The first two lessons as year 8 students begin their study of "Holes" by Louis Sachar

1. INTRODUCTION TO “ ”
Create an English OneNote folder and then make a section for your “HOLES” class work .
You will create a new page for each lesson

2. SETTING UP YOUR WORKBOOK FOR “ ”
1. Create an English OneNote folder
2. Make a section for your “HOLES” class work .
3. You will create a new page for each lesson –see example below

4. TASK 1: MIND MAP
Create a Mind Map of the things you
associate with the term
You may use any method you like –
including Inspiration
What does the word “holes” represent?
In your OneNote folder create the first page:
Lesson1: Write down the task number then complete your answers
The first task is about writing down your ideas down in a mind map.

5. CONSIDER THESE THREE COVERS
Look closely at the 3 different covers.
1. What do these differing front covers tell you about the story?