Island of the Blue Dolphin Internet Hunt
Based on Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell

Directions: The colored and underlined words are links to web sites that provide the answers to the question.
Click on them to go to the web site. Find the answer. Use the Back button of your browser to return to this page.
Sometimes you will have to click more than once to return to this hunt.
If a link is broken, use your Internet research skills to find the answer. answer sheets

1. Wonapalei harvests abalone for food and tools. What is an abalone?

Have you ever eaten one?

2. She prefers red abalone. How large is a red abalone?

Which is larger - your hand or a red abalone?

3. People hunted the sea otters. How are sea otters unique among animals? (Follow the appropriate link.)

4. Why were sea otters nearly extinct?

5. Kelp grows in the sea around the island. How fast does kelp grow? (This is an exceptional web site.)

6. How did Mr. O'Dell become aware of the true story of Karana?

You want to do a biography of O'Dell. Under what name should you search? Why?

7. List two facts about cormorants.

a.

b.

8. One plant found on the island is the toyon bush. What is its common name?

Would you expect to find it growing naturally in your town? Why or why not?

9. Aleuts came to hunt the sea otters. How did the Aleuts get that name? (Explore the site to learn the answer.)

Are they Eskimos?

10. The Island of the Blue Dolphins really exists and is part of the Channel Islands.
Which island in the chain do you think is the one? (Dig in this web site about the Channel Islands to find the answer.)

11. Read this review of the book. Do you agree or disagree with her review? Why?

12. Karana tells you many distances in leagues. How far is that in miles?
Use yourDictionary.com/ (Enter the term league and search for the answer.)

13. If it is 3 leagues from you home to school, how far is that in miles?

14. O'Dell describes the sea elephant. Look at these photos.
Is this what you imagined from his description? Why?

15. Karana decides to hunt a male sea elephant (Northern Elephant Seal) for its teeth.
How much can a male elephant seal weigh?

Calculated challenge: Suppose Karana weighs 100 lbs. How much more than her, does the seal weigh?

16. What is a mesa?

17. The Chumash lived along the western coast of North America. Explore this site about these people.
Write several facts about their culture.

18. Take this online quiz about the book. Write your score.

19. The Channel Islands are now a marine sanctuary. What does this mean?

20. Mr. O'Dell founded the Scott O'Dell award for Historical Fiction.
What percentage, of the winners, have you read?

21. You are required to select one of the O'Dell Award books for a history and literature project.
Describe how you would use the resources at Google books to make a selection.

Done already?

Explore this outstanding Island of the Blue Dolphin activity. Well worth the visit!

Visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium: Kelp Forest http://www.mbayaq.org/efc/efc_hp/hp_kelp_cam.asp
Use the cams (look at the bottom of the page) to see a tidal pool or an otter.

Play the Deep Sea Memory Game http://www.mbayaq.org/lc/kids_place/concentration/

Challenge - do the "Dippin" with the Dolphins" activity.

Investigate an organism of the Channel Islands area project

Use your computer to make a diagram that compares the the Chumash people with a group of native americans that live(d) in your state.

Oceans - a cause for concern - problem based learning project

Make a Crossword Puzzle from the book's vocabulary or Maka a Book Trailer with Photo Story 3 free software and free tutorial

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