Octopi (Octopuses, Octopode) and Sight - October 8

Eight-legged Learning

Thursday, October 8, 2026

Today is American Touch Tag Day, International Lesbian Day, National Salmon Day, World Octopus Day, Fluffernutter Day, National Pierogi Day, and World Sight Day.

World Animal Month Animal Cam of the Day:  Oregon State University Octo Cam
Dessert Month Dessert of the Day: Pumpkin Spice Chewy Snickerdoodles
LGBT History Month Resource of the Day: The Pursuit: 50 Years in the Fight for LGBT Rights

On This Date
Today's Birthdays
Songs of the Day
Poem of the Day
Art of the Day
Today's Theme:  Octopi and Sight

ON THIS DATE

• 1869 - Former president Franklin Pierce dies in Concord, N.H.
• 1871 - The Great Chicago Fire begins.
  1956 - New York Yankees' Don Larsen pitches the only perfect game in a World Series, beating the Brooklyn Dodgers 2-0 in game five.
• 2001 - President George W. Bush announces the establishment of the Office of Homeland Security.
• 2003 - Arnold Schwarzenegger is elected governor of California.

BIRTHDAYS

• 1920 - Dune author Frank Herbert
• 1930  - Artist Faith Ringgold
• 1941- Activist Jesse Jackson
• 1943 - Actor Chevy Chase
• 1943 - Author R. L. Stine
• 1949 - Actor Sigourney Weaver
• 1964 - Singer-songwriter CeCe Winans
• 1970 - Actor Matt Damon
• 1985 - Singer Bruno Mars
• 1997 - Actor Bella Thorne

SONG OF THE DAY 

• Bruno Mars - Don't Give Up - LISTEN
  
• The Beatles - Octopus's Garden - LISTEN
• Van Morrison - Brown-eyed Girl - LISTEN
• Kim Carnes - Bette Davis Eyes - LISTEN
  
• Jackson Browne - Doctor My Eyes - LISTEN
• Jimmie Cliff - I Can See Clearly Now - LISTEN

POEM OF THE DAY 

• Molly McQuade - The Octopus

ART OF THE DAY 

• Faith Ringold - Woman on a Bridge #1 of 5: Tar Beach (1988)

THEME: Octopi

• Grades PreK-1 - PBS LearningMedia - The Heaviest Catch (2:49) - VIEW
• Grades PreK-2 - The Cat in the Hat - Coral Reef Camouflage (1:45) - VIEW
• Grades 1-3 - PBS LearningMedia - Wild Kratts - Octopus Power! (1:33) - VIEW and DO
• Grades 1-3 - PBS LearningMedia - Wild Kratts - Octo Explorer (1:51) - VIEW and DO
• Grades 1-3 - PBS LearningMedia - Wild Kratts - All Tangled Up (2:11) - VIEW and DO
• Grades 4-6 - PBS LearningMedia - DragonflyTV - Scientist Profile: Octopus Trainer (2:09) - VIEW
  
• Grades 4-5 - NHPBS NatureWorks - Squid and Octopus - READ
• Grades 6-12 - PBS LearningMedia - Big Pacific: Mysterious (53:36) - VIEW
• Grades 6-12 - PBS LearningMedia - Quest - The Fierce Humboldt Squid (10:02) - VIEW and DO
• Grades 6-12 - NHPBS Video - Be Smart - My Date with a Giant Pacific Octopus (3:07) - VIEW
• Grades 6-12- NHPBS Video - Nature - Octopus Dreaming (1:48) - VIEW
• Grades 6-12- NHPBS Video -  Nature -  Can a Teenager Befriend an Octopus (1:57) - VIEW
• Grades 6-12- NHPBS Video -  Nature -  An Octopus' Coconut Home (2:29) - VIEW
• Grades 6-12 - NHPBS Video - If Your Hands Could Smell, You’d Be an Octopus (3:12) -VIEW
• Grades 6-12 - NHPBS Video - SciTech Now - Living Like an Octopus (5:27) - VIEW
• Grades 9-12 - PBS LearningMedia - Crash Course Biology - Simple Animals: Sponges, Jellies, & Octopuses (11:30) - VIEW

THEME:  SIGHT

• Grades PreK-1 - Sesame Street - Abby and Prince Charming Go to the Eye Doctor (1:23) - VIEW
• Grades K-4 - PBS LearningMedia - Wild Kratts - Eight-eyed Monster (3:04) - VIEW and DO
• Grades K-4 - PBS LearningMedia - Wild Kratts - Night Primates (1:33) - VIEW and DO
• Grades 2-6 - PBS LearningMedia - A-Z Career Lab - Ophthalmologist (5:34) - VIEW
• Grades 4-6 - PBS LearningMedia - Science Trek - Eyes Collection - VIEW
• Grades 4-6 - NHPBS Video - Science Trek - Eyes: Seeing is Believing (4:10) - VIEW
• Grades 6-12 - NHPBS Video - Nova - How Sharp Are an Eagle's Eyes? (2:45) - VIEW
• Grades 6-12 - PBS LearningMedia - Physics Girl - Could You Replace Your Eye with a Camera? (5:37) - VIEW
• Grades 6-12 - NHPBS Video - Be Smart - Can Evolution Make an Eye? - 12 Days of Evolution #4 (1:47) - VIEW
• Grades 6-12 - NHPBS Video - Be Smart - Is Your Eye Color Real? (5:21) - VIEW
• Grades 6-12 - NHPBS Video - Reactions - What Are Eye Boogers? (1:47) - VIEW
• Grades 6-12 - PBS LearningMedia - Dissection 101: Detailed Cow Eye Dissection Video Part 1 (4:17) - VIEW and DO
• Grades 6-12 - PBS LearningMedia -Dissection 101:  Detailed Cow Eye Dissection Video Part 2 (11:18) - VIEW and DO
• Grades 9-12 - NHPBS Video - Ask the Doctors - Eyes and Vision (57:58) - VIEW

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