Watch excerpts from the Oscar-winning documentary My Octopus Teacher as you explore the complex adaptations of this fascinating cephalopod.
In the documentary, a filmmaker tells the story of his friendship with an octopus in a kelp forest off South Africa and shares some of the secrets he discovers about the animal’s world. Students will learn about the habitats where octopuses live and about the survival mechanisms they use, including the ability to change color and camouflage themselves as a rock, a patch of algae or a part of a coral reef. After learning about octopuses, students will create a kelp forest environment inspired by the film and design different camouflage patterns that an octopus could use to hide there.
What you'll learn
Explore how octopuses live and learn about their amazing adaptations.
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Understand how animals adapt to their environment so they can eat, sleep, hunt and protect themselves.
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Gain an understanding of the unique adaptations of the octopus.
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Learn how octopuses use color-changing and camouflage as survival strategies.
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Discover how octopuses are able to make meaningful connections with humans.
Course Information
Course sessions
Section ID:
Class type:
All class meetings held in-person according to published location, dates and times. Students may be expected to engage with course content online during the published course dates.
Textbooks:
All course materials are included unless otherwise stated.
Policies:
- No refunds after: 5/31/2025
- 1st meeting mandatory
- Early enrollment advised
- No UCSD parking permit required
- No visitors permitted
Schedule:
| Date | Day | Start | End | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7/14/2025 | Mon | 9:00 a.m. | 12:00 p.m. | Room 210, UCSD Division of Extended Studies University City Center, 6256 Greenwich Drive, San Diego |
| 7/15/2025 | Tue | 9:00 a.m. | 12:00 p.m. | Room 210, UCSD Division of Extended Studies University City Center, 6256 Greenwich Drive, San Diego |
| 7/16/2025 | Wed | 9:00 a.m. | 12:00 p.m. | Room 210, UCSD Division of Extended Studies University City Center, 6256 Greenwich Drive, San Diego |
| 7/17/2025 | Thu | 9:00 a.m. | 12:00 p.m. | Room 210, UCSD Division of Extended Studies University City Center, 6256 Greenwich Drive, San Diego |
| 7/18/2025 | Fri | 9:00 a.m. | 12:00 p.m. | Room 210, UCSD Division of Extended Studies University City Center, 6256 Greenwich Drive, San Diego |
Instructor:
Lorrie Friet
MFA Design - University Mississippi BFA - Oklahoma Statue University
Lorrie Blackard Friet is an educator specializing in STEAM content creation. She has developed programs for San Diego Unified and Los Angeles Unified school districts as well as the San Public Library NeXT program. Lorrie is a practicing artist featured at Tower 23 Hotel in San Diego 92109. Her paintings are in collections worldwide. Passionate about the Ocean, Lorrie is the senior instructor at the San Diego Floating Lab. This program explores the wonders of the Ocean with San Diego County students and visitors from Arizona, Colorado and Mexico. She is also a board member of Spiral Pacific, a nonprofit dedicated to global marine conservation.
