Jellyfish
Toddler · 2–3A gentle jellyfish drifting along with a domed bell and a curtain of long trailing tentacles. The bell is one big open shape and the tentacles are long flowing lines, so the page has a lovely balance of something easy and something to be careful with. Coloring a jellyfish is a natural way to talk about sea creatures that have no bones at all, about how a jellyfish drifts rather than swims, and about looking but not touching at the beach. Print it on A4 or US Letter, or color it online with the paint bucket.
A bell and trailing tentacles
A jellyfish is a domed bell with long tentacles hanging beneath it — thin trailing lines that are the hardest thing to colour here and the most distinctive. Light, flowing strokes suit them better than careful filling.
The bell itself is largely transparent in life, which makes this a good page for very pale colouring rather than solid fill.
No brain, no heart, no bones
A jellyfish is around 95% water and has none of the organs children assume an animal must have. It drifts with the current and pulses its bell to move. It is the simplest animal on this site and a useful reminder that being alive does not require the equipment we have.
Frequently asked questions
- Does a jellyfish have a brain?
- No — no brain, heart or bones. It has a simple net of nerves, is around 95% water, and drifts with the current while pulsing its bell.
- What age is this page for?
- Three to seven. The bell is easy; the trailing tentacles need a light touch.
