Call It Courage
age
Call It Cour
Sperry
Call It Courage
Independent Contract
Independent Contrac
by Armstrong
t
Name:___________________________ Number of activities to be completed: _______
Language Arts
3
About the Author
4
Extreme adventure vacations are in high
demand by many thrill seekers today. Make a
flyer advertising a vacation cruise to Mafatu’s
Island. Tell about all the exciting things a
person may do while there, such as riding the
giant lava slides, observing marine life, taking
canoe-carving classes, and more. Include
colorful artwork to excite vacationers about
the once-in-a-lifetime experience of Mafatu’s
Island.
He loved to draw and
Haven, Connecticut.
–1976) was born in New
loved exciting adventures
Armstrong Sperry (1897
, a seafaring man. He
by his great-grandfather
.
listen to the tales told
world
the
of
parts
e
most remot
upted by
that took place in the
Yale Art School was interr
Sperry’s training at the
the war, he
enlisted in the navy. After
d in adverWorld War I when he
and Paris. Then he worke
York
New
in
art
d
studie
lure of the South
of his mind he felt the
tising, but in the back
of Bora Bora. In
schooner to the island
Seas. He sailed on a
an ethnologist and
as
ition
exped
m
museu
ages, the
1925, Sperry joined a
Pacific, learning the langu
sailed again in the South
pictures and
of the islands. He drew
legends, and the music
their way into
many of which have found
stored up memories,
rs.
his books for young reade
7
6
Social Studies
Language Arts
11
Create a crossword puzzle with the words
Mafatu had several victories over his fears.
below. First, use graph paper to plan how
Make a comic strip of the major events of his
the words will cross each other. On another
courageous adventure. Cut three sheets of
recorder, drum or rhythm
• Activity #7: voice
sheet of graph paper, draw your completed
white paper in half lengthwise. Glue them end
instrument
crossword puzzle. Number each word in the
to end to form one long strip. Mark the strip to
pencil
• Activity #8: paper,
5" index
first letter’s space. Then research each sea
form 12 equal sections. On a separate sheet of
of page 7, twelve 3" x
• Activity #9: copy
s,
creature to write the clues for your puzzle.
Courage
Call
paper,
listItthe
main events of the story begincards, markers or crayon
tokens
Below the puzzle squares, write the clues in
Name
1 die, 2 game
rage
ning with Mafatu’s decision to leave home.
Cou
It
Call
piece of cardboard,
numerical
order
under
the
headings
“Across”
24"
x
24"
#10:
y
Then, in sequential order, draw a comic strip
• Activit
or liquid
and “Down.” Make two copies: one for a key
newspaper, wheat paste
illustration for each event on each section of
ra paint,
or ending with Mafatu’s joyous return
starch, large bowl, tempe
and one for a friend to solve.
tools,
clothing, shelter,your
strip,
s suppliesfinds himself on a deserted island with no water, food,
arts-and-craftMafatu
dolphin
whale
flying fish
written
needs
Under
each illustration, write a caption
with the basichome.
himself manta
must provide
pencil
jellyfish he eel
coral
tiger shark
. In order to survive,
• Activity #11: paper,
weapons for
South
explaining
theprotection
to findwhat is happening.
Then use your book
reference materials on
Necessity Is the Mother of Invention
• Activity #12:
es,
s supplibelow.
d-craft
shapes
on the
Pacific, arts-an
board,
science project display
crayons or markers
First, lightly
clam
and
color
parrot fish
each shape.
outshark
cutsand
squid
back of the shape. Punch a hole where
ry
meets each need. Write your findings on the
ways Mafatu eof yarn or string from each hole. Tie each shape
Picture Dictiow.na
nition in the corr
shape and
22 tie varying lengths
Write each defi indicated on each
k of
h
3
Draw
a
.
card
Name
©The Mailbox®
d belo
the bac
title as shown in the diagram.
cardto. On
n of each wor
a coat hanger and add a construction paper
©The Mailbox
separate index
to find the definitio
each one on a
the story related
Use a dictionary
apart and glue
itional words from
Cut the boxes
at least five add
x card and then
ose
inde
te
cho
sponding box.
