A short discussion topic suitable for all of KS2 linking with the topics living things and habitats and animals including humans. This image is of a Portuguese man o’ war. While it’s often mistaken for a jellyfish, it is actually a hydrozoan – a colony of different organisms working together, each with its own function. At the top is a purple gas-filled bladder with a pink sail, which floats on top of the water. It usually lives out in the open ocean, catching small fish and crustaceans with its tentacles, which can be as long as 50 metres. But you might see it washed ashore after strong winds.
This ten-minute activity, linking to speaking and listening, is ideal for use at the beginning of the day or during transition times, such as after lunch. Pupils will be challenged to guess what the image is by answering the questions shown on the first slide of the PowerPoint. This could be done on the whiteboard or through discussion with a partner. Once pupils have finished, click through to the next slide to reveal the answers. This discussion topic is also suitable for year 3, year 4, year 5, year 6 P3, P4, P5, P6 and P7.
