Swiss Family Robinson Unit:
Chapter 13

Chapter Thirteen entitled Our Hurricane Steed, 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:

angora
gazelle
recumbent
menagerie
courser
refractory
pepper
cochineal


Suggested Questions:

1. What did the boys bring back with them that they acquired during their day of exploration on their own?

2. Of all the things the boys brought back with them, what were father and mother happiest with? [Answer: they were happiest to have the boys themselves back safe and sound.]

3. How did father propose to tame the ostrich?

4. Keep a list of all the supplies that the Robinson family brought back from their excursion in this chapter.

5. What two new “colonies” did father and Fritz establish? [Answer: they put the Angora rabbits on Whale Island and the antelope on Shark Island.]

6. What were some of the home improvements that father made to Rockburg in this chapter?

7. What scripture did father apply to their agriculture? [Answer: In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread.]

8. Describe the saddle and bridle that father fashioned for the ostrich and how it worked.

9. Describe how and what father made with the porcelain clay that he brought back.



Suggested Activities:

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

2. Learn about the life cycle and habitats of the animals from this chapter.

3. Learn about sowing and harvesting the various grains that are mentioned in this chapter.

4. Draw a picture of the ostrich with its saddle and bridle on.



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

[Hint: Hold down arrow buttons to turn carousel.]

Search the pages of our EasyFunSchool.com website
and the entire FamilyClassroom Network with the box below!