Treasure Island

 

Keywords:

             Treasure Island, Literature Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stephenson

 

Site Overview:

             This site should be listed under the category of just for fun!  You can learn about the classic book Treasure Island, its author Robert Louis Stephenson, and especially places such as the Bahamas and other tropical islands, pirates, ships, treasure, and much more. The story itself contains violence that may not be appropriate for younger children, and does not have to be read to enjoy this site. The information gained from this site is amazing, it is not to be missed!

 

Goals and Objectives:

The goals and objectives of this site are to become familiar with: (1) the book Treasure Island, (2) its author Robert Louis Stephenson, (3) sailing terminology used in the book, and (4) sailing vessels of that time.

 

Research:

(Source: Treasure Island web site.)

Robert Louis Stephenson originally wrote Treasure Island for his stepson.  His first and most famous novel is considered among recommended Children’s literature.  It contains many aspects that students enjoy when reading fiction including action/adventure, daring heroes, villains, pirates and of course buried treasure.  Adventure stories are action-packed tales about daring heroes and cunning villains in fantastic situations.  Robert Louis Stevenson's novel Treasure Island (1883) is an outstanding example of this popular form of children's literature.  The hero is a boy named Jim Hawkins.  In a search for buried treasure, Jim and his companions match wits with pirate Long John Silver, one of the most memorable characters in children's fiction.

Lesson Plans and Site Navigation:

 

1. Go to the homepage Treasure Island (www.ukoln.ac.uk/services/treasure/setframe.htm). From time to time, the links on a web site do not work.  Either skip the question below or the page you’ve been directed to and go on.  When navigating a site, you may sometimes want to use your forward and back arrows, or click on the icon (links) buttons.

 

2. Click on the keyword the author. (It may be on a sidebar on the page or at the bottom of the contents page.)  Read the brief biography, and go to one of the other links if you desire.  An interesting link is the Robert Louis Stevenson Home Page; then click on the “life and works outline” category.  (This is not necessary to find the answers to the questions.)

3. Go to the book icon on the side bar. Click on the buttons plot and character.  Read each of these sections.

4. Click on the online version of the book. (If you have never read the book, you may wish to read it. This version is a classic edition and may be difficult for younger children to understand.)

5. Go to the links icon.  Suggested areas to visit are ships, pirates and treasure.  Following are specific suggestions of sites to visit under each of these categories.

6. Go to the ships icon and click on Schooner Picture.  At the end of the first picture of a sailing ship, you will find a link to Library Index. Click this button.  Here you will find a list of ships as follows: Brig, Frigate, Clipper and Top Sail Schooner.  After you have read these pages, return to the Treasure Island site by clicking on the side bar links icon.

7. Click on the Treasure Island links icon.  Click on the Pirates link.  Click onto the Pirates of the Bahamas or the last link entitled Pirate.  Read information from these sites if you wish.

8. Click on the Treasure Island links icon.  Go to Treasure. Go to the Treasure Hunting Resource. Warning: this site has newsgroups. I do not recommend that you go into newsgroups unless you have had experience in this area.  The valuable information on this site can be found under Research.  Here you can find all kinds of information about sailing ships that carried treasure.

9. Click on the Treasure Island links icon. Go to Caribbean. This will display a map of the Caribbean Islands.  If you would like to explore the Caribbean, go back to the links page, and click on the words Caribbean Index.  This will take you to many sites featuring the Caribbean. They are listed in alphabetical order.

10. Click on the Treasure Island links page. Under miscellaneous links, click on International Marine Signal Flags.  This site shows the flags, their alphabetical meanings, and if you click on the highlighted word special meaning, you will find a site that deals with the flags and what they represent.

 

Scavenger Hunt Questions:

 

Grades K-3

 

1. Why did Robert Louis Stevenson write the book Treasure Island?

2. What is this book about?

3. Who are the main characters in the book?

4. If you have read the book, which character do you like the best and why?

5. If you have read the book, explain how Jim found the treasure map?

6. This is a two part question. (a) What adjectives can you use to describe a pirate? (b) Why do you think pirates stole from others?

7. Pirates all made a promise never to steal from other pirates. True or False?

8. What types of vessels (boats) did pirates use?

9. Can you define these words relating to a Schooner:  Sails, rigging, and hull?

10. Name some old sailing ships, and write a sentence or two about them.

 

 

 

Grades 4-8

 

1. Treasure Island began as a story for Stevenson’s stepson.  Tell how it grew into the book we know today.

2. Give a thumbnail sketch (a few brief sentences) about the plot of Treasure Island. 

3. Do you think Jim Hawkins was an honorable person?

4. What do you think Jim should have or should not have done after finding the map?

5. What happens in the story that leads to much excitement for the reader? 

6. How was a pirate punished if he were caught?

7. In what geographic location did Pirates travel?

8. Why did pirates bury their treasure and make a map of where it was hidden?

9. Ships were used as a way to travel in the 1700’s.  Briefly describe what it might be like to travel by ship. If you have read the story, recount one of Jim Hawkins’ experiences of sea travel.

10. Find the items found on a Schooner: Sails, rigging and spars, and hull. List the various types of these items.

 

 

 

Grades 9-12

 

1. Explain how Treasure Island came to be written and why.

2. Write a brief outline of the plot of the book.  If you have not read the book, read the brief plot or skip this question.

3. Explain the perils of sea travel in the days of Jim Hawkins.

4. Explain the pros and cons of a pirate’s choice of prowling the Caribbean.

5. Explain the differences in finding buried treasure in the days of Jim Hawkins and now.

6. Other than burying the treasure, where did the pirates stash their loot?

7. Find and describe items found on a Schooner: Sails, rigging and spars, and hull.

8. List the names of the old sailing ships.

9. List some disadvantages of being a pirate.

10. How is the character of Jim Hawkins, who was about 12 years old, different from a 12 year old today?

 

 

Additional Activities:

 

· Write a job description for a pirate. Begin with “Wanted: Pirates for Hire!”

· Trace on a U.S. map the areas in which pirates roamed years ago.

· Do you think there is still buried treasure today?  Under the treasure links, what is written about this?

· What tool is used today to find buried metal objects?  Write about this and any experience you have had watching people use these devices (popular at Florida beaches!).

· Draw a picture of a sailing ship in the 1800’s.

· Build a model ship.

· Draw a picture of your own treasure island.  Make sure to put in details such as compass directions, where buried treasure may be found and other geographical markers.

· Draw a picture of a treasure map.  Use as many cryptic words as you can.  Let someone else look at your map and try to guess where the treasure is buried.

· Draw a map of your home (interior or exterior).  Remember to use geographical markers and compass directions.

· If you could change some of the characters in Treasure Island, who would you change and why?  

 

· If you could change the plot in Treasure Island, how would you change it?

· Give a 2- to 3- minute speech on the character of Captain Kidd.  What was he like? Was he someone you could count on?  Would he have been a captain that you would have wanted to serve under? Explain.

· Compare the character of Jim Hawkins, who is about 12-years-old with other 12-year-olds you might know.  Draw a chart with characteristics listed to the right and names at the top.  Check off the following characteristics, if those you know have them: Trustworthy, helpful, courageous, compassion, selflessness, hard-working, dedicated and any other qualities you wish.

· List and compare old sailing ships (www.mysite.com/seachest/libindex.htm).

· What are some of the disadvantages of reading the book for younger children?

· Write a non-violent version of Treasure Island.

· Many of the additional topics of study in this field trip can center around many subjects, for example geography, history, and science.