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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 Crabbes Journey in hard
cover).
Learning
Outcomes
Teaching, learning and evaluation will focus on the students
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 fathers 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 Marys
journal entries. Include Marys knowledge of bush survival
and her teaching Crabbe.
Research and fully plan a one-week canoe trip to one
of Ontarios 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.
Crossdisciplinary
Links
- Physical
EducationInformation from the Ropes course
taught in Grades 11 and 12 would be helpful for the first activity.
- GeographyThe
third activity will help prepare students for the Physical
Diversity section of the Grade 10 Geography.
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