Image showing hundreds of jellyfish swimming underwater
© Brandon Cole
Paired Texts,

Jellyfish Invasion!

Are these beautiful, brainless blobs taking over our oceans?

By Jennifer Dignan and Tod Olson
From the September 2024 Issue

Learning Objective: to synthesize key ideas from two nonfiction articles

Complexity Factors
  • Purpose
    The first nonfiction article explores the problem of jellyfish blooms. A second nonfiction article explores one possible solution: eating jellyfish.
  • Structure
    The articles are informational and utilize cause/effect and problem/solution text structures.
  • Language Conventionality and Clarity
    Vocabulary: The articles contain higher-level vocabulary words such as menacing, larvae, adaptable, sustainable, briny, surplus, inedible.
  • Knowledge Demands
    The articles refer to the Philippines, Australia, climate change, predators, ecosystems, Italy, New England, lobster, and sushi.
Lexiles: 1020L, 850L
Featured Skill: Synthesis,
Other Key Skills: key ideas and details, supporting a claim, text structure, text features, problem and solution, critical thinking
Common Core Standards
  • Anchor Standards
    R.1, R.2, R.3, R.4, R.5, R.6, R.7, R.9, W.2, SL.1
  • Grade 6
    RI.6.1, RI.6.2, RI.6.3, RI.6.4, RI.6.5, RI.6.6, RI.6.7, RI.6.9,W.6.2, SL.6.1
  • Grade 7
    RI.7.1, RI.7.2, RI.7.3, RI.7.4, RI.7.5, RI.7.6, RI.7.7, W.7.2, SL.7.1
  • Grade 8
    RI.8.1, RI.8.2, RI.8.4, W.8.2, W.8.4, RI.8.5, RI.8.6, RI.8.7,W.2, SL.8.1
TEKS Standards
  • Grades 6, 7, 8
    1c, 1d, 2a, 2b, 3a, 4a, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f, 5g, 5h, 5i, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e, 6f, 6g, 6h, 6i, 6j, 8d, 8f, 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, 9e, 9f, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d, 12d, 12e, 12f, 12g, 12i, 12j

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Lexile® measure

  • 1020L
  • 850L
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Reading Level (850L)
AS YOU READ

What problems are jellyfish causing? 

Jellyfish Invasion!

Are these beautiful, brainless blobs taking over our oceans?

By Jennifer Dignan and Tod Olson

Frightful creatures are taking over our oceans. They are gobbling up fish, terrorizing swimmers, and committing terrible acts of destruction. 

In the Philippines, they swarmed a power plant and caused a blackout that plunged 40 million people into darkness. In Australia, they shut down a giant U.S. Navy ship. Off the coast of Ireland, they invaded a fish farm and killed more than 100,000 salmon.

But if you’re picturing fierce serpents with razor-sharp teeth or giant squid dragging ships to the ocean floor, try again. 

The creatures menacing our oceans are the beautiful, brainless blobs known as jellyfish. 

Scary creatures are taking over our oceans. They are gobbling up fish. They are terrorizing swimmers. They are destroying things. 

In the Philippines, they swarmed a power plant. That caused a blackout. Forty million people were left in darkness. In Australia, they shut down a U.S. Navy ship. Off the coast of Ireland, they invaded a fish farm. They killed more than 100,000 salmon.

Are you picturing a giant squid or fierce serpents with razor-sharp teeth? Try again. 

The creatures menacing our oceans are the beautiful blobs known as jellyfish.

The Asahi Shimbun via Getty Images

Jelly Giants 
Some species—like the Nomura’s jellyfish in Japan—can grow larger than an adult human. 

Deadly Venom

Deadly Venom

Despite their name, jellyfish are not actually fish. Their soft, umbrella-shaped bodies have no bones, no heart, and no blood. Jellies don’t even have brains!

More than 4,000 species of jellies live in the world’s oceans, and they come in all shapes, colors, and sizes. One of the smallest, the pale Irukandji (ir-uh-KAN-jee) jellyfish, is the size of a thumbnail. One of the largest, the orange lion’s mane jelly, has tentacles that can grow up to 120 feet long—three times the length of a school bus. 

As strange and beautiful as jellies are, swimmers should take care. A jelly’s tentacles are lined with stinging cells, and a jellyfish sting can be quite painful. The sting of certain species can even be deadly. 

Jellyfish are not actually fish. They have soft, umbrella-shaped bodies. They have no bones, heart, or blood. Jellies don’t even have brains!

There are more than 4,000 species of jellies. They come in all shapes, colors, and sizes. One of the smallest is the pale Irukandji (ir-uh-KAN-jee) jellyfish. It is the size of a thumbnail. One of the largest is the orange lion’s mane jelly. It has tentacles that can grow up to 120 feet long—three times the length of a school bus. 

Swimmers should be careful around jellyfish. A jelly’s tentacles are lined with stinging cells. A jellyfish sting can be painful. The sting of certain species can be deadly.

Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images 

Jelly Troubles

Jellyfish get cleared out of a power plant.

Jellyfish Blooms 

Jellyfish Blooms 

Jellyfish have been floating through Earth’s oceans for more than 500 million years, and they play an important role in marine ecosystems. By eating the larvae and eggs of certain kinds of fish, jellies help stop the populations of those fish from getting too large. Jellies are also an important food source for many animals, from turtles and penguins to many kinds of fish.

So what’s the problem? 

The problem is with what are known as jellyfish blooms: the sudden appearance of hundreds, thousands, or even millions of jellyfish in one place. 

The blackout in the Philippines resulted from an estimated 50 tons of jellyfish clogging up the lines that bring water into the power plant to cool it. The Navy ship in Australia shut down after its machinery sucked up more than 1,700 pounds of jellies. The salmon farm in Ireland was destroyed by a massive swarm of jellies covering about 10 square miles. 

These are only a few examples of problems caused by jellyfish blooms. On just one weekend in 2019, more than 3,000 people were stung by bluebottle jellyfish at beaches in Queensland, Australia. In 2021, fishing nets in Japan were damaged when hundreds of refrigerator-sized Nomura’s jellyfish became caught in them. The list goes on and on. 

So have jellyfish developed an evil plot to take over the oceans? Of course not. Jellyfish blooms are natural and normal. However, sightings of jellyfish blooms have increased in recent years. This could be due to improved methods for counting and reporting jellyfish—but many scientists are concerned that jellyfish populations are indeed on the rise.

If that’s the case, the next question is—why?

Jellyfish have lived in the oceans for more than 500 million years. They play an important role in marine ecosystems. They eat the larvae and eggs of certain kinds of fish. This helps stop the populations of those fish from getting too large. Jellies are also a food source for turtles, penguins, and many kinds of fish.

So what’s the problem? 

The problem is something called jellyfish blooms. That’s the sudden appearance of hundreds, thousands, or even millions of jellyfish in one place. 

The blackout in the Philippines was caused by an estimated 50 tons of jellyfish. They clogged up the lines that bring water into the power plant to cool it. The Navy ship in Australia shut down after its machinery sucked up more than 1,700 pounds of jellies. The salmon farm in Ireland was destroyed by a swarm of jellies covering about 10 square miles. 

These are just a few examples of problems caused by jellyfish blooms. Over one weekend in 2019, more than 3,000 people were stung by jellyfish at beaches in Queensland, Australia. In 2021, hundreds of refrigerator-sized jellyfish got caught in fishing nets in Japan and damaged them. The list goes on and on. 

So is this an evil plot to take over the oceans? Of course not. Jellyfish blooms are natural and normal. However, sightings of jellyfish blooms have increased. This could be due to better methods for counting and reporting jellyfish. But many scientists think that jellyfish populations are on the rise.

If that’s correct, the next question is—why?

Adaptable Creatures 

Adaptable Creatures 

A combination of factors may be to blame. For one thing, jellyfish multiply quickly. One jellyfish can release 45,000 eggs in a single day. Meanwhile, there are fewer predators that eat jellyfish, in part because of overfishing—that is, humans taking too many fish out of the ocean. 

Jellyfish are also highly adaptable to changes in their environment. They can live in polluted waters where other fish can’t. And while warming oceans caused by climate change can mean death for many fish species, jellyfish don’t seem to mind. 

According to experts, there are steps humans can take to help keep jellyfish populations in check. For example, fishing in a more sustainable way would mean more jellyfish-eating predators. Reducing pollution and cutting back on our use of fossil fuels, like coal and oil, would also make oceans healthier. That, in turn, could reduce the advantage jellies have over other marine life.

Jellyfish have been floating gracefully through our oceans since before the time of the dinosaurs, and there’s no reason they should not continue to do so. But it’s important that they are part of a balanced ecosystem—so they do not go down in history as the monsters that took over the sea.

A combination of factors may be to blame. For one thing, jellyfish multiply quickly. One jellyfish can release 45,000 eggs in a single day. Meanwhile, there are fewer predators that eat jellyfish. That’s partly because of overfishing—when humans take too many fish out of the ocean. 

Jellyfish are also highly adaptable to changes in their environment. They can live in polluted waters where other fish can’t. And while warming oceans caused by climate change can mean death for many fish species, jellyfish don’t seem to mind. 

Experts say there are ways to keep jellyfish populations in check. For example, fishing in a more sustainable way would mean more jellyfish-eating predators. Reducing pollution and cutting back on our use of fossil fuels, like coal and oil, would also make oceans healthier. That could reduce the advantage jellies have over other marine life.

Jellyfish have been floating through our oceans since before the time of the dinosaurs. There’s no reason they should not continue to do so. But they should be part of a balanced ecosystem—so they do not go down in history as the monsters that took over the sea.

Would You Eat This Pizza?  

Here’s one way to help keep jellyfish from taking over the ocean: Eat them!

By Andrew Klein and Mackenzie Carro

It’s Friday night, and your local pizza shop is featuring a mysterious new topping. You inspect a slice behind the glass at the counter. On top of the usual tomato sauce and cheese sits what looks like a pile of caramelized onions—or maybe steamed cabbage? You’re an adventurous eater, so you decide to try it. 

You pick up the steaming slice, piled high with this glistening, gelatinous ingredient, and take a big bite. Along with the saltiness of the cheese and the tang of the tomatoes, another flavor fills your mouth. It’s briny, like the sea. 

Not bad! 

You’ve just eaten jellyfish pizza.

It’s Friday night. Your local pizza shop has a mysterious new topping. On top of the tomato sauce and cheese sits what looks like a pile of caramelized onions—or maybe steamed cabbage? You’re an adventurous eater. So you decide to try it. 

You pick up a steaming slice. It’s piled high with the glistening, gelatinous ingredient. You take a big bite. You taste the saltiness of the cheese and the tang of the tomatoes. But there’s another flavor. It’s briny, like the sea. 

Not bad! 

You’ve just eaten jellyfish pizza. 

Art by Magictorch

Hordes of Jellies

Hordes of Jellies

If jellyfish pizza sounds appealing to you, you might be bummed to learn that the dish does not actually exist in the U.S. But it could one day soon. Over the past several years, chefs and food scientists have been experimenting with jellyfish as an ingredient. Their hope is to create tasty jellyfish dishes that people all over the world will want to eat. 

Why? 

In certain regions, jellyfish populations have skyrocketed. In places like Israel, Japan, the Philippines, Scotland, Sweden, and the United States, hordes of jellies are shutting down power plants, clogging pipes, and frustrating fishers by damaging nets and gumming up boat engines. They’re also crowding out other ocean species. 

Getting more people to eat jellyfish, some scientists say, could help solve these problems.

In the U.S., jellyfish pizza does not yet exist. But it could. Over the past several years, chefs and food scientists have been experimenting with jellyfish as an ingredient. They hope to create tasty jellyfish dishes that people all over the world will want to eat. 

Why? 

In certain regions, jellyfish populations have skyrocketed. In places like Israel, Japan, the Philippines, Scotland, Sweden, and the United States, hordes of jellies are shutting down power plants, clogging pipes, damaging fishing nets, and gumming up boat engines. They’re also crowding out other ocean species. 

Some scientists say that more people eating jellyfish could help solve these problems. 

