Stranded on a Desert Island

With this PBL unit students will learn how to respond in a

critical situation like being lost in the wilderness or
stranded on an island. They will work in groups which will
help them to develop team working skills and creativity.
Contents:
Project Summary.
Driving question.
Reading Text: Surviving on a desert island.
Comprehension questions.
Face the Challenges! Instructions for the students and
teacher.
Extra! Game: Survival Escape Room.
Project Summary
Students will learn about what to do in a life or death

situation like being stranded on a desert island. They will

read different texts, watch videos, search for information

and complete a questionnaire before starting with the

project. Then, in groups, they will have to respond to

different challenges and situations to prove how much they

know. The group will be given points for each challenge.

Groups need to score at least 10 points in order to survive

on the island.
 Driving
Question:
How can I
survive on a
desert island?
 What life or death
situations do you know?

Discuss with a partner

then share your ideas
with the whole class.
Background Information

Surviving on a Desert Island

If by any chance you find yourself stranded on an island, it's important to

follow some survival techniques that will help you stay alive. Among these
techniques are finding fresh drinking water, shelter, and eventually
rescue.
Use the Scouts mnemonic device of "STOP", which stands for "Stop,
Think, Observe, and Plan"..
Here is the list, in order, of what you should be doing in order of priority:
1. Find a source of drinking water.
2. Find/build a shelter.
3. Build a fire.
4. Create rescue signals.
5. Find a source of food.
6. Create tools for catching food.
7. Make weapons for self defense.
8. Create a raft to leave the island.

Finding Water
Finding a source of clean drinking water should be your first priority. The
body can not live without water for more than 3 or 4 days; however you
can survive over 3 weeks without food.
Sources of Water:
• Rain Water:
Use any containers you can find and set them out in order to catch any
rain water that falls.
• On The Island:
The further inland you go, the better your chances of finding a water
source. If the island is large enough, there is the possibility of finding
streams and waterfalls that will provide fresh drinking water.

SOURCE:
https://survivenature.com/island.php
Background Information

Surviving on a Desert Island

Build/Find a Shelter
Finding shelter is an important aspect of survival. You need to find a
place to rest, while protecting yourself from the elements, such as
wind and rain.
*Investigate different types of shelter: "Lean-To" shelter and "Tepee"
shelter.

Build a Fire
Building a fire not only keeps you warm, but it will help to signal any
rescue planes that are flying overhead.
• Building The Structure:
Step 1: Gather dry tinder, twigs, and branches of various sizes.
Step 2: Using the smaller twigs, create a tepee shape with tinder
placed in the center.
• Lighting The Fire:
If you have glasses, binoculars, or a camera, use the lens to
concentrate the rays on the tinder to ignite it. Then blow when it
starts smoking.

Finding Food
Your best source of food will be the fish in the shallow areas
surrounding the beach. The surrounding water should be shallow
enough to walk through and look for fish.
In order to catch the fish, the easiest technique is to use spear fishing.
Create a long spear from one of the branches you find on the island.
Make the tip as sharp and long as possible, but be sure that the stick
is long enough to throw and that it has some weight.

Beware Predators
Depending on the island, be aware of any possible animals that might
be inhabiting For protection, make a spear and knife from any
branches that you find lying around.

SOURCE:
https://survivenature.com/island.php
 Background Information

Surviving on a Desert Island

Create a raft to leave the island

If your plan is to leave the island on your own, then you'll need to create
a raft.
The two things you will need to create a raft are logs and vine.
Survival Raft Building Technique:
Step 1: Collect 10 to 20 logs and tree trunks that are no more than 12
inches in diameter.
Step 2: Find a few smaller logs to use as braces.
Step 3: Cut notches in the logs in the places where your vine will be
looped to hold each log together.
Step 4: Begin interweaving the vine into the notches of the logs. Over
and under lapping from one log to the next.
Step 5: When the entire structure is finished, tie off.

SOURCE: https://survivenature.com/island.php
Background Information
Imagine you have crashed on a deserted island. Your survival
depends on you! Answer the questions.

What are the three most important items you need to survive?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

What do you need to do to survive on the island?

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

You need fire! How will you start a fire?

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

What do you need to build a shelter?

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

What can you do to protect yourself from predators?

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

How do you build a raft?

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
 Project time! Let’s see
how much you know
about Survival.
In groups, you will have to respond
to different challenges and
situations to demonstrate how
much you know. Your group will be
given points for each challenge. If
you score at least 10 points it
means that you survived on the
island.

