Chapter 17

Hatchet

Trailblazers · 4th–6th

Copywork

He fought impatience to get on the plane project and remembered sense, remembered what he had learned. First food, because food made strength; first food, then thought, then action.

Read the passage aloud. Why might the writer repeat "first food"?

Discussion

Narration Tell the chapter back in order: rebuilding after the tornado, the picture of the pack, the raft, the evening, and the trip to the plane.

1. Brian's first thought after the tornado is "First things first." What does he mean by it, and does he keep to it?Character

2. Brian thinks of the survival pack as a way to be "rich." Why might the picture have such a hold on him?Inference

3. Brian says "Sense" is all it takes to solve problems, and the raft only works once he sees the limbs. What does the raft show about how he thinks?Theme

4. Brian wishes he could share the beautiful sunset with someone. Why might that wish come right after thoughts of his mother?Tone

5. Brian lies on the raft and thinks the plane job "looked impossible." Why does he stay anyway?Moral reasoning

Make a Connection Tell about a time you wanted something so much that you kept working long after it seemed impossible.

Vocabulary

Crossword

1		2			3
						4
	5


							6
			7



				8

Across

Across 1. Not wanting to wait.
Across 5. Stopped by a problem.
Across 7. Power in the body.
Across 8. To make better.

Down

Down 1. Never stopping.
Down 2. Whole and unbroken.
Down 3. Cheerful and lively.
Down 4. A small swirl of wind or water.
Down 6. Steady and firm.

The words in the chapter

impatience He fought impatience to get on the plane project
strength food made strength
incessant chasing away the incessant mosquitoes
intact a major section of the weave still intact
refine refine the camp and bring things back to sanity

chipper feeling almost chipper because his ribs were much better
stymied And for a moment he was stymied.
stable he needed a stable platform to get the job done
eddy Once an eddy of breeze came up against him

Critical thinking

1. Brian makes a fire quickly after the tornado. Using two pieces of evidence, explain what lets him do it.

2. Brian ties the raft to the plane with torn strips of windbreaker. Using two pieces of evidence, explain how he comes to that idea.

3. Brian reaches the tail of the plane. Using two pieces of evidence, explain what he finds and what stops him.