Jellyfish Ice Cream 

Jellyfish Ice Cream 

Imaginechina Limited/Alamy Stock Photo

Jellyfish salad

The idea of eating jellyfish is nothing new. In fact, jellies have been a staple of some Asian cuisines for thousands of years. In many Southeast Asian countries, dishes such as cold jellyfish salad are quite common. In China, jellyfish is traditionally served at weddings. 

Still, many people outside Asia do not view the floating blobs that sting you in the ocean as a potential meal. But some food scientists, like Antonella Leone from the Institute of Sciences of Food Production in Italy, are trying to change that. 

Leone’s job is to find new ways of feeding the growing population of humans on Earth. After witnessing giant jellyfish blooms along the seaside in Italy, where she lives, she started wondering if the world’s surplus of jellies could be a new food source. 

After all, there are tons of them—jellyfish blooms can cover hundreds of square miles of ocean. And when prepared safely, jellyfish are a healthy choice. They are low in fat, and they are rich in protein, which your body needs to build and repair bones, muscles, skin, and other tissues.

Leone began working with chefs to come up with new ways to serve the slippery sea creatures. Chefs working with Leone have served jellies fried, sautéed, and chopped up in soups, salads, and pastas. Other chefs have tried pickling jellyfish or drying them out and serving them as chips. Jellyfish have even been turned into ice cream! (Think vanilla ice cream with chewy, mildly fishy-tasting bits mixed in.)

Eating jellyfish is not new. Jellies have been a part of some Asian cuisines for thousands of years. In many Southeast Asian countries, cold jellyfish salad is quite common. In China, jellyfish is traditionally served at weddings. 

Still, many people outside Asia do not view the floating blobs that sting you in the ocean as a potential meal. But Antonella Leone and other food scientists are trying to change that.

Leone is with the Institute of Sciences of Food Production in Italy. Her job is to find new ways of feeding the growing population of humans worldwide. She witnessed giant jellyfish blooms along the seaside in Italy. She started wondering if the world’s surplus of jellies could be a new food source. 

After all, there are tons of them. Jellyfish blooms can cover hundreds of square miles of ocean. And when prepared safely, jellyfish are a healthy choice. They are low in fat. And they are rich in protein, which your body needs to build and repair bones, muscles, skin, and other tissues.

Leone began working with chefs to come up with new ways to serve the slippery sea creatures. Those chefs have served jellies fried, sautéed, and chopped up in soups, salads, and pastas. Other chefs have pickled them or dried them out and served them as chips. Jellyfish have even been turned into ice cream! (Think vanilla ice cream with chewy, mildly fishy-tasting bits mixed in.)

Agostino Petroni (chef); Fabio Tresca (dish)

A chef in Italy prepares frozen jellyfish before turning it into an appetizer made with asparagus, green onion, and a Greek yogurt sauce.

A New Food Source 

A New Food Source 

Whichever way it’s served, Leone hopes jellyfish will someday become as common around the world as shrimp and salmon are in the U.S. Not only could that help cut down jellyfish numbers, she says, but it could also provide a new, sustainable food source for humans. And fishers who start catching and selling jellyfish would have a new source of income. 

It wouldn’t be the first time something once widely viewed as inedible became a popular ingredient or dish. In the 1500s, people in Italy thought tomatoes were poisonous. Now they are a staple in Italian cuisine. Up until the 1800s, New Englanders saw lobster as something to be eaten only out of desperation. Now people from all over the world travel to places like Maine and Massachusetts to get their hands on a super fresh lobster roll. In the 1960s, when the first sushi restaurants opened in America, many Americans were grossed out by the idea of eating raw fish. Today sushi is a $27 billion industry. 

So who knows?

Maybe one day you will get to sink your teeth into that slice of steaming hot jellyfish pizza.

Leone hopes jellyfish will become as common around the world as shrimp and salmon are in the U.S. Not only could that help cut down jellyfish numbers, she says, but it could also provide a new, sustainable food source for humans. And fishers who start catching and selling jellyfish would have a new source of income. 

