By Scott O’Dell
From Island of the Blue Dolphins
Illustrated by Russ Walks
Fourth Grade, Open Court
Unit 4: Survival
Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary
http://www.opencourtresources.com
The elements of realistic fiction are listed below.
•The characters behave as people or animals do in real life.
•The setting of the story is a real place or could be a real place.
•The events in the story could happen in real life.
Fourth Grade, Open Court
Unit 4: Survival
Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary
•This story is an example of realistic fiction; it is not a true story but is one that could
have happened.
•In fact, it is based on the true story of a Native American girl who was left upon an island
near the coast of southern California and lived there alone for 18 years.
What are the
challenges
involved in
surviving a harsh
environment?
San Nicolas Island
Fourth Grade, Open Court
Unit 4: Survival
Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary
Later called Juana Maria
The following words are indicators of place and location.
between
between two
cars
behind
behind his
back
Fourth Grade, Open Court
Unit 4: Survival
Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary
beyond
among
against
beyond the
white
mountains
among the
fruits
against the
wall
These words have multiple meanings. Each word can be used as a noun or a verb.
rose
dip
noun
noun
verb
verb
Fourth Grade, Open Court
Unit 4: Survival
Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary
color
noun
verb
rock
handle
noun
noun
verb
verb
Each of these words has the letter “c” pronounced /s/ before “e” or “i” (& also “y”).
advice
medicine
decide
ancestors
What letters spell the /s/ sound in each of these words?
Fourth Grade, Open Court
Unit 4: Survival
Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary
circle
These words are plurals.
arrows
ages
tides
times
Fourth Grade, Open Court
Unit 4: Survival
Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary
cliffs
The sea was calm behind the high cliffs.
What words have the
long vowel sounds?
How is the long e sound
spelled in “sea”?
How is the long e sound
spelled in “behind”?
How is the long i sound
spelled in “behind”?
How is the long i sound
spelled in “high”?
Fourth Grade, Open Court
Unit 4: Survival
Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary
Now I spent most of my time on the rock.
subject pronoun
Identify the pronouns.
Which one is a subject pronoun?
Which one is a possessive pronoun?
Fourth Grade, Open Court
Unit 4: Survival
Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary
They turned around in a great circle and began to
follow me.
What verb tense are the words
turned and began?
The word turned is a regular past-tense
verb, formed by adding ________ to
___________.
The verb began is an irregular
past tense form of the verb
_________.
Fourth Grade, Open Court
Unit 4: Survival
Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary
All cliffs are made of rocks.
Which words are
plural?
Fourth Grade, Open Court
Unit 4: Survival
Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary
be
pur
de
id
chaf
befall
fall
sued
ser
t
ly
ing
Fourth Grade, Open Court
Unit 4: Survival
Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary
pursued
ed
deserted
idly
chafing
Whatever might befall me on the endless
waters did not trouble me.
Thomas hoped that no harm would
befall the lost puppy.
befall (verb)—to happen to
Fourth Grade, Open Court
Unit 4: Survival
Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary
It meant far less than the thought of staying
on the island alone, pursued by wild dogs.
The cat pursued the mouse and
finally caught it.
pursued (verb)—chased; followed; hunted
Fourth Grade, Open Court
Unit 4: Survival
Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary
Even greater was the thought of the deserted island I would
return to.
Jack felt deserted when his
brother went to the game without
him.
deserted (verb)--abandoned
Fourth Grade, Open Court
Unit 4: Survival
Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary
The canoe drifted idly on the calm sea.
idly (adverb)—lazily; slowly
Fourth Grade, Open Court
Unit 4: Survival
Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary
Cara daydreamed as she swayed
idly in her hammock.
My hands had begun to bleed from the chafing of the paddle.
The tight shoes were chafing the
back of her feet.
chafing (verb)—rubbing so as to
make sore
Fourth Grade, Open Court
Unit 4: Survival
Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary