Core Skills Analysis
English
- Will identified key plot events and character development in Hatchet, enhancing his comprehension of narrative structure.
- Will practiced comparing and contrasting ideas through analogies, reinforcing vocabulary and logical reasoning.
- Will applied inferencing skills to predict outcomes in the novel, supporting critical thinking.
- Will explained the purpose of analogies within the text, linking figurative language to overall meaning.
Tips
Encourage Will to keep a "survival journal" where he records daily challenges and solutions for the protagonist, using first‑person narration to deepen empathy and narrative voice. Have him create his own set of analogies that connect survival tools to school subjects, then share them in a class mini‑presentation to boost oral communication. Organize a small group discussion where students compare Hatchet to another wilderness novel, mapping similarities and differences on a Venn diagram. Finally, plan a hands‑on activity—such as building a simple shelter or knot‑tying workshop—to give Will a tactile experience that reinforces the novel’s themes of resourcefulness.
Book Recommendations
- Hatchet by Gary Paulsen: A thirteen‑year‑old boy survives alone in the Canadian wilderness after a plane crash, learning self‑reliance and resilience.
- My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George: A young boy runs away to live in the Catskill Mountains, mastering wilderness skills and discovering independence.
- The Call of the Wild by Jack London: A domesticated dog is thrust into the harsh Alaskan frontier, confronting survival, adaptation, and primal instincts.
Learning Standards
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.7.2 – Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development (Hatchet plot analysis).
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.7.3 – Analyze how particular elements of a story (e.g., setting, plot) contribute to its meaning (survival setting in Hatchet).
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.7.4 – Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple‑meaning words and phrases using context clues (analogy worksheet).
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.7.5 – Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, including analogies, and explain how they convey meaning.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.7.6 – Acquire and use accurately a range of general academic and domain‑specific words and phrases (survival vocabulary).
Try This Next
- Worksheet: Write five original analogies that compare a survival tool from Hatchet to a school subject concept.
- Comic‑Strip Task: Illustrate a pivotal scene from Hatchet using dialogue bubbles to practice narrative sequencing.