Survival Activity Do you remember what a “state of nature” is?

The Scenario Picture yourself on vacation—up in the southeast Alaskan waterways canoeing—with a group of friends. The month is June, the scenery is spectacular and the weather is fair. So far, it’s been good times and smooth sailing, but today you’ve noticed more clouds than usual and a chill in the air. You and your friends climb into your canoes anyway, thinking that even if it does rain, you’ll be able to dry off after you travel the day’s course and make camp.

The Scenario The rain comes as you expected, but it doesn’t stop as you had hoped. The clouds get darker, the rain begins to pour, and gusts of wind whip your canoe, making it almost impossible to paddle. You know you are in real trouble. Suddenly, a huge wave hits your canoe and, without warning, you capsize and find yourself thrashing about amidst the white caps. The next thing you know, you are frantically swimming toward the nearest shore. Gasping for breath and shivering from the icy Alaskan water, you drag yourself up onto the shore—barely able to believe that you made it and are still alive.

Your Problem and Your Task You and your friends are stranded on a small deserted island and don’t know how long you will be there. The nearest settlement is more than 75 miles away. Your task: To survive

In Pods Your group has 5-10 minutes to figure out how you will survive. Come up with a survival plan Briefly describe the plan in the blank space at the bottom of the Survival sheet. Choose someone in the group to report your survival plan to the class.

Questions for Discussion What general types of behavior seems to be the same among groups of people trying to keep themselves alive? Upon what criteria did you base your survival decisions? Were your choices made randomly (by chance) or purposefully (with reasons)? What did you consider before making your final choices? What seems to be the most helpful for explaining the choices you made.

Explain These Statements “People can make different choices and still make purposeful decisions.” “Different choices can result from purposeful choosing.”