1. Island of the Blue Dolphins
By Scott O’Dell
From Island of the Blue Dolphins
Illustrated by Russ Walks
Fourth Grade, Open Court
Unit 4: Survival
Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary

2. Genre: Realistic Fiction
The elements of realistic fiction are listed below.
The characters behave as people or animals do in real life.
The setting of the story is a real place or could be a real place.
The events in the story could happen in real life.
Fourth Grade, Open Court
Unit 4: Survival
Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary

3. Background Knowledge/Prior Knowledge
This story is an example of realistic fiction; it is not a true story but is one that could have happened.
In fact, it is based on the true story of a Native American girl who was left upon an island near the coast of southern California and lived there alone for 18 years.
What are the challenges involved in surviving a harsh environment?
San Nicolas Island
Later called Juana Maria
Fourth Grade, Open Court
Unit 4: Survival
Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary

4. between behind beyond among against
Word Knowledge
The following words are indicators of place and location.
between
behind
beyond
among
against
between two
cars
behind his back
beyond the white mountains
against the wall
among the fruits
Fourth Grade, Open Court
Unit 4: Survival
Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary

5. rose dip color rock handle
Word Knowledge
These words have multiple meanings. Each word can be used as a noun or a verb.
rose
dip
color
rock
handle
noun
noun
noun
noun
noun
verb
verb
verb
verb
verb
Fourth Grade, Open Court
Unit 4: Survival
Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary

6. advice medicine decide ancestors circle
Word Knowledge
Each of these words has the letter “c” pronounced /s/ before “e” or “i” (& also “y”).
advice
medicine
decide
ancestors
circle
What letters spell the /s/ sound in each of these words?
Fourth Grade, Open Court
Unit 4: Survival
Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary

7. arrows ages tides cliffs times
Word Knowledge
These words are plurals.
arrows
ages
tides
cliffs
times
Fourth Grade, Open Court
Unit 4: Survival
Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary

8. ea e i igh The sea was calm behind the high cliffs. Word Knowledge
What words have the long vowel sounds?
How is the long e sound spelled in “sea”? ea
How is the long e sound spelled in “behind”? e
How is the long i sound spelled in “behind”? i
How is the long i sound spelled in “high”?
igh
Fourth Grade, Open Court
Unit 4: Survival
Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary

9. Now I spent most of my time on the rock.
Word Knowledge
Now I spent most of my time on the rock.
possessive pronoun
subject pronoun
Identify the pronouns.
Which one is a subject pronoun?
Which one is a possessive pronoun?
Fourth Grade, Open Court
Unit 4: Survival
Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary

10. They turned around in a great circle and began to follow me.
Word Knowledge
They turned around in a great circle and began to follow me.
past
past
What verb tense are the words
turned and began?
The word turned is a regular past-tense verb, formed by adding ________ to ___________.
-ed
turn
The verb began is an irregular
past tense form of the verb
_________.
begin
Fourth Grade, Open Court
Unit 4: Survival
Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary

11. All cliffs are made of rocks.
Word Knowledge
All cliffs are made of rocks.
Which words are plural?
Fourth Grade, Open Court
Unit 4: Survival
Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary

12. Selection Vocabulary befall be fall pur sued pursued deserted de sert
idly id ly
chaf
ing
chafing
Fourth Grade, Open Court
Unit 4: Survival
Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary

13. Selection Vocabulary: befall
Whatever might befall me on the endless waters did not trouble me.
Thomas hoped that no harm would befall the lost puppy.
befall (verb)—to happen to
Fourth Grade, Open Court
Unit 4: Survival
Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary

14. Selection Vocabulary: pursued
It meant far less than the thought of staying on the island alone, pursued by wild dogs.
The cat pursued the mouse and finally caught it.
pursued (verb)—chased; followed; hunted
Fourth Grade, Open Court
Unit 4: Survival
Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary

15. Selection Vocabulary: deserted
Even greater was the thought of the deserted island I would return to.
Jack felt deserted when his brother went to the game without him.
deserted (verb)--abandoned
Fourth Grade, Open Court
Unit 4: Survival
Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary

16. Selection Vocabulary: idly
The canoe drifted idly on the calm sea.
idly (adverb)—lazily; slowly
Cara daydreamed as she swayed idly in her hammock.
Fourth Grade, Open Court
Unit 4: Survival
Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary

17. Selection Vocabulary: chafing
My hands had begun to bleed from the chafing of the paddle.
The tight shoes were chafing the back of her feet.
chafing (verb)—rubbing so as to make sore
Fourth Grade, Open Court
Unit 4: Survival
Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary