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Swiss Family Robinson Unit – Chapter 7
Chapter Seven entitled Falconhurst Again, continues the unit study of the Swiss Family Robinson by Johann Wyss
For a complete copy of The Swiss Family Robinson online, check out http://www.ccel.org/w/wyss/swiss/swiss.html.
I’m adding a note here that will be true of all of the parts of this unit study. There are several versions of The Swiss Family Robinson. This started back to its original publication some 200 years ago when it was written originally in German. There are various translations and even alternate endings. The edition that I am using was published in 1968 by Classic Press, Inc. in Santa Rosa, California. Other editions may be different. There are several modern versions that have removed all references to prayer and God which are so prevalent a theme in the original work. You may use this unit as a guide, and if your edition of The Swiss Family Robinson is slightly different, simply adjust it to meet your needs.
Suggested Vocabulary:
chandler
Hottentots
Hillock
Bale
Caoutchouc (pronounced Koo-chook)
Buskin
Buffalo
Gibbon
Ape
Falconry
Suggested Questions:
1. What was the first thing that father said needed doing? [Answer: fetching the sledge with the dishes, bowls, and baskets]
2. What discovery did father and Fritz make that was important for making candles?
3. Can you identify the bird that father and Fritz saw that built the unusual, communal housing?
4. What other animals besides the grosbeak, live communally?
5. What important discovery did Fritz make that pleased his father so much and gave him confidence that he would be able to manufacture boots and shoes?
6. Father and Fritz tried an unusual “delicacy” that was in the pith of the sago palm? What was it? Would you have been able to eat this?
7. What did father do to help the cream not be wasted?
8. What was father’s main desire to bring back from the ship on this trip? [Answer: clothing of any sort]
9. What all did they bring back on the final trips to the ship?
10. Why do you think that father destroyed the remainder of the ship? Even though it was a planned event, why do you think they went to bed sad?
11. In the morning, what helped to considerably ease their sadness? [Answer: lots of wood had floated to shore that they could use to build other things].
12. What did Ernest do that surprised everyone so? [Answer: he was able to climb the tree the best]
13. What did Ernest bring down from the tree that was worth all of the boys’ efforts to collect coconuts? [answer: cabbage palm]
14. Why was it so important to the family that they try and recapture their runaway donkey?
15. Instead of a donkey, what did the father bring back?
16. What new pet did Jack acquire and how did he get it?
17. Why was mother so relieved when father talked to the boys about being responsible for the upkeep of their pets?
Suggested Activities:
1. Do a natural study of the bayberry plant. Draw a picture of both the plant and the berries using correct colors. Where does it grow? Under what conditions does it grow best? What is it used for?
2. Research the process of making rubber.
3. Research the sago palm.
4. Research the process by which candles were once made. If possible, make your own candles (adult supervision required).
5. Create a flow chart of the step-by-step process that father and the boys took to making their first candles.
6. Draw a picture of the contraption that father designed to help save the cream from waste.
7. Using the description in this chapter about where they were planting and arranging the fruit trees, draw a picture of the area surrounding Falconhurst.
8. Draw pictures and/or make a list of all the animals and pets the family now had, both domesticated and wild.
Online Lessons:
http://www.suhsd.k12.ca.us/mvm/netlinks/1swiss/1swiss.html
Island Survival
http://www.penguinreaders.com/downloads/0582426642.pdf
Teach With Movies
Sites You May Find A Good Resource:
Swiss Family Robinson Fan Site
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Multimedia Activities
