Swiss Family Robinson Unit:
Chapter 12

Chapter Twelve entitled Exploring Expeditions, 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:

arch-enemy
stalactites
eels
nightingale
egret
heron
capybara
beaver rats
peccary
patriarchal
appease
ostrich
signalized
antelope
bears
wild turkey
condor
urubu


Suggested Questions:

1. In the beginning of this chapter, father proposes two expeditions. What were the main objectives of each expedition?

2. Who is the arch-enemy mentioned in this chapter?

3. What is fuller’s earth and why was the mother so glad to have it?

4. What kind of crystal was in the second cave that father and the boys discovered?

5. The second expedition was to be longer than the first. How long did they think they would be?

6. What are some of the new food discovered on the 2nd expedition? 7. What are some of the items the family collected on the 2nd expedition? How was each item put to use by the family?

8. What was “the greatest peril we have yet encountered” mentioned by father? [Answer: attack of the two bears]

9. To what purpose was all the bear parts put to?

10. What was father’s reasoning behind letting all four of the boys go off on an expedition of their own?

Suggested Activities:

1. You may want to make some crystal forms of your own. Try the following activities: alum crystals, cream of tartar crystals, floating crystals, epsom salt crystals, salt and vinegar crystals, geode eggs.

2. You may want to make a cave diorama to go along with scenery from the first expedition.

3. Draw pictures of all the animals in this chapter. If possible, draw them in scenes from the story.

4. Learn about the life cycle and habitats of the animals from this capter.



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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