It wouldn’t be the first time something widely viewed as inedible became a popular ingredient or dish. In the 1500s, people in Italy thought tomatoes were poisonous. Now they are a staple in Italian cuisine. Up until the 1800s, New Englanders saw lobster as something to be eaten only out of desperation. Now people from all over the world travel to places like Maine and Massachusetts to get their hands on a super-fresh lobster roll. In the 1960s, when the first sushi restaurants opened in America, many Americans were grossed out by the idea of eating raw fish. Today sushi is a $27 billion industry. 

So who knows?

Maybe one day you will get to sink your teeth into that slice of steaming hot jellyfish pizza.

Icon of a lightbulb

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Writing Contest 

Imagine you are a chef debuting jellyfish dishes on your restaurant’s menu. Using information from both articles, create an infographic to give diners to persuade them to try the new dishes. Entries must be submitted to Jellyfish contest by a teacher, parent, or legal guardian.* Three winners will each get a copy of The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin.

*Entries must be written by a student in grades 4-12 and submitted by their teacher, parent, or legal guardian, who will be the entrant and must be a legal resident of the U.S. age 18 or older. See Contest Page for details.


Writing Contest

Imagine you are a chef debuting jellyfish dishes on your restaurant’s menu. Using information from both articles, create an infographic to give diners to persuade them to try the new dishes. Entries must be submitted to Jellyfish contest by a teacher, parent, or legal guardian.* Three winners will each get a copy of The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin.

*Entries must be written by a student in grades 4-12 and submitted by their teacher, parent, or legal guardian, who will be the entrant and must be a legal resident of the U.S. age 18 or older. See Contest Page for details.


This article was originally published in the September 2024 issue.

This article was originally published in the September 2024 issue.

Audio ()
Activities (8)
Preparing to Read
Reading and Discussing
Skill-Building Activities
The Core Skills Workout
Quizzes (1)
Answer Key (1)
Audio ()
Activities (8)
Preparing to Read
Reading and Discussing
Skill-Building Activities
The Core Skills Workout
Quizzes (1)
Answer Key (1)
Step-by-Step Lesson Plan

Close Reading, Critical Thinking, Skill Building

Download the Printable Version

Essential Questions: How can one species both benefit and harm the environment? How can humans affect the environment? What makes a food popular?

Essential Questions: How can one species both benefit and harm the environment? How can humans affect the environment? What makes a food popular?

Table of Contents

1. Prepare to Read

(10 minutes)

Preview Vocabulary (10 minutes)

Project the Google Slides version of Vocabulary: Definitions and Practice on your whiteboard. Review the definitions and complete the activity as a class. Highlighted words: adaptable, briny, gelatinous, inedible, larvae, menacing, surplus, sustainable. Audio pronunciations of the words and a read-aloud of the definitions are embedded on the slides. Optionally, print the PDF version or share the slideshow link to your LMS and have students preview the words and complete the activity independently before class.

Project the Google Slides version of Vocabulary: Definitions and Practice on your whiteboard. Review the definitions and complete the activity as a class. Highlighted words: adaptable, briny, gelatinous, inedible, larvae, menacing, surplus, sustainable. Audio pronunciations of the words and a read-aloud of the definitions are embedded on the slides. Optionally, print the PDF version or share the slideshow link to your LMS and have students preview the words and complete the activity independently before class.

2. Read and Discuss

(45 minutes)

“Jellyfish Invasion!”

Invite a volunteer to read the As You Read box on page 22 or at the top of the digital story page.

Read the article once as a class. (Differentiation: Share the lower-Lexile version of the article.) Optionally, have students listen to the audio read-aloud of the article while they follow along. The audio read-aloud is located in the Resources tab in Teacher View and at the top of the story page in Student View.

Divide students into groups to read the article again and respond to the following Discussion Questions, also located in the Resources tab.

Invite a volunteer to read the As You Read box on page 22 or at the top of the digital story page.

Read the article once as a class. (Differentiation: Share the lower-Lexile version of the article.) Optionally, have students listen to the audio read-aloud of the article while they follow along. The audio read-aloud is located in the Resources tab in Teacher View and at the top of the story page in Student View.

Divide students into groups to read the article again and respond to the following Discussion Questions, also located in the Resources tab.

