The Swiss Family Robinson

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. Who is Robinson Crusoe? What kind of story do you think a “Robinsonade” might be?

Teaching Suggestion: Some students may have heard of Robinson Crusoe, but many will not; the video linked below can be used to fill in any gaps in their knowledge. As you discuss the term “Robinsonade,” you might challenge students to connect this term to the novel they will be reading by telling them the novel’s title and explaining that “Robinson” here does not mean the family’s last name but instead is being used like an adjective, to describe what kind of family they are—then you might ask students for predictions about what a “Robinson” type of family would experience.

• This 2-minute video summarizes the story of Robinson Crusoe. Note that the summary makes passing reference to suicide, slavery, cannibalism, violence, and death.
• This brief overview of the Robinsonade tradition comes from Cambridge University Press. Note that this resource is better suited to older readers and may be most appropriate as a teacher-facing resource.

2. What is a “didactic” novel? What does this have to do with The Swiss Family Robinson?

Teaching Suggestion: Students are unlikely to know the term “didactic” or how Wyss’s novel fits into the didactic tradition within children’s literature. The resources listed below can be consulted before you explain these concepts to the class; afterward, you might ask them to use what they have learned to answer the questions in this prompt, as a way to check their understanding. You can extend this conversation by asking students for their opinions about didacticism in texts they have already encountered—does the desire to teach children things ruin the fun of books, movies, and so on, or can the purposes of “instructing” and “entertaining” complement each other in some cases?

• This SuperSummary article thoroughly discusses didacticism. Note that this resource is better suited to older readers and may be most appropriate as a teacher-facing resource.
• This article explains Wyss’s purpose in writing The Swiss Family Robinson. Note that because the article contains spoilers, it is intended as a teacher-facing resource.

Short Activity

In The Swiss Family Robinson, the family is stranded on a deserted island. Luckily for them, the island is rich with resources and offers them many thrilling adventures. If you were stranded on a deserted island, what would you hope the island would be like? Draw a map that represents your personal ideas about the best kind of deserted island to be stranded on.

Teaching Suggestion: The activity deliberately does not specify how realistic or detailed students need to be as they create their maps, so that when you introduce the activity, you can establish expectations that suit your particular classroom. If your students have individual internet access and you would like to challenge them to use an online site to create more professional-looking graphics, they might use one of the sites linked below:

• This site allows students to generate and edit fantasy maps—note that it requires a free account for access.
• This site offers tools for drawing maps or editing pre-existing templates—note that it requires a free account for access.

Differentiation Suggestion: Students with visual conditions may not be able to complete this activity as written. Instead, they might be asked to write a paragraph or two describing their ideal island. Another option would be to allow students to work in pairs on a single map and to have the student with visual conditions partner with a student without visual conditions.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the text.

How well would you, personally, do if you were stranded on a desert island? What would your biggest strength be? What would challenge you?

Teaching Suggestion: This prompt is intended to create anticipation for the novel and to increase empathy for the novel’s characters. Students are more likely to answer these questions thoughtfully if they answer individually, in writing. If you would also like students to discuss these ideas, you might ask for written answers first and then give them time to discuss with a partner or small group afterward.