In “Island of the Blue Dolphins”, author Scott O’Dell tells the story of Karana, a Native American girl who survives alone on a wild, isolated island for many years in the mid-1800s. This is a story about human struggle, dealing with death, being brave, and having courage to survive a very difficult situation. Watch this short movie to find out more about Scott O’Dell’s famous novel: Island of the Blue Dolphins

Could You Survive? You are stranded alone on an island that is surrounded by salt water. There are plants and animals on the island, but you have no weapons to hunt them or tools to fish. You have no cell phone nor iPod. You have only the clothes on your back. It’s getting cold and dark as the sun is setting on the horizon. In small groups, plan a detailed survival strategy. What will you do for food? clothing? shelter? fresh water? How can you ensure survival on the island? Be ready to present your plans to the class.

Homework Biography of a Survivor I want you to do some research on a fictional character or a real person who was a survivor. Summarize the life of your survivor, detailing the situation in which he/she was involved and how he/she survived. (1/2 page typed) Possible survivors: John F. Kennedy and Crew Robinson Crusoe Marguerite de La Rocque Leendert Hasenbosch Captain Charles Barnard and party Ada Blackjack Alexander Selkirk Ernest Shackleton John Adams and the Bounty Mutineers Jan Pelgrom and Wouter Loos Juana Maria

Literature Circles What is a Literature Circle? A literature circle is a group of students working together to understand a novel. Each student is given a different task that he/she is responsible for. Together, all tasks are combined for a full representation of the story. We will use literature circles to study “The Island of the Blue Dolphins”.

What are the jobs?

Tool Time Island of the Blue Dolphins describes how Karana makes the tools and weapons necessary for her survival. In this project, you will make models of these tools. Your work must be based on information from the book. Once finished, we can model at a "trade show," describing the tools, telling how they are made, and explaining how they are used. Materials: Popsicle sticks Clay Stones Styrofoam Aluminum foil grass

Map It Out Task: Create maps of the Island of the Blue Dolphins. Use descriptions from the novel to draw the shape of the island accurately; place all the landmarks, such as the cave, the cliffs, the village, Karana's home, and so on. Trace the route the Aleuts would have taken from the north and the route that Karana would have taken back to the coast.

Help me! At the end of Chapter 9, Karana is totally alone on the island and has several problems to solve. With your group, make a list of the problems she faces. After brainstorming, think of possible solutions for each problem. Write down as many ideas as you can think of. Record your ideas in the form of a web or a chart. Once you have recorded everyone’s ideas, review and discuss them. Circle the solutions that fit Karana’s situation the best or seem to be the most likely to succeed. Then share your possible solutions with other groups.

Natural Disasters Have students do some research about the conditions that contribute to earthquakes and tidal waves. Then have them research one of these natural disasters in "real life ”. Students then deliver a newscast about the natural disaster, giving details about both the incident and the factors that contributed to it.