Tag Archives: Island of the Blue Dolphins

One of our students recently enjoyed reading Theodore Taylor's The Cay.  She was excited about comparing the plot to two other books we had studied this year, Hatchet and Island of the Blue Dolphins .  She helped to lead our class in a great discussion contrasting and comparing the characters, settings, and plots.  It was fun learning the definition of a "cay,"  as well as finding the Cayman Islands on the map.  The setting of the book led into a discussion of the strong discrimination feelings, as well as the global effects of World War II.  Our whole class enjoyed learning, because one student got excited about her choice of books and was willing to share it with classmates.

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As our class read Scott O'Dell's Island of the Blue Dolphins , some students became interested in learning more about related subjects:  comorant, devil fish, yucca plants, Aleutians, olivella shells, abalones, mussels, scallops, sea elephants, wild dogs, sea otters, Scott O'Dell, & the true story of Karana.

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    After doing some voluntary research, these students shared interesting information with their classmates.  Later, they combined their findings to create an attractive and informative bulletin board for our room!  Thank you, researchers!  Perhaps some of you would like to make a comment sharing something interesting that you learned.

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Our class has been reading Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell.  We noticed that Karana had to make tough decisions when she was left to survive alone on the island.  She had no one to help her make these decisions, and her life often depended on them.   Would you have decided differently?

Would you have burned the village to help erase its emptiness and memories?

Would you have continued the voyage in a leaking canoe, or would you have turned back for the island?

Would you have killed the leader of the wild dogs, or would you have befriended him?

Would you go against the tribal law to make weapons, or would this cause bad luck?

Would you leave the island with strangers or stay there alone?