Study Guides and Lesson Plans for "Holes"
About Holes by Louis Sachar:
Amazon.com Review of Holes
— "If you take a bad boy and make him dig a hole every day in the hot sun, it
will turn him into a good boy." Such is the reigning philosophy at Camp Green Lake, a
juvenile detention facility where there is no lake, and there are no happy campers. In
place of what used to be "the largest lake in Texas" is now a dry, flat,
sunburned wasteland, pocked with countless identical holes dug by boys improving their
character. Stanley Yelnats, of palindromic name and ill-fated pedigree, has landed at Camp
Green Lake because it seemed a better option than jail. No matter that his conviction was
all a case of mistaken identity, the Yelnats family has become accustomed to a long
history of bad luck, thanks to their
"no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather!"
Despite his innocence, Stanley is quickly enmeshed in the Camp Green Lake routine:
rising before dawn to dig a hole five feet deep and five feet in diameter; learning how to
get along with the Lord of the Flies-styled
pack of boys in Group D; and fearing the warden, who paints her fingernails with
rattlesnake venom. But when Stanley realizes that the boys may not just be digging to
build character--that in fact the warden is seeking something specific--the plot gets as
thick as the irony. It's a strange story, but strangely compelling and lovely too. Louis
Sachar uses poker-faced understatement to create a bizarre but believable landscape [...]
we can't help but cheer for the good guys, and all the Yelnats everywhere. (Ages 10 and
older) --Brangien Davis
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Read reviews of Holes
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A Guide to Using HOLES in the Classroom...
This resource is directly related to its literature equivalent and filled with a
variety of cross-curricular lessons to do before, during, and after reading the book. This
reproducible book presents an exciting approach to teaching well-known literature! It
includes sample plans, author information, vocabulary building ideas, cross-curriculum
activities, sectional activities and quizzes, unit tests, and many ideas for culminating
and extending the novel. 48 pages.
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Holes Study Guide by Andrew Claussen...
Easy-to-use, reproducible lessons on literary terms, comprehension and analysis,
critical thinking, related scriptural principles, vocabulary, activities, plus a complete
answer key. Ring-bound, 84 pages.
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Everything You Need for Successful Literature Circles That Get Kids Thinking, Talking,
Writing‹and Loving Literature This one-of-a-kind guide to running literature circles,
based on Louis Sachar's Holes, shows teachers how to organize small discussion groups that
work. Includes stimulating questions and writing prompts that motivate students to think
and respond thoughtfully. As students dive into lively discussions, they learn to identify
themes, analyze vocabulary, recognize the author's craft, and respond meaningfully to the
text. 32 pages. ISBN: 0439355389
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Also see DVD and SOUNDTRACK:
