Book of Diversity

Holes
by Louis Sachar
Published by
Copyright 2000

Reading Level: Lexile Level 660L, guided reading level V

Suggested Delivery: Read aloud

Vocabulary: perserverance (8), desolate (11), deftly (32), excavated (34), upholstery (44), evict (75), callused (80), drawl (113), revving (147), increments (167), precipice (171) 

Awards: 1999 John Newbery Medal, 1999 National Book Award, Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, ALA Best Book for Young Adults, ALA Quick Pick, 1998 ALA Notable Book Award

"The winner of the Newbery Medal and the National Book Award features Stanley Yelnats, a kid who is under a curse. A curse that began with his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather and has since followed generations of Yelnats. Now Stanley has been unjustly sent to a boys' detention center, Camp Green Lake, where the warden makes the boys "build character" by spending all day, every day, digging holes: five feet wide and five feet deep. It doesn't take long for Stanley to realize there's more than character improvement going on at Camp Green Lake. The boys are digging holes because the warden is looking for something. Stanley tries to dig up the truth in this inventive and darkly humorous tale of crime and punishment—and redemption."- Amazon

This book is a humerous, imaginative, creative, action filled, page turning story with new adventures on every page!

Pre-Reading Activity: Disney came out with the movie Holes in 2003 based off the book. The students can watch the trailer as a hook for the story. Seeing the characters and storyline played out in reality can help students create a better picture in their minds of the plot, thus comprehending the text much more smoothly. 

During Reading Activity: Since this is a book of diversity, student should focus on characters other Stanley Yelnats. While students read they can ask themselves the following comprehension question, "What does Zero have trouble with? Does he feel different because of that? Is he more connect with others than he thinks he is? Why or why not?" Students can also discuss whether or not Sam was treated nicely back then. Students can relate Sam's treatment to the way the kids at Camp Green Lake were treated. "Students can answer the following questions while reading, "How were their treatments similar  Different? Why were they treated this way?"This and other questions similar to it can be included in a bookmark for the novel."

Post Reading Activity: Students can have a class discussion about the three different stories in the one book. Students can discuss with the teacher and with their classmates about how the three stories (Stanley at Camp Green Lake, the curse put on Stanley's great-great-grandfather, and Kissin Kate Barlow) and how they're all connected.  Students can give their opinions about whether or not one, or all, of the stories belonged in the book. 

Writing Activity: Students can write a paragraph or two about this question, "How is Stanley's friendship with Zero similar to Kate Barlow's friendship with Sam? In each case why don't people approve of the friendship?"

Electronic Resources: 

Holes Online Games and Activities

This website provides many different activities

to further students' interests in the novel. If they

click the "Explore" tab on the screen an interactive

warden will talk to the viewer, giving them instructions 

about the activites and even cracking a few Holes related

jokes. Some activities also provide seperate tabs to 

websites such as the biography of Louis Sachar, 

other books he has written, and even a recipe for 

Kissin' Kate Barlows' Spiced Peaches!

Yellow Spotted Lizard

This website is very informational about

the yellow spotted lizard in the story. This page
gives all the descriptions of the lizards habitat, 
physical features, diet, and other information. 
The website also includes pictures of the lizard as 
well as how to take care of one if you were to buy 
one in a pet store. It can be very helpful
for students if they did a science project
on animals and their habitats.