Based on
Island of the Blue Dolphins
By Scott O’Dell
About the Book:
Karana is alone on San Nicolas Island, also named the Island of the Blue Dolphins.
Her sister sailed with Indians to the east, and her younger brother was tragically
killed by a pack of wild dogs. Year after year, she waits to be rescued by the Indians
who left the island and promised to come back, but no one ever comes. Karana’s
emotional journey of courage and spirit is one that is unforgettable. Will she decide
to follow her people on her own, or remain on the island for the rest of her life?
Set the Stage:
Use the following to get the students ready to read:
• If you were stranded alone on an island, what type of work activity do you think
you would have to do in order to survive?
• How is the sea a source of food? Use details to explain your answer.
• What would be the most difficult part of being stranded alone on an island? Explain.
• What types of animals could be dangerous on an island?
• Many people take vacations to islands for pleasure. In what ways is an island a wonderful place for a vacation?
• If you were unable to speak with people of a different language and nationality, what would you do in order
to express your wants and needs?
• What everyday luxuries do you have that would not be available on a deserted island?
Review:
After reading the book, discuss the following:
• Where is San Nicolas Island located?
• In Lois Lowry’s introduction, she notes Scott O’Dell’s changing of the main characters in order to suit the
audience. What things are different between Scott O’Dell’s characters and the true characters that the story
is based on?
• Karana’s father, Chief Chowig, meets a tragic end by Captain Orlov and his hunter’s hands. What happens
to Karana’s father? Use details to explain your answer.
• Why doesn’t Karana stay on the ship with her sister and the Indians who are heading east? What would you
have done in the same situation?
• After Ramo’s death, what vow does Karana make to herself?
• How is a sea otter different from a seal?
• What weapons are made by Karana and how does she make them?
• What obstacle does Karana face when she tries to set out on her own in a canoe and leave the island?
• Karana has a change of heart regarding the leader of the wild dogs. How do her feelings change toward this
animal? What would you have done in the same situation? Explain your answer with details.
• What food does Karana eat to survive?
• What gifts do Karana and the Aleut girl exchange? Why do they keep their friendship a secret?
• Why does Karana change the name of the otter she saves from “Mon-a-nee” to “Won-a-nee”? What are the
meanings of the names?
• What happened to the ship that Karana’s sister, Ulape, was on?
• What is Karana’s final destination?
pg. 1 of 2
• How do you think Karana felt once she was rescued? Explain your answer.
• Why do you think Island of the Blue Dolphins was a difficult story for Scott
O’Dell to write?
• How would you classify the story Island of the Blue Dolphins? What are your
reasons for the classification?
Student Activity (found on the last page of this PDF):
In this activity, the students will discuss how they think they could survive
depending on natural resources only. Related Activities:
To extend students’ enjoyment of the book, try these:
• Wonder of Words: Many words in Island of the Blue Dolphins relate to nature.
Ask students to define the following vocabulary words and draw pictures to
support their definitions: league, kelp, brush, pelts, sinews, ravine, cormorants,
lupines, crevices, abalones.
• Mental Math: Karana does not have a clock or calendar while on San Nicolas
Island, yet she is able to keep track of the time which passes. In what ways does Karana keep time?
Ask students: What would you do in order to tell the time and date if you did not have a clock or calendar?
How reliable do you think your method would be?
• Animal Attraction: Rontu was once Karana’s greatest enemy. As the story progresses, her feelings change
and she takes a different position regarding this wild dog. Compare and contrast Karana’s change in
behavior toward this animal. Ask students: If you were in the same situation as Karana, how would you have
treated it? Why do you think Karana changed her opinion about Rontu? Have students write a journal entry
about Karana and Rontu’s “special” relationship, as well as their feelings toward this animal.
• Map It Out: It is important to understand the environment in which Karana lives. Different areas of the
island provide specific and important resources for her survival. Based on the writings in the book, ask
students to design a map of Karana’s environment. Be sure to include the village of Ghalas-at, Coral Cove,
the headland, and the cave.
• Girl Robinson Crusoe: Scott O’Dell based his story on the idea of a girl Robinson Crusoe. Have students
research and write a journal entry about Robinson Crusoe. Do they agree that Karana was the female
version of this legendary adventurer? Ask them to create a Venn diagram comparing and contrasting
Robinson Crusoe with Karana.
• Land vs. Sea: Both the land and sea provide resources as well as obstacles for Karana in her fight for
survival. Food and shelter are key elements in these natural resources. Ask students to create a list of
the different items that Karana encounters regarding the land and the sea. Which of these resources are
helpful? Which are harmful? Are there any resources that could be classified as both helpful and harmful?
Have students pick two natural resources that are both helpful and harmful during Karana’s quest. They can
then draw or find pictures of each natural resource and paste them at the top of their construction paper.
Then, have students divide their paper into four more columns (harmful/helpful under each resource). They
should then write the ways each resource was helpful and harmful for Karana.
pg. 2 of 2
© 2010 Scholastic Inc. 8476
Name Resource Scavenger Hunt
Based on Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell
In the story Island of the Blue Dolphins, the young Indian girl Karana learns the
importance of the natural resources around her in order to survive. She lives off
of the land and sea to provide her with food, shelter, and clothing. What would
life be like if you had to live today as Karana did, depending only on the natural
resources around you for survival? Imagine there is no electricity or motorized
transportation, no one to communicate with, and no convenience stores for
shopping. How would you survive?
Directions: Scavenge the area in which you live to determine what natural
resources you would use to provide food, shelter, and clothing. In the chart
below, list the resources you would use and describe how you would use
each one.
Natural Resource
How It Could Be Used
Permission to reproduce this curriculum connection is fully granted by Scholastic Book Fairs.
© 2010 Scholastic Inc. 8476