Are you ready?

Project “Stranded on a desert Island”

Challenge 1 ___/ 5 points

Imagine this….
You are on a cruise ship going to the Caribbean. It is late in the evening,
everybody is having fun. But suddenly, you can see a lightening in the sky.
The ship is hit by a storm and there is water coming in! The ship is sinking!
There is an island nearby but you can only take five items with you.

In your groups agree on 5 items to take. You have 15 minutes.

Justify your choices with good arguments.

MIRROR SUNGLASSES CAMARA BOOTS

FLASHLIGHT MAP KNIFE MATCHES

CAP BLANKETS COMPASS ROPE

Project “Stranded on a desert Island”
KEY
Imagine this….
You are on a cruise ship going to the Caribbean. It is late in the evening,
everybody is having fun. But suddenly, you can see a lightening in the sky.
The ship is hit by a storm and there is water coming in! The ship is sinking!
There is an island nearby but you can only take five items with you.

In your groups agree on 5 items to take. You have 15 minutes.

Justify your choices with good arguments.

MIRROR SUNGLASSES CAMARA BOOTS

FLASHLIGHT MAP KNIFE MATCHES

CAP BLANKETS COMPASS ROPE

Project “Stranded on a desert Island”

Challenge 2 ___/ 5 points Assessed by peers

Now design a map of your island on a poster. You should

include:

• The name of your island • Dangerous spot

• Where you are • The trails you take to move
• Where the food is around

• Land features

You have 45 minutes!

Project “Stranded on a desert Island”

PEER ASSESSMENT. CHALLENGE 2.

Listen very carefully to your classmates’ presentations.
Your teacher will give you sticky notes that you will use to
write constructive feedback for your friends.
Paste the notes on your classmates’ poster.
Have a look at the sentence starters to help you write
your feedback.

STRENGTHS AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT

What I liked most is …. What I didn’t understand is….

I liked the way you included….
You should be proud of …
Your greatest strength is …
I was surprised when….
I enjoyed ….
From your presentation I learned …..
Your idea about …..was amazing
You should improve this by…
A question I have is…..
I wonder ……
Remember to …
It might be helpful to …
To move forward you need to…
I think adding….would help …
Project “Stranded on a desert Island”

Challenge 3 ___/ 5 points Self assessment

With the items you have in the classroom make a shelter. A

storm is coming, you don’t have much time! You only have 45
minutes to do it.
*Before you begin, bear in mind that tents have three basic
parts: a frame, a cover, and connectors to hold the parts
together. Look at the materials you have and first sketch the
shelter you want to build. Have fun!
Project “Stranded on a desert Island”
Rubrics. Challenge 3.

5 points 4 points 3 points 2 points or less

Creativity and Lots of different Used a variety of Used few materials Minimal materials
materials were different materials. to create the model. were used. Poor
materials used used. Creative and The model is original It doesn’t show design.
thoughtful project. and creative. much creativity.

Presentation Students effectively Students presented Students’ Poor presentation.

presented their their project clearly. presentation was
project to the satisfactory.
Class.

Group work Active participation Most of the group Some of the group Just a few group
of ALL members in members members members
the group. participated in the participated in the participated in the
project. project. project.

Project “Stranded on a desert Island”

How many points did you get? Did you survive in the wild?

According to the feedback you got from the teacher and

classmates, what score would you give yourself to the
following challenges?

POINTS YOUR POINTS

CHALLENGE 1 5

CHALLENGE 2 5

CHALLNGE 3 5

If you got at least 10 points you survived! Congrats!

Sources and Resources
• Books about Survival
Robinson Crusoe
Lord of the flies

• Movies about Survival

Into the Wild

• Websites
Building a shelter
https://pbskids.org/designsquad/pdf/parentseducators/
DS_Invent_4_Speedy_Leader_ENG.pdf
Island Image
https://www.pngitem.com/middle/hxxowTo_island-
hopping-treasure-map-computer-icons-island-on/
Puzzle maker
https://www.edu-games.org/printables/secret-code.php
 SURVIVAL ESCAPE ROOM.

A group of pirates
have taken over
your island!

