Hatchet tells the story of Brian, a young boy who survives a plane crash that leaves him alone in the wilderness in Canada. Through internal conflict, external forces working against him, and with the help of his hatchet, Brian learns to survive on his own. Paulsen breaks down the different types of conflict and helps his readers better understand how a small event can affect the larger plot of a story.
Have your students create a page of a survival booklet for the novel Hatchet! Students will illustrate tips they've learned from the story and supplement it with research.
Storyboard Text
Find water immediately!
Water is essential to surviving in the wilderness. The body can only survive a few days without water, depending on where you are or even how old you are. Brian is lucky to find a lake very quickly after the plane crash. It is also water that he can drink. It's not always safe to drink water in the wilderness. Look out for running water, gather rainwater, or carry water purification tablets.
“It was water. But he did not know if he could drink it. Nobody ever told him if you could or could not drink lakes.”