The Cay

by Theodore Taylor

The Cay

Follow the links below to find free resources and book unit samples.

 

Book Information

Publication Date: 1969


Reading Level: Lexile Measure 860L, Scholastic Guided Reading Level V


Interest Level: Grades 6 - 8


Major Awards: 1970 Jane Addams Children's Book Award


Number of Pages: 105 pages


Approximate Word Count: 25,810 words


Audible Book Length: 2 hrs and 58 mins


Book Themes: Friendship, Overcoming Obstacles, Personal Growth, Race, Blindness


Genre: historical fiction novel for young adults


Setting: February 1942 on the island of Curacao, Dutch West Indies


Important Quote: Wanting to hear it from Timothy, I asked him why there were different colors of skin, white and black, brown and red, and he laughed back, "Why b'feesh different color, or flower b'different color? I true don' know, Phill-eep, but I true tink beneath d'skin is all d'same.


First Line: Like silent, hungry sharks that swim in the darkness of the sea, the German submarines arrived in the middle of the night.


Point of View: in first person from Phillip's perspective

 

Free Resources from Gay Miller @ Book Units Teacher


Story Elements PowerPoint to use with The Cay


Prepositions PowerPoint to use with The Cay


Get your free book unit sample here.


 

Vocabulary List

"mochi jumbis"
Amsterdam
Denmark
Dutch
Holland
Netherlands
accord
anguish
aviation
banks
binoculars
blackout curtains
calico
catchment
cay
cellophane
century
conch
constant
crevice

debris
deft
diameter
dishearten
disheartened
drift wood
drone
earnest
fashioned
flay
gabled
galleons
gnats
grave
grope
hone
hurricane
keg
mutiny
notify

orphan
parched
pontoon
port
positive
recollect
reef
refinery
schooners
scorn
scornfully
sextant
sinker
smoldering
smudge
squall
tempest
tether
thrashing
trough

Teaching PowerPoints

 

Links to Resources and Teaching Ideas


Edible Octopus Activity

The Cay
Edible Octopus
Octopus 2
The Cay

This fun and easy edible octopus craft is made using a hotdog and other simple ingredients.

Step 1: Start by slicing the bottom of a hotdog into 8 sections to create the octopus legs. Leave about 1 inch of the hotdog at the top uncut for the body.

Step 2: Boil the hotdog until the legs curl up, making it look like an octopus.

Step 3: Use mustard to add eyes to the octopus. You can also get creative with other toppings to decorate the face.

Step 4: Place the octopus on a bed of shell pasta (macaroni and cheese works great for this). For extra fun, add goldfish crackers to the pasta to create an underwater scene.

This is a fun snack idea that kids will enjoy both making and eating!


Weaving Activity

The Cay
The Cay

Activity: Weaving Mats Inspired by The Cay

Objective:

Students will learn about the character Timothy's skill in weaving mats from The Cay by Theodore Taylor. They will create their own woven pot holders using simple materials, gaining a hands-on understanding of the story.

Literature Connection: Read a passage from The Cay where Timothy teaches Phillip to weave, and discuss the significance of this skill in the story.

The Cay

Materials Needed:

  • Disposable plastic plates (one per student)

  • Scissors

  • Yarn in various colors

  • Tape (optional, to secure the yarn)

Preparation:

  1. Create the Loom:

    • Give each student a disposable plastic plate.

    • Have students cut notches around the edge of the plate, approximately 1 inch apart. These notches will hold the yarn in place.

  2. Set Up the Yarn:

    • Instruct students to choose a piece of yarn and tape one end to the back of the plate.

  3. Guide them to stretch the yarn across the plate, securing it in the notches to create a warp (the vertical threads in weaving). Continue until the plate is covered with evenly spaced yarn strands.

Activity Steps:

  1. Introduction

    Discuss the character Timothy from The Cay and his skill in weaving mats. Explain that students will be trying their hand at weaving, just like Timothy taught Phillip.

  2. Weaving the Pot Holders

    Demonstrate how to weave by threading a piece of yarn over and under the warp threads on the plate. Encourage students to choose different colors of yarn to create patterns. As students weave, remind them to push the yarn down to keep the weave tight and even.

  3. Finishing the Project

    Once the weaving reaches the desired size, show students how to tie off the ends of the yarn to secure their work. Carefully remove the woven piece from the plate.

  4. Discussion and Reflection

    Have students share their finished pot holders with the class. Discuss how this activity helped them understand what Phillip might have experienced when learning to weave from Timothy.