The Birchbark House: Comparing and Contrasting Texts

In this activity, students will compare and contrast The Birchbark House with another text they have read. In this example, The Birchbark House is being compared with Island of the Blue Dolphins.

• The first commonality is building a shelter. Omakayas' family were responsible for building their birchbark home and their winter cabin. Karana was responsible for building her shelter out of whale bones, wood, and stones.
• The second commonality is the fear they experience. In The Birchbark House there is the threat of non-Indian settlers, the Chimookomanug, moving the Ojibwa tribe farther west. In Island of the Blue Dolphins there is the fear of the Russians coming back to harm Karana.
• A point of contrast between the stories are the main character’s families. Omakayas had a family and friends in the community. Karana was all alone on the island for many years.

Student Instructions

Create a storyboard comparing and contrasting The Birchbark House with another text of your choice.

1. Use the template provided by your teacher.
2. Select another text to compare/contrast.
3. In one column, describe events or elements as they appear in The Birchbark House.
4. In the other column, describe each element as it appears in your chosen text.
5. Illustrate each scene with appropriate characters, items, dialogue, and scenes.