Hatchet

Author: Gary Paulsen

Paulsen

• Ran away from home to join the carnival at age 14• Animal trapper – on foot, on skis, using dogsled• Worked with sled dogs—dogsled race in Alaska • Library experience—librarian offered him a card and

suggestions• Field engineer—aerospace corporations (McGraw-Hill Hatchet study guide)

Paulsen-why he writes

• Belief in young people• Tap into human spirit• Encourage readers to care about the world• Encourage readers to observe the world

(www.randomhouse.com/features/garypaulsen/about.html)

Survival StoriesTell a partner of a survival story you have read about a movie you have seen, or a TV program that is about surviving in nature or through some other dangerous situation.Examples:

“Gravity”

Did you see this movie about surviving in space? Why or why not?

Why are survival stories popular?

Test character?People identify with?People compare themselves to?

What do you think? Do you like survival stories?

Why do authors/moviemakers use this “premise”?

Brainstorm with two or three partners after you discuss what a premise is with your teacher.

Turning pointCharacters have the opportunity to changeBrings out the best and worst in peopleExcitingOther ideas??

As you read…

• Use vocabulary handouts to help with “nature words” and other words that are not common Refer to these as often as you need to (organized by chapter)

• Highlight phrases/vocabulary you don’t understand (to look up or ask your teacher/classmates)

• Look up words/phrases in the dictionary if you need to know the meaning to get the “gist”

As you read…

• Look at discussion questions for the chapters assigned and be prepared to discuss

• Consider the purpose of the chapter• Think about the main character, Brian and

how he changes

Cessna 406

single-engine plane/ 27’ long /two seats

altimeter- measures altitude above sea level and air pressure

Canadian Boreal

Survivorman 00:5:50 min