Holes - Lesson 1 / H3A

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 2

Holes by Louis Sachar  Lesson1

Holes - 5 lessons (not final yet)

1. Chapters 1-3 Introduction to Stanley, Camp Green Lake, and themes. Title, reading questions, setting, quiz
2. Chapters 4-20 Character development
3.                 /*  Spring break  */
4. Chapters 21-35 (30 min!)
5. Chapters 36-50 
6. Discussion and working on assignment

Holes - what is expected of you

1. Active participation before class: read chapters and do tasks
2. Active participation in class: it is less about right / wrong answers; it's about understanding the text, sharing ideas. 

• Not: does Stanley have a little brother?
• Yes: do you believe in bad luck or curses? How does Stanley change?  What does hammock say about camp rules?

                                                                                        Please, no spoilers!!!

Does the front cover attract you and make you want to read the book or does it put you off? Why?

What does the word "Holes" mean?
Try to give multiple options

1 "You are entering...": who is "you"?
2 Why would the author do so?

"are entering..." suggests right now. What does this mean for the reader (for you!)?

What does the name Camp Green Lake suggest of the camp? (describe this elaborately = uitgebreid)

You are entering Camp Green Lake

Chapter 1

What does the text say?  

• Read chapter 1 again
• Make a quick picture of the scene in this passage (in your head)
• When announced(!): compare with your partner

Asking reading questions

You will learn:

• Critical thinking skills
• Evaluating information and arguments
• Making connections and identifying patterns
• Deeper learning and comprehension as opposed to surfuce understanding  

Tip: write your questions in your book or notebook. Keep track

Reading questions examples

Who is "you" (reader?) and why is "you" addressed?

Why is it called Green Lake if there is no lake? Why would the author start the novel with this as first line? 

What happened to the lake? 

Why are the words "usually" and "always" repeatedly used?

Why is chapter 2 so short? What is its function? 

 ..............................................................................................now you go

What are reading questions? 

A reading question is a question:

- that is important to the story as a whole

- that keeps you occupied even after reading

- to which there is more than one answer

- which you can have differing opinions on

It is not asking somehting that is necessarily known

What questions are raised in the first 3 chapters? Write two reading questions

Examples

The Setting

In chapter 1 

Sachar gives his novel a hostile setting (hostile= unfriendly).

How has he managed to do that?

List all the words or phrases that make Camp Green Lake sound hostile ( the word hostile means unfriendly)

How has Sachar managed to do that?

How does Sachar create a sense of tension? 

• The fact that there is no camp at Camp Green Lake

openings

Read chapter 2 thoroughly BEFORE answering the questions below.

1. Why are openings important in stories?
2. Has Sachar managed to create an engaing opening in Holes?
3. Now that you know a little more about the setting, can you guess what the main themes of this novel may be?
4. What questions are raised in these chapters which you are interested in finding the answers to?

Find a sentence from chapter 2 which shows we are dealing with an omniscient narrator. Quote the sentence.

Who goes to Camp Green Lake?
What do they do there?

Chapter 3

Complete the quiz questions in the following slides.

Discuss:

Was Stanley Yelnats made to go to Camp Green Lake?

• Why did he choose to go?

What did Stanley Yelnats's family like about the family name? Can you
think of your own palindrome?

What does Stanley look like?

1. skinny
2. overweight
3. well built
4. normal posture

Why did Stanley's great-great-grandfather have a curse on him?

1. He had annoyed an outlaw, Kate Barlow
2. He had been in a stage coach robbery
3. He had made a fortune in the stock markets
4. He stole a pig from a one legged gypsy

Does Stanley believe in curses and bad luck?

1. Yes
2. no
3. Yes and no

Who did Stanley's family blame for everything that went wrong?

1. The one legged gypsy
2. The great-great-grandfather
3. The pig
4. Kissin' Kate Barlow

What is unusual about Stanley's name?

1. It was actually his mother's surname
2. It was exactly the same as his grandfathers'
3. It was the same spelt backwards or forwards
4. It was really Simon but he preferred to be called Stanley

What did Stanley's father do?

1. He was a teacher
2. He was an inventor
3. He was a song writer
4. He worked in a store

Even though Stanley's family had bad luck, how did they act?

1. Resigned
2. Bitter
3. Hopeful
4. Envious of others

Stanley's great-great-grandfather was robbed by an outlaw. Who was it?

1. Jessie James
2. Kissin' Kate Barlow
3. The Sundance kid
4. The book doesn't say

Write one sentence predicting what will happen to Stanley

What is your biggest wish or tip for our next 4 lessons on Holes?

Homework

Read chapters 4-20

Write 3 reading questions. Be ready to share them in class.