Holes
Bibliography
Sachar, Louis. Holes. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1998. Print.
Sachar, Louis. Holes. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1998. Print.
Target Audience
7th Grade - All Students
7th Grade - All Students
Academic Vocabulary
Parch: cause to wither or parch from exposure to heat.
Excavate: remove the inner part or core of.
Dawdle: hang back or fall behind in movement, progress, development, etc.
Writhe: to move in a twisting or contorted motion.
Recede: pull back or move away or backward.
Stifling: characterized by oppressive heat and humidity.
Forlorn: marked by or showing hopelessness
Grimace: contort the face to indicate a certain mental or emotional state
Parch: cause to wither or parch from exposure to heat.
Excavate: remove the inner part or core of.
Dawdle: hang back or fall behind in movement, progress, development, etc.
Writhe: to move in a twisting or contorted motion.
Recede: pull back or move away or backward.
Stifling: characterized by oppressive heat and humidity.
Forlorn: marked by or showing hopelessness
Grimace: contort the face to indicate a certain mental or emotional state
Genre
Adventure Fiction
Adventure Fiction
Summary
Holes by Louis Sachar, details Stanley Yelnat’s experience in a juvenile detention center in Texas, called Camp Green Lake, in the 1990’s. Stanley’s family has a history of being cursed or plagued by bad luck and he is accused of stealing, and is punished by digging holes as punishment. Upon arriving to the detention center, Stanley is overweight and depressed, but we find throughout the story that he evolves into a different person. When Stanley meets Zero, the two become best friends and survive their “character building” punishment together. The boys’ experiences have together ultimately lifts the curse that was placed on Stanley’s family through a surprising twist that reveals Zero was the great-grandson of the woman who cursed Stanley’s family!
Holes by Louis Sachar, details Stanley Yelnat’s experience in a juvenile detention center in Texas, called Camp Green Lake, in the 1990’s. Stanley’s family has a history of being cursed or plagued by bad luck and he is accused of stealing, and is punished by digging holes as punishment. Upon arriving to the detention center, Stanley is overweight and depressed, but we find throughout the story that he evolves into a different person. When Stanley meets Zero, the two become best friends and survive their “character building” punishment together. The boys’ experiences have together ultimately lifts the curse that was placed on Stanley’s family through a surprising twist that reveals Zero was the great-grandson of the woman who cursed Stanley’s family!
Literary Concepts
Theme, Conflict, Imagery, Foreshadowing, Flashback
Theme, Conflict, Imagery, Foreshadowing, Flashback
Activity
The students should use a Venn diagram to compare and contrast Stanley and Zero. Once the students have completed the Venn diagram, the students should write a 5 paragraph essay comparing and contrasting the two characters.
The students should use a Venn diagram to compare and contrast Stanley and Zero. Once the students have completed the Venn diagram, the students should write a 5 paragraph essay comparing and contrasting the two characters.
Assessment
I will assess the students understanding of writing a 5 paragraph essay and the students abilities to compare and contrast two characters. I will grade them using a rubric.
I will assess the students understanding of writing a 5 paragraph essay and the students abilities to compare and contrast two characters. I will grade them using a rubric.
Integration
Holes can be integrated into Science and Social Studies.
Social Studies: You can tie social studies in with this novel by talking about Jim Crow Laws or Westward Expansion.
Science: Science can be integrated by teaching the Desert Biome.
Holes can be integrated into Science and Social Studies.
Social Studies: You can tie social studies in with this novel by talking about Jim Crow Laws or Westward Expansion.
Science: Science can be integrated by teaching the Desert Biome.