1. How does facing challenges help us learn about ourselves?
Get Ready to Read
How does facing challenges help us learn about ourselves?
Brian knew, of course, about fire. What gave him the motivation to build one? Why does encountering a difficult situation motivate people?
Since no one was around to help him, Brian had to show initiative. When has someone you know shown initiative when faced with a challenge?

2. Amazing Words Uncontrollable – something you have no power over
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Amazing Words
Uncontrollable – something you have no power over
Brian is alone in the wilderness because of uncontrollable forces.
What uncontrollable events happened to Brian?
What things could Brian control?
Think about these things: earthquakes, forest fires, floods, hurricanes. What makes them uncontrollable?
Unrestrained – not restrained or held back
The clowns created unrestrained laughter in the audience.
When have you experienced unrestrained laughter?

3. Although it is fiction, what makes Hatchet seem realistic?
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Although it is fiction, what makes Hatchet seem realistic?
Explain the sequence of events that led to Brian’s realizing he should not have thrown the hatchet.
What do you know about porcupines that helped you understand what happened to Brian in the cave? What did you not know?
Reread the second paragraph on page Find three regular verbs that show past action and three regular verbs that show action that is ongoing at the time of the story.
Porcupines have quills to protect themselves. What other means of defense do animals use?

4. Read pages 346-347. Be ready to discuss:
Read and Comprehend
Read pages
Be ready to discuss:
Imagine making a fire. Would you make it the way Brian did? If not, what sequence would you follow?
Brian calls his ball of bark hairs a spark nest. What does that say about his attitude toward it?
How could the photograph of the tree on page 347 help the reader better understand the story?

5. What is your opinion of Brian?
Read and Comprehend
Read pages
Be ready to discuss:
How hard was it for Brian to achieve his goal? Would you have been able to stick to the goal until you succeeded?
The author uses personification a lot in this part of the story. How did the personification make the story more enjoyable?
What is the immediate effect of the fire? What other effects does Brian hope it will have?
What is your opinion of Brian?
Which details help the reader visualize Brian’s attempts at starting a fire?
Answer the critical thinking questions on page 350.

6. Principal Parts of Regular Verbs
Language Arts
Principal Parts of Regular Verbs
Verbs: cook, open, hop, smile, study
Fill in the correct verb:
They (present) _______________________.
They are (present participle) ______________________________.
They (past) _______________________________.
They have (past participle) _______________________________.

7. Language Arts
Spelling practice:
Sort your words into categories: words with prefixes only, words with suffixes only, words with prefixes and suffixes, words without prefixes or suffixes.

8. Read the speech on page 353 and think about what score it should earn.
Language Arts
Speech Writing
Read the speech on page 353 and think about what score it should earn.
Revise and edit your speech. Now practice giving your speech out loud. Think about where to pause and make sure you speak clearly and slowly.
You’ll be giving your speech tomorrow, so be sure you are ready!