CRABBE

by William Bell

Program Area

These activities are suitable for use as independent study projects for the English portion of the Grade 9 Language program relating to the novel Crabbe by William Bell (also called Crabbe’s Journey in hard cover).

Learning Outcomes
Teaching, learning and evaluation will focus on the student’s ability to:

• Locate and use various research materials on an environmental topic;
  
• Make point-form notes and keep records of all sources;
  
• Improve understanding of the theme, character, plot or conflict in a novel such as Crabbe.
  

Background

The novel Crabbe is the journal of Franklin Crabbe, an 18- year-old student who is smart, rich and alcoholic. He plans his own disappearance and then just before his final exams, he packs his gear, puts the family canoe on the roof of his father’s car, and drives away into the woods. Crabbe nearly perishes but is taught how to survive in the bush by a woman. There are many ways of connecting this novel to an Independent Study project which would develop an appreciation for the outdoors and survival.

Classroom Development
Students may select one of the following Independent Study projects arising from the work:

• Write a handbook for surviving in the bush according to Mary. Research the skills that she taught Crabbe. Use sketches and drawings to help explain skills and techniques. You will have to research some of the skills that Mary teaches Crabbe in order to explain them well in your handbook. You may want to try out some of the skills so that you can speak confidently about them and add comments about your own experiences.
  
• Crabbe was written in the form of journal entries made by the character, Franklin Crabbe. Write your version of the story as Mary’s journal entries. Include Mary’s knowledge of bush survival and her teaching Crabbe.
  • Research and fully plan a one-week canoe trip to one of Ontario’s provincial parks. Produce a kit for anyone wishing to use your plan to take their first canoe trip.
  
• Bell wrote his novel without mention of current environmental problems such as air and water pollution, acid rain, and clear-cutting of forests. Research ways in which humans are adversely affecting provincial and national parks. Write an analysis of how the plot of the novel might be changed if Bell referred to environmental problems.
  
• Produce a photo essay of the novel. For each of the 23 journal entries, provide an original photograph taken by you which you feel best depicts the mood of the entry. Provide an explanation for your choice of photographs.
  

Timing
Allow 2-3 library periods for the initial research of the topic. Allow a total of 5-6 weeks for students to work independently on this project. Schedule a conference with students at approximately week 2 and week 4 of the study.

Resources
Bell, William. Crabbe ‘s Journey. Boston: Little, Brown, 1986.

Cross—disciplinary Links

• Physical Education—Information from the “Ropes” course taught in Grades 11 and 12 would be helpful for the first activity.
• Geography—The third activity will help prepare students for the “Physical Diversity” section of the Grade 10 Geography.