Discussion Questions (25 minutes)

1. The introduction states that “frightful creatures are taking over our oceans.” How is this claim supported in the article? (key ideas and details, supporting a claim) The claim is supported with examples of how exploding jellyfish populations are causing problems around the world. For example, jellyfish affected the functioning of a power plant, leading to a loss of power for 40 million people. One large swarm of jellies caused a U.S. Navy ship in Australia to shut down, and another destroyed a salmon farm in Ireland.

2. How does the section “Deadly Venom” contribute to the article? (text structure) The section “Deadly Venom” describes jellyfish. It states that they have “soft, umbrella-shaped bodies” and that they are without blood, bones, a heart, or a brain. The section explains that there are more than 4,000 species of jellyfish and gives an idea of how they range in size. In addition, it explains that jellyfish can be dangerous to swimmers because their tentacles are lined with stinging cells.

3. How are jellyfish helpful? Include information from both the text and the diagram “Jellyfish Superpowers.” (text features, synthesis) Jellyfish help keep their ocean ecosystem balanced. They eat the larvae and eggs of certain types of fish, which helps manage these populations. They provide protection for certain kinds of baby fish and release nutrients into the water, which helps other organisms thrive. In addition, creatures like turtles and penguins rely on jellyfish for food.

4. What may be causing jellyfish blooms, and what can people do to manage them? (problem and solution) Jellyfish blooms are likely caused by several factors. First, jellyfish can release tens of thousands of eggs in one day. Also, jellyfish are able to adapt to changing water temperatures and pollution better than other ocean creatures. In addition, overfishing has caused populations of some jellyfish predators to decline, leaving jellies to multiply unchecked. Some actions people can take to manage jellyfish blooms include fishing sustainably and reducing pollution.

1. The introduction states that “frightful creatures are taking over our oceans.” How is this claim supported in the article? (key ideas and details, supporting a claim) The claim is supported with examples of how exploding jellyfish populations are causing problems around the world. For example, jellyfish affected the functioning of a power plant, leading to a loss of power for 40 million people. One large swarm of jellies caused a U.S. Navy ship in Australia to shut down, and another destroyed a salmon farm in Ireland.

2. How does the section “Deadly Venom” contribute to the article? (text structure) The section “Deadly Venom” describes jellyfish. It states that they have “soft, umbrella-shaped bodies” and that they are without blood, bones, a heart, or a brain. The section explains that there are more than 4,000 species of jellyfish and gives an idea of how they range in size. In addition, it explains that jellyfish can be dangerous to swimmers because their tentacles are lined with stinging cells.

3. How are jellyfish helpful? Include information from both the text and the diagram “Jellyfish Superpowers.” (text features, synthesis) Jellyfish help keep their ocean ecosystem balanced. They eat the larvae and eggs of certain types of fish, which helps manage these populations. They provide protection for certain kinds of baby fish and release nutrients into the water, which helps other organisms thrive. In addition, creatures like turtles and penguins rely on jellyfish for food.

4. What may be causing jellyfish blooms, and what can people do to manage them? (problem and solution) Jellyfish blooms are likely caused by several factors. First, jellyfish can release tens of thousands of eggs in one day. Also, jellyfish are able to adapt to changing water temperatures and pollution better than other ocean creatures. In addition, overfishing has caused populations of some jellyfish predators to decline, leaving jellies to multiply unchecked. Some actions people can take to manage jellyfish blooms include fishing sustainably and reducing pollution.

“Would You Eat This Pizza?”

Break students into groups again to read and discuss the article. Optionally, have students listen to the read-aloud of the article while they follow along. The audio read-aloud is located in the Resources tab in Teacher View and at the top of the story page in Student View.

As a class, discuss the following Discussion Questions.

Break students into groups again to read and discuss the article. Optionally, have students listen to the read-aloud of the article while they follow along. The audio read-aloud is located in the Resources tab in Teacher View and at the top of the story page in Student View.

As a class, discuss the following Discussion Questions.

Discussion Questions (10 minutes)

1. How could eating jellyfish be beneficial? (key ideas and details, synthesis) Eating jellyfish could be beneficial because it could help control their exploding populations. Using jellyfish as a food source could also help feed Earth’s growing population and provide fishers with a new source of income.