t,
ara
sep
Nex
trate the word.
each word on a
cover for your
each card, illus
ar to you. Write
card to make a
that are unfamili
e a blank index
of the cards
to the land or sea
Title and illustrat
h card. Stack all
d corner of eac
trate each word.
needs
han
cards together.
lefter
the
tie
upp
define and illus
to
afatu
e of string
eds
ch a hole in the
piec
a
Pun
ry.
use
4. M thes to
lly,
iona
u ne ater to
picture dict
er on top. Fina
cov
lo
the
c
afat
with
w
order
ct his e
2. M od and lf alive
in alphabetical
2. foothill
h
prote
is
Fin
aw
Dr a
rd.
ca
Draw
a
card.
Draw
a
card.
Draw
a
card.
i ms
th
5. Mafatu needs
transportation
to fish and to
travel back
home.
Mafatu’s
Island
t ec
pro
8. plateau
7. mountain
r to
elte e
s sh rom th
f
need
atu himself
Maf
3. protect r.
the
wea
6. lagoon
5. beach
, to
work
.
to do
apons for food
and we
me
s tools
kill ga
and to
4. islet
3. island
e
fo
hims ay
keep g his st is
durin to keep h or his
f
and gth up y.
n
stre n journe
r
u
t
re
om t
skin fr g sun.
burnin
Draw
a
card
.
need
1. Mafatu
1. atoll
be completed: _______
Writing
Pretend that you are Uri,
Mafatu’s faithful dog.
From the dog’s point of
view, write the story
you would tell the other
dogs in the village
about three of the event
s on the island. Consider how Uri may have
viewed the events differently from Mafatu. For
example, Uri may tell
the other dogs that he
jumped into the water
with the shark to force
Mafatu to face his fear
and fight the shark.
10
Social Studies
12
Research
Armstrong Sperry travel
ed all around the South
Pacific on a museum
expedition. Research
one
island, or chain of island
s, in the South Pacific.
Gather or make mode
ls of objects—such as
seashells, tropical plants
, animals, musical
instruments, etc.—to use
in creating a mini
museum exhibit. Use
a science project board
to display information
and illustrations about
the items and the island
. Then share your mini
museum exhibit with the
class.
“Call It Courage
”
Answer Keys
Page 5
1. atoll: a ring
of coral surroun
ding a lagoon
2. foothill: a hill
at the foot of high
er hills; a hilly reg
a mountain ran
ion at the base
ge
of
3. island: an are
a of land surroun
ded by water
4. islet: a little ©The Mailbox
island
5. beach: a sho
4
re covered by san
d, gravel, or larg
6. lagoon: a sha
er rock fragmen
llow sound, cha
ts
nnel, or pond con
body of water
nected to a larg
er
7. mountain: a
steep-sided land
form that is high
8. plateau: a leve
er than a hill
l surface that rise
s steeply above
land
the surrounding
9. barrier reef:
a coral reef sep
arated from a sho
10. sea: a gre
at body of salty
re by a lagoon
water covering
11. valley: a low
much of the ear
area of land betw
th
12. volcano: an
een hills or mou
ntains
opening in the
earth that forces
and ash
out lava, rock,
gases,
®
Draw
a
card.
Draw
a
card.
®
8
Reread chapter 3 to find
specific facts about
the landforms, places,
and vegetation of the
island. Then make a threedimensional map
of the island. Use papie
r-maché to shape the
landforms. When the map
dries, paint the land
and water. Use other arts-a
nd-crafts supplies,
such as pipe cleaners
and pasta pieces, to
add details such as the
jungle and lava slide.
Include a legend or map
key to explain the
details of your map.
Critical Thinking
Kivi, the albatross, and
Mafat
picked on by others. Mafat u were both
u understood Kivi
and helped him. As the
story progresses, Kivi
often comes just in the
nick of time to help
Mafatu. A proverb says
“A friend in need is a
friend indeed.” Do you
think this is true? Write
a short essay to explai
n why or why not. In
your essay, give exam
ples from the book and
from your own experience.
Draw
a
card.
paper, pencil
ary, crayons
copy of page 5, diction
18 index cards,
or markers, scissors,
glue, hole puncher, string
paper, colored
white
of
sheet
1
• Activity #3:
pencils or crayons
or
of page 6, scissors, yarn
• Activity #4: copy
er,
string, crayons, hole punch
hanger
construction paper, coat
reference
paper,
graph
of
• Activity #5: 4 sheets
res
materials on sea creatu
s;
of white paper; scissor
• Activity #6: 3 sheets
crayons, or
glue; colored pencils,
markers
• Activity #1:
• Activity #2:
Language Arts
9
Complete a board game
of Mafatu’s journey.
First, obtain a copy of
the gameboard on page
7 from your teacher. Add
details to the gameboard, such as a shark
or the cannibals’ war
canoe. Then make a set
of 12 cards for the
game by writing an event
from the story on
each card, along with
instructions on where
the player is to move.
For example, “You slide
down the lava flow. Move
forward three spaces” or “Your coconuts
wash overboard. Move
back one space.” Use
a die to play the game
with a friend. The first
player
fatu’s journey is the winne to complete Mar!
t Contract Materials List
Studen
Music
Pretend you are the storyt
eller of Mafatu’s island village. Write a song
or chant to go along
with a familiar tune (or
compose an original
song) about Mafatu’s
journey and his great
courage. Use a drum
or rhythm instrument to
accompany your voice.
Record your musical
story and share it with
the class.
Mafatu leaves Hikueru in a hurry, packing
almost no supplies for the journey. When the
storm throws him up on the island beach, he
has no water, food, clothing, shelter, or tools to
help him survive. Obtain a copy of page 6 from
your teacher and create a necessity mobile.
Science
5
Social Studies
Mafatu’s adventure takes him to a remote volcanic island with many different land and water
characteristics. Obtain a copy of page
5 from your teacher and learn more about
these characteristics as you make a picture
dictionary.
Hikueru
2
Mafatu leaves home in the dark of night when
he feels he can no longer tolerate the shame
of his fear. He doesn’t tell anyone that he is
leaving. Pretend that you are Mafatu and write
a letter to your father so he will not worry about
you. Explain why you are leaving and what
you hope to do. Try to help him understand
your need to make this journey on your own.
Start
Writing
1
a storm that
boy, nearly drowns in
Mafatu, a Polynesian
terrified
Since then, he has been
takes his mother’s life.
ed. He
ed by his peers and asham
of the sea. He is taunt
is also
ru,
Great Chief of Hikue
the
,
father
his
es
believ
make his
to conquer his fears and
try
To
him.
of
ed
asham
(the albaUri (his dog), and Kivi
father proud, Mafatu,
survive days
a heroic journey. They
tross) set out to sea on
beached on
at last find themselves
of nature’s cruelty and
e, his own
natur
st
again
les
u strugg
a strange island. Mafat
the canwith
island
He escapes the
fears, and cannibals.
courage.
to
also with a secure claim
nibals in pursuit but
, the people
to his joyous father. Today
Mafatu returns home
how he came
of Mafatu’s bravery and
of Hikueru still sing
.
Heart
ut
—Sto
to deserve his name
____________ Number
of activities to
Page 6
Students’ respons
es will vary. Pos
sible responses
1. Mafatu mak
are listed below.
es a knife out of
whale bone, a
spear point and
spear from a ston
a wooden shaft,
e
2. Mafatu find
and fish traps out
s a freshwater
of bamboo.
stream. He catc
gathers fruit, and
hes fish and lobs
kills a wild boa
ters,
3. Mafatu mak
r.
es a lean-to, whi
ch he later turn
shelter.
s into a three-w
all
4. After Mafatu
strips bark from
a mulberry tree
and pounds them
, he wets the fibe
into
clot
h
rs
to
mak
5. Mafatu mak
e a pareu.
es a raft out of
bamboo poles,
tamanu tree, and
a canoe from a
sails from woven
plant fibers.
Draw
a
card.
About the Book
Name:_______________
elf,
10. sea
9. barrier reef
Draw
a
card.
Necessity Is
the Mother of Invention
Dr
a
ca a w
rd
.
12. volcano
11. valley
5
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®
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6
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7
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8