Background: Project for a class novel study, The Hatchet. We read the novel together as a class, do questions on each chapter and discuss the answers and then they have this final project. What I like about the final project is that it gives each student choices. After each choice, I will put in brackets what MI I feel it covers.
Outcomes/Objectives:
This project covers many of the Language Arts outcomes for Grade 5 so I’m not going to write all of them down because that would take up most of the pages. You can find the outcomes listed on the Halifax Regional School Board website http://www.hrsb.ns.ca .
Project:
Please pick five activities out of the twenty-one activities listed below to do. Please make sure each activity is labelled correctly. The project is due DATE HERE. The project should include a title page with the student’s name, teacher’s name and project due date. THIS IS AN IN-CLASS PROJECT
1) Draw a map of where Brian was stranded labelling locations mentioned in the story, such as the site of the crash, where Brian built his shelter, where he met the moose, etc. (Visual-Spatial, Bodily-Kinesthetic)
2) Create a model using various materials of where Brian was stranded labelling locations mentioned in the story, such as the site of the crash, where Brian build his shelter, where he met the moose, etc. (materials can be gathered from outside, classroom, etc.) (Bodily-Kinesthetic, Visual-Spatial)
3) Write a new ending to the story. The ending has to be at least one written page (with capitals, periods, quotation marks, correct spelling etc.) (Verbal Linguistic)
4) Make a missing person poster for Brian. Include such important information as his physical description and where he was last seen. List the passages from the book that you used as references for your picture of Brian. (Visual-Spatial, Verbal Linguistic, Bodily-Kinesthetic)
5) If you were to talk to the author, what 10 questions would you ask about the book? (Intererpersonal)
6) Sequence the events of the story into a time line. (Visual-Spatial, Verbal Linguistic)
7) Write a news story about Brian’s adventure as it might appear in our local newspaper. Pictures can be included for this news story. The news story must be at least one written page. (Verbal Linguistic)
8) Develop an ad for a hatchet that might be used in a camping or fishing magazine. Include a testimonial or statement by Brian about the value of a Hatchet. Then, referring to the story, stress the different uses for a hatchet. (Visual-Spatial, Verbal Linguistic, Bodily-Kinesthetic)
9) Design a new front and back cover for Hatchet. Include a brief overview of the book that would “sell” it to readers. (Visual-Spatial, Verbal Linguistic, Bodily-Kinesthetic)
10) In a monologue, there is only one speaker, who reveals his thoughts and feelings. Pretend that you are Brian. In a monologue, describe what has happened to you and how you feel about it. The monologue has to be at least two written pages and present to your classmates. (Intrapersonal, Verbal Linguistic, Bodily-Kinesthetic, Existential)
11) Make a collage (using magazine cut-outs, drawings, even real objects) that shows all the items Brian has with him when the plane crashes.(Visual-Spatial, Bodily-Kinesthetic)
12) Write a composition about a time that you had to keep trying for a long time, making many mistakes, before you were successful at something. The composition has to be at least one written page. (Verbal Linguistic, Intrapersonal, Existential)
13) Imagine that Brian had kept a list in the sand of “things to do.” What would his list say? (Verbal Linguistic)
14) Do a short research paper on one of the plants or animals Brian met, such as choke cherries or grouse. The research project has to be at least one written page. (Verbal Linguistic, Naturalistic)
15) Write a telegram of 10 words or more. Remember: you should use only the most important words to describe your emergency. Write the telegram on a piece of paper that is two square inches in area so that you can fit it into a bottle you find on the plane. (Visual-Spatial, Verbal Linguistic)
16) What career might Brian decide to pursue when he is older? Make up a “help wanted” ad that Brian might answer. (Visual-Spatial, Verbal Linguistic)
17) Write the imaginary transcript for one of the tapes made during an interview with Brian after the crash. The transcript must be at least two written pages. (Verbal Linguistic)
18) If you were the artist in charge of making three illustrations for the book, what three scenes would you illustrate? Illustrate those three scenes. (Visual-Spatial, Bodily-Kinesthetic)
19) The chapters do not have titles. Make up a title for each of the 19 chapters. Remember that a chapter title usually summarizes what happens in the chapter, or refers to an important incident or object in the chapter. (Verbal Linguistic)
20) Suppose the pilot had survived. Write a short composition about what might have happened. The composition has to be at least one written page. (Verbal Linguistic)
21) Make an illustrated calendar showing important days in Brian’s survival ordeal. (Visual-Spatial, Verbal Linguistic, Bodily-Kinesthetic)