Hatchet Lesson Plan

About the Book

Hatchet appeals to most students and is exemplary in demonstrating how sensory details improve writing. The scene of the plane crash draws students in. Many of them have limited knowledge of what to do when someone has a heart attack, and the scene is purposely written in a confusing way to match the chaos of the moment. The drama can be magnified if the teacher reads this part of the novel aloud.

Objectives

Students will:

• Preview the text and make predictions based on the cover of the book and the title
• Develop comprehension skills by visualizing the story while reading
• Sequence events from the novel
• Discuss the effects of the events from the story on the novel's hero, Brian
• Read independently

Materials

• Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, class set
• Student journals
• Writing paper
• Pencils

Lesson Directions

Step 1: Show students the cover of Hatchet. Depending on your level of learners, you may want to lead a think aloud about the cover or ask the students to consider it quietly.

Step 2: Read the first few paragraphs of the story aloud to the class.

Step 3: Have students write a paragraph or two of a predicted summary of the novel.

Optional: A neat extension of this activity would be to have the students also write a statement of theme, as predicted from the exposure to the novel so far.

Step 4: Collect this writing to share with the students once the novel has been completely read.

Step 5: As students read Hatchet, individually or in small groups, invite students to journal about what is read. Have them put themselves in Brian's shoes and evaluate how they would have handled each situation described in the story.

Step 6: Once all students have finished reading the book, hand back their predicted summaries from Step 3. Have students evaluate their predictions in small groups.

After-Reading Activities

1. The best thing teachers do at the end of a novel study is encourage students to read another book. Collect a stack of Gary Paulsen books, including Brian's Winter, another story with our hero. Have students preview these books. When I teach this novel, we use the additional books to go on a scavenger hunt for sensory details. It's amazing how quickly students can find passages with sensory details in books they have never read. This is also a great small group activity.
2. Invite survival experts to come speak to the class. Find someone who can teach the students how to pitch a tent or create another type of shelter. Search for someone in the community that can show the students what is edible on their own playground or another green space.
3. Lead a research activity on the signs that someone is having a heart attack and what to do about it. In other words, teach the students some of the skills Brian had to teach himself in the novel.