copyright 1999, Sirpa Grierson

Curacao Initial setting of The Cay: Curacao Nancy Beauregard, Indian Hill MS, 2000. http://www.ih.k12.oh.us/msbeauregn/curacao.htm Oil Tankers “How Big is an Oil Tanker?” Gulf of Maine Aquarium. 2000. http://octopus.gma.org/surfing/human/ howbig.html Using this site, I was able to find info about oil tankers, a type of ship mentioned in The Cay (along with schooners, submarines, etc). Hurricanes “Hurricanes.” FEMA for Kids. http://www.fema.gov/kids/hurr.htm “Hurricane Classification.” FEMA for Kids. http://www.fema.gov/kids/hurr.htm FEMA for kids provides information on preparing for disasters. Aimed at kids, it offers simple facts about natural disasters and how to deal with various threats to safety that one might encounter. Martin Luther King Jr. “Biographical Outline of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.” The King Center. http://thekingcenter.com/mlk/ bio.html This site is all about the life and beliefs of Martin Luther King, Jr. It explores the influence he continues to have, supports racial tolerance throughout the country, and commemorates Martin Luther King Day. Theodore Taylor’s introduction to The Cay centered around King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, thus a look at King’s life is important when pre-reading. Coral Reefs “Coral Reefs.” Sea World. http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/info-books/coral/coral-reefs.htm The Sea World website has cool information about all kinds of animals, sea life, etc. Coral reefs play a role in The Cay, and understanding what they are enhances reading. “Malaria.” DeAnne Findlay, Harbor Pointe Middle School, 2000. http://www=micro.msb.le.ac.uk/ 224/Malaria.html This website has updated information about the disease known as malaria. It explains how one might receive the disease, including transmission, symptoms, etc. Supplementary Movies ”Driving Miss Daisy” “Remember the Titans” Disney, 2000. This movie follows the development of a football team in the south during the period of desegregation in the public schools. It explores interactions between black and white and the overcoming of prejudices as both groups work toward a common goal. It relates to the friendship between a white boy and black man in The Cay. Potential Research Projects Nancy Beauregard, Indian Hill MS, 2000. http://www.ih.k12.oh.us/msbeauregn/research.htm After reading The Cay, students can choose any number of topics to research, synthesizing their understanding of some element of the novel in the world they live in.

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Reading Resources and Unit Guide for this Novel