This time on The Children’s Hour, we learn about squid with Skype A Scientist biologist, Dr. Sarah McAnulty. Found in every ocean, at all depths, these ubiquitous creatures are the psychedelic acrobats of the ocean.

This episode comes with a free learning guide which meets and cites US National education standards. Our learning guides further explore our show themes and provide context and visuals. Plus they’re fun!

This time on The Children’s Hour, we explore one of the ocean’s most abundant, and widely distributed animals: squid. The Kids Crew and Katie Stone meet Dr. Sarah McAnulty, a biologist and squid scientist who helps us understand these amazing creatures.

Squid are in the cephalopod family with octopus, cuttlefish, and nautilus. This ancient family of marine invertebrates pre-date trees on Earth, and can be found in all oceans, at all depths.

Squid are bioluminescent, like fireflies and some cave creatures we have learned about on The Children’s Hour. The Colossal Squid is the largest of all squid and can eat a whale! They also have bioluminescent eyes that are the size of footballs.

While we might have our current stories about aliens and spaceships in modern movies, squid are about as alien to most of us as any extra terrestrial. Mythology around cephalopods date back centuries. Dr. McAnulty explains how the stories of the “Kracken” came to be, and why they are not completely untrue!

We also learn about Skype A Scientist, the organization that provides free scientific experts to any group on any topic. A science communicateor, Dr. McAnulty founded Skype A Scientist to increase direct conversations between the scientific community and the public.

Skype a Scientist will provide free scientific experts on any topic to any group, organization, classroom, or wherever people want to learn more about science. 

The choices we make when we eat seafood can help save endangered marine life. Dr. McAnulty discussed using the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s guides to finding sustainable seafood. Find the guide and other tips at their website.

The Children’s Hour is written and produced by Katie Stone, with production support from Gus Tafoya and Sean Lovelace. This episode was recorded at Outpost Performance Space and was engineered by Chad Scheer. Thaniel Lentz is our intern. Our learning guide was written by Jonathan Dunski with help from Lorraine Archibald. The Children’s Hour is produced at the Sunspot Solar Studio in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The Children’s Hour is distributed by Native Voice One: The Native American Radio Network.

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