2. What evidence do authors Andrew Klein and Mackenzie Carro provide to support the idea that people who don’t like the idea of eating jellyfish might change their minds? (supporting a claim) Authors Andrew Klein and Mackenzie Carro support the idea that people might change their minds about eating jellyfish by providing examples of popular foods that people were once averse to eating, such as tomatoes, lobster, and sushi.

3. The article explains that food scientist Antonella Leone works with chefs to create new recipes using jellyfish as an ingredient. How might this process help popularize jellyfish as a food source? (critical thinking) Answers will vary but students will likely say that by working with chefs, food scientists can help come up with truly tasty dishes that people will enjoy—and perhaps see as delicacies that they would be lucky to try.

4. Would you try eating jellyfish? Why or why not? Which dish mentioned in the article would you be most likely to try if you were to try one? (critical thinking) Answers will vary. Students might explain that jellyfish is low in fat and high in protein, and eating it could support the environment—and they might be curious about the taste. Alternatively, students might state that they are simply grossed out by the idea of eating jellyfish, or that they are fearful of the safety of eating jellyfish, because it is a new food in the United States and needs to be prepared a certain way to be consumed safely.

1. How could eating jellyfish be beneficial? (key ideas and details, synthesis) Eating jellyfish could be beneficial because it could help control their exploding populations. Using jellyfish as a food source could also help feed Earth’s growing population and provide fishers with a new source of income.

2. What evidence do authors Andrew Klein and Mackenzie Carro provide to support the idea that people who don’t like the idea of eating jellyfish might change their minds? (supporting a claim) Authors Andrew Klein and Mackenzie Carro support the idea that people might change their minds about eating jellyfish by providing examples of popular foods that people were once averse to eating, such as tomatoes, lobster, and sushi.

3. The article explains that food scientist Antonella Leone works with chefs to create new recipes using jellyfish as an ingredient. How might this process help popularize jellyfish as a food source? (critical thinking) Answers will vary but students will likely say that by working with chefs, food scientists can help come up with truly tasty dishes that people will enjoy—and perhaps see as delicacies that they would be lucky to try.

4. Would you try eating jellyfish? Why or why not? Which dish mentioned in the article would you be most likely to try if you were to try one? (critical thinking) Answers will vary. Students might explain that jellyfish is low in fat and high in protein, and eating it could support the environment—and they might be curious about the taste. Alternatively, students might state that they are simply grossed out by the idea of eating jellyfish, or that they are fearful of the safety of eating jellyfish, because it is a new food in the United States and needs to be prepared a certain way to be consumed safely.

3. Write About It: Synthesis

(45 minutes)

Have students complete the Featured Skill Activity: Synthesis. This activity prepares them to respond to the writing prompt on page 25 in the printed magazine and at the bottom of the digital story page:

Imagine you are a chef debuting jellyfish dishes on your restaurant’s menu. Using information from both articles, create an infographic to give diners to persuade them to try the new dishes.

Alternatively, have students choose a task from the Choice Board, a menu of culminating tasks. (Our Choice Board options include the writing prompt from the magazine, differentiated versions of the writing prompt, and additional creative ways for students to demonstrate their understanding of a story or article.)

Have students complete the Featured Skill Activity: Synthesis. This activity prepares them to respond to the writing prompt on page 25 in the printed magazine and at the bottom of the digital story page:

Imagine you are a chef debuting jellyfish dishes on your restaurant’s menu. Using information from both articles, create an infographic to give diners to persuade them to try the new dishes.

Alternatively, have students choose a task from the Choice Board, a menu of culminating tasks. (Our Choice Board options include the writing prompt from the magazine, differentiated versions of the writing prompt, and additional creative ways for students to demonstrate their understanding of a story or article.)

Connected readings from the Scope archives

Connected reading about adopting new food sources from the Scope archives:


For more articles and stories that explore the relationship between humans and the environment and how environmental problems can be solved, check out our Special Collection: Earth Day Every Day.




Connected reading about adopting new food sources from the Scope archives:


For more articles and stories that explore the relationship between humans and the environment and how environmental problems can be solved, check out our Special Collection: Earth Day Every Day.

Text-to-Speech