Reading Classics Aloud: Robinson Crusoe Links
Our 7 and 9 year old boys were memorized every minute as I read Robinson Crusoe, they actually balked when I stopped reading (the reading took three nights).
Classics: Should You Read the Originals or Adaptations?
Literature for the masses or literature for the lazy? Does it matter? We used a children’s adaptation to read Robinson Crusoe (apologies to Charlotte Mason – she prefers the originals).
Long chapters and difficult language can overwhelm and obscure the richness of the story. i.e. my boys listen better and enjoy the story. My goal is first to encourage a love of learning. The original Robinson Crusoe included cannibals and was a bit daunting for younger children.
If you chose a children’s adaptation be sure it includes Crusoe’s religious experiences. Some adaptations will leave this out to meet the public school agenda.
The Book: Robinson Crusoe (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robinson_Crusoe) is a novel by Daniel Defoe, first published in 1719 . The book is a fictional autobiography of an English castaway who spends 28 years on a remote tropical island and documents Crusoe’s spiritual journey as he comes to peace with God
The Author: Daniel Defoe (1660-1731) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Defoe) wrote more than 500 books, pamphlets, articles, and poems. Among the most productive authors of the Augustan Age, he was the first of the great 18th-century English novelist.
Robinson Crusoe Lesson Plans
- Religious Purpose in Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe – This book is a heavily religious novel. This is signified through three instances in which religion emerges as a major theme at pivotal points in the plot.
- Robinson Crusoe Island Adventure Lesson Plan from Crayola. Write original Island Adventures with detailed characters, setting, and plot, then construct an island environment using a paper bowl and Crayola® Markers.
- Island Survival – In this activity, students will participate in a simulation of life on a deserted island. They will be challenged to use their critical thinking skills and knowledge of islands to “survive” and ultimately return to safety. Grades 4-12.
- The Original Survivor – PDF. With this unit, students will understand the connection between classical literature and the human experience. Grades 4 & up.
- Robinson Crusoe Island of Despair Study Guide- PDF
- Robinson Crusoe Teaching Unit (Prestwick House) – A complete teaching unit and reproducible individual learning packet including a chapter-by-chapter study guide, topics for discussion, vocabulary, and a multiple choice and essay test with answer key.
- Robinson Crusoe Lesson Plan from Reading A-Z - Vocabulary, questions, grammar and other activities.
Classic Literature With Similar Themes
- Island of the Dolphin
- Treasure Island
- Kidnapped
- The Last of the Mohicans
- Swiss Family Robinson
- 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
- The Mysterious Island
Family Guides to Great Reading
Books with annotated lists of classics, Bible stories, biographies, and more.
- Honey for a Child’s Heart
- Honey for a Teen’s Heart
- For the Children’s Sake
- The Read-Aloud Handbook
- For the Love of Literature
- The New Read-Aloud Handbook
- Books That Build Character
- What Stories Does My Son Need?
- Building Moral Intelligence
Robin Sampson is a homeschool mom and author. Her tiles include The Heart of Wisdom Teaching Approach, What Your Child Needs to Know When, Wisdom: An Internet-Linked Unit Study, A Family Guide to the Biblical Holidays, and Ancient History: Adam to Messiah. See all her books and discount packages. For homeschool encouragement and tips, go to HeartofWisdom.com.
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