Island of the Blue Dolphins: Survival, Storytelling & the Sea
Inspired by the powerful story of Island of the Blue Dolphins, this 8-week interdisciplinary unit brings literature to life through hands-on projects, cultural exploration, and ocean science. Students journey alongside Karana as they explore resilience, Native history, and life on the islands off the California coast.
 
Week 1: The Lost Woman of San Nicolas
Students are introduced to the true story behind the novel, exploring the Aleutian Islands and Russian influences through map work, lapbooking, and traditional Peon games.
 
Week 2: Ghalas-at Natives
This week focuses on the Ghalas-at people and their traditions. Students learn about the cultural significance of secret names, practice basket weaving, and expand their island vocabulary.
 
Week 3: The Islands
Students dive into the ocean ecosystem surrounding the Channel Islands, studying dolphins, bass, and sea otters while learning about the delicate balance of marine life.
 
Week 4: Sea Storms
Through hands-on experiments and weather tools like anemometers and weathervanes, students explore tsunamis and storm science as they imagine facing ocean tempests alone.
 
Week 5: Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better
This week highlights themes of resilience, determination, and survival. Students reflect on Karana’s strength and apply those lessons to their own lives through creative activities and challenges.
 
Week 6: California Missions
Students take a historical detour to learn about the California mission system with a focus on the Santa Barbara Mission, offering context to the world surrounding Karana’s island.
 
Week 7: Regatta
From canoes to ships, students explore watercraft across cultures and time. They’ll compare designs and build simple models, celebrating movement across the sea.
 
Week 8: Weapons
Students examine traditional survival tools like the bow and arrow, practice (supervised) axe throwing, and create handicrafts inspired by Karana’s skills and resourcefulness.