Your room is now your island and you

can only escape if you find the key
words that will open the door to be
finally rescued.
The pirates have set a code on the
outside of the door. You don’t have much
time. Are you ready for the fun? Get
ready, set, go!
 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE
TEACHERS
What is an escape room game?
An escape room is a game in which a team of players cooperatively
discover clues and solve puzzles in order to escape from the room
they are playing.
Escape rooms became popular in North America, Europe and East
Asia in the 2010s.
Instructions for the teacher.
1. Print and laminate each puzzle so you can use it multiple times.
2. Hide the puzzles in different places in the room.
3. Explain the rules of the game to your students. Tell them that
they have to solve different puzzles in order to escape the room.
After they solve the puzzle, the teacher will give them a key
word that they will use to complete the survival worksheet.
4. Tell students that they have to solve all the puzzles in 30
minutes. If not, they will be trapped on the island FOR EVER!
5. When they finish, they should read all the key words and guess
the secret message. In order to win they should say the secret
code or massage aloud at the door before the time is up.
 ESCAPE ROOM. SURVIVAL WORKSHEET.
PUZZLE NUMBER ANSWER CLUE UNCOVERED

1. SEE PUZZLE KEY RAFT

2. S stands for stop CAVE

T stands for think
O stands for observe
P stands for plan

3. In 2013 in Nevada, USA, four MOUNTAIN

people survived for two nights
in the freezing mountains.

4. You will need plenty of SECRET

repellent if you want to spend
too much time on an island.

5. B RIVER

6. The Mashco-Piro people river TRIBE

are an cold indigenous tribe of
nomadic hunter-gatherers fruit
and vegetables who live place
in the remote regions of the
Amazon rainforest desert.
They have don’t like with
contact non-native peoples
animals.

SECRET MESSAGE
To escape from the pirates follow the river, you will find a tribe that lives on top of the
mountain, they will help you get out! They have a raft hidden in a secret cave.

TEACHER’S WORKSHEET
 ESCAPE ROOM. SURVIVAL WORKSHEET.
PUZZLE NUMBER ANSWER CLUE UNCOVERED

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

SECRET MESSAGE
To escape from the pirates follow ……………, you will find ……………that lives on top of the
…………, they will help you get out! They have a …………………………………….……………...

STUDENTS’ WORKSHEET
 DOOR CODE

Are you ready to start the

adventure?
You will find the first puzzle
behind your teacher’s desk.
You don’t have much time! Hurry
up!
 PUZZLE # 1
Complete the crossword with 10 words connected to the
topic of Survival.
 PUZZLE # 1 KEY
Complete the crossword with 10 words connected to the
topic of Survival.

ACROSS
1. MATCH
4. RIVER
6. ISLAND
7. FIRE

DOWN
1. MOUNTAIN
2. TRAIL
3. SHELTER
5. KNIFE
 PUZZLE # 1
Congrats!!!!!!!!! You did it!
The key word obtained is RAFT.
The next puzzle is under a
dictionary! Hurry up!

PUZZLE # 2
Answer the question:
What does the Scouts’ mnemonic STOP
stand for?
S stands for _______________________
T stands for _______________________
O stands for _______________________
P stands for _______________________
 PUZZLE # 2
Well done!!!!!!!!! You did it!
The key word obtained is
CAVE.
The next puzzle is by the
window.

PUZZLE # 3
Put the words in order to make a coherent sentence

mountains, 2013, in, in, freezing, the, for, Nevada,

survived, nights, USA, in, four people, two.
 PUZZLE # 3
Great Job!
The key word obtained is
MOUNTAIN.
The next puzzle is under a
tissue box.

PUZZLE # 4
Decode the secret phrase!
 PUZZLE # 4
Congrats ! It seems that you
are a survival expert.
The key word obtained is
SECRET.
The next puzzle is pasted on
one of the classroom walls.

PUZZLE # 5
It is very hot in the jungle. What is the best way
to keep cool?

a) Only travel in the late afternoon

b) Drink water from the river
c) Take off your shirt and wear sandals
 PUZZLE # 5
WOW! You did it again!
The key word obtained is
RIVER.
The next puzzle is under the
bin.

PUZZLE # 6
Find the hidden message!

The Mashco-Piro people river are an cold

indigenous tribe of nomadic hunter-gatherers
fruit and vegetables who live place the remote
regions of the Amazon rainforest desert. They
have don’t like contact with non-native peoples
animals.
 PUZZLE # 6
You Finished! You are just about to
escape from the pirates!
The key word obtained is TRIBE.
Now gather all the key words and
say the secret message quietly to
your teacher to get out! You will
find the key under a binder.
HAPPY TEACHING!