Think and Write!
Day 1
Name
Title of story “Island of the Blue Dolphins”
Date
Throughout the story, Karana shows that she is able to survive on her own under harsh
conditions because she is so resourceful and determined. How does Karana show how
resourceful and determined she is?
1. What will you be writing about? Underline the Focusing Question in the assignment above.
2. What information will you need to be able to answer the Focusing Question and to explain
your answer? Turn to a partner. Look carefully at the graphic organizer as you discuss the
answers to the questions below. Color in the circle next to each question after you have
talked about it.
o What information will you put in the first column?
o Where will you get this information?
o What information will go in the second column?
o Where will this information come from?
o Why are you gathering all this information? What are you trying to figure out?
Throughout the story, Karana shows that she is able to survive on her own under harsh
conditions because she is so resourceful and determined. How does Karana show how
resourceful and determined she is?
Evidence
Karana being resourceful
Page
Elaboration / explanation
How this shows that Karana is
resourceful
Example
Finds brush for shelter
---------------------------------------------------
93
Has almost nothing, uses what she can find
94
Figures out how to survive by using the resources around
her
Quote
“ I made a shelter of brush at the foot of the rock”
Example
Uses rib bones of dead whales, ties together with kelp
---------------------------------------------------
Quote
“half-buried in the sand”
Used in
your
piece?
Example
---------------------------------------------------
Quote
Example
---------------------------------------------------Quote
Evidence
Karana being determined
Elaboration / explanation
How this shows that Karana is
determined
Example
Keeps going even though alone
95
Believes she can make it, willing to keep going
---------------------------------------------Quote:
“I felt the day was a good omen”
Example
---------------------------------------------Quote:
Example
---------------------------------------------Quote:
3. When the class is ready, your teacher will reread the story aloud. Your job is to listen
carefully for information that will help you to complete the graphic organizer. During the
read aloud, every time you hear some evidence from the text that you think belongs on the
chart, about either “resourceful” or “determined,” raise your hand. The class will stop to
discuss what you have noticed and decide whether to add that evidence to the chart.
You may have noticed that there is not much room to write in each box! Don't worry, your
teacher will show you how to "take notes" in that small space using just key words and
phrases.
Sometimes, you will use the author’s exact words, which is called “quoting the text.” Other
times, you will use your own words, which is called “paraphrasing.”
4. Once you have taken notes, look back at your assignment, copy the Focusing Question onto
your Writing Draft Sheet. Think about the evidence you found. How could you answer the
Focusing Question in a single sentence? Turn and tell your partner how you might answer.
5. The answer to a Focusing Question is called a Focus Statement. With your teacher, develop a
class Focus Statement. Then, copy that focus statement on the Writing Draft Sheet right
underneath the Focusing Question.
Think and Write!
Day 2
Name
Title of story “Island of the Blue Dolphins”
Date
1. Look at your Writing Draft Sheet from yesterday. With a partner, take turns. Have one
person read the Focusing Question and the other person read the Focus Statement. Then
switch, so that you each have read both.
2. Look at your graphic organizer. Listen carefully as your teacher gives an example of how to
write the first evidence paragraph of your response. Where are these sentences coming from?
On your graphic organizer, check the box next to the evidence your teacher used to write
this part.
3. Now comes the fun part! Talk your piece! Use your graphic organizer. Point to each row of
the chart and tell your partner what you will write. Then listen as your partner explains what
he/she will write.
On your own...
4. Look at your Writing Draft Sheet. Re-read what you have written so far. Then, write about
each piece of evidence. Check off each piece of evidence on the graphic organizer as you
write.
5. A Concluding Statement restates the focus of the piece. Look at your Focus Statement. How
could you restate it? Use the same idea, but different words. Write your Concluding
Statement at the end of your piece.
6. Now think about this question: “Why do you think both of these qualities were so important
in helping Karana survive?” Your teacher will lead you in a discussion to help you think
about this question, which will help you improve and expand your conclusion. When you are
ready, add a few sentences to your conclusion to show your thinking about this question.
7. With a pencil in your hand, read your piece aloud to a partner. Revise and edit as you read
Name
Title of story: “Island of the Blue Dolphins”
Writing Draft
Date:
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Teacher Pages
Sample Graphic Organizer (Students may add additional evidence.)
FOCUSING QUESTION: Throughout the story, Karana shows that she is able to survive on
her own under harsh conditions because she is so resourceful and determined. How does Karana
show how resourceful and determined she is?
Evidence
Karana being resourceful
Page
Elaboration / explanation
How this shows that Karana is
resourceful
Example
Finds brush for shelter
---------------------------------------------------
93
Has almost nothing, uses what she can find
94
Figures out how to survive by using the resources around
her
98
All she has is the rock, uses it to protect her food from mice
Quote
“I made a shelter of brush at the foot of the rock”
Example
Uses rib bones of dead whales, ties together with kelp
---------------------------------------------------Quote
Example
Makes shelves for food out of stone
---------------------------------------------------
Quote
“I had never made one before”
Evidence
Karana being determined
Elaboration / explanation
How this shows that Karana is
determined
Example
Keeps going even though alone
---------------------------------------------------
95
Believes she can make it, willing to keep going
97
Could have given up, but kept going until had enough
wood
98
Hard to cut through stone, keeps at it
Quote
“I felt the day was a good omen”
Example
Searches for many days to find enough wood for shelter
---------------------------------------------------
Quote
“searched many days”
Example
Cuts through stone for shelves
---------------------------------------------------
Quote
“These I cut out and smoothed to make shelves”
Included
in piece?
POSSIBLE FOCUS STATEMENT: Throughout the story “The Island of the Blue Dolphins,”
Karana shows that she is able to survive on her own under harsh conditions because she is so
resourceful and determined.
Additional notes to the teacher about this piece:

An extension / reflection question for the conclusion of this piece might be, “Why do you
think both of these qualities were so important in helping Karana survive?”

It will be important that students understand the full meaning of both “resourceful” and
“determined.” Perhaps creating a group definition for these two terms would be helpful.
The teacher should make sure that these solid “working definitions” are on the students’
note sheets and / or publicly displayed.
EXAMPLE:
 A “resourceful” person is one who figures out what he/she needs to do a job. Often,
there are few resources, but he/she uses those materials/resources and works with
them in interesting, helpful ways to get the job done.
 A “determined” person is one who doesn’t give up easily. No matter how big the
obstacles are, or how long it takes, he/she keeps going until the job is done.
Writing Sample
NOTE: This is for the teacher’s use only, not for students. The purpose is to show the teacher
what the final piece might look like when students have completed their work.
Throughout the story “The Island of the Blue Dolphins,” Karana shows that she is able to
survive on her own under harsh conditions because she is so resourceful and determined.
First, Karana is resourceful. She shows this from the beginning of the story when she is
creating her shelter from the coming winter weather. Karana finds brush that she is able to turn
into a type of shelter against the rain. As the story goes on, Karana realizes that she will need to
protect her food from the foxes, which are all over the island. She finds the rib bones of whales,
who died earlier, “half-buried in the sand” (p. 94). After digging them out, Karana is able to use
the bones as part of her fence. To hold the bones together, she uses kelp from the sea, because
she knows it will shrink as it dries and will hold the bones tightly together. Once her shelter and
fence are done, Karana is even able to make utensils, or tools, out of stones that are around her.
All of these actions show how resourceful Karana is. She has almost nothing, but she figures out
how to use the materials and resources that are all around her so that she can survive through the
coming winter.
Besides being resourceful, Karana is also determined. Instead of giving up when she
finds herself alone, she decides to go ahead and do what it takes to survive. She shows this
determination early on in the story when she starts her first day of hard work. The author writes,
“I felt that the day was an omen of good fortune” (p. 95). Later in the story, Karana is building
the shelter she will need to get through the winter. There is very little wood on the island, so it
takes Karana a long time to get enough. She “searched many days”, working all the day long,
before she found enough wood for her shelter. Near the end of the story, Karana knows she
needs to protect her food from the mice, so she even cuts through stone to make herself some
shelves for storage. All of these actions show how determined Karana is. Even with all the
enormous challenges she faces, she doesn’t give up. She keeps going until she has made herself a
shelter and protected her food, so that she is able to survive.
In conclusion, Karana’s resourcefulness and determination are important qualities that
help her survive. Without these two qualities, she would most likely have given up and died.
Karana has shown what can be done when people are faced with big challenges in life.
Determination and resourcefulness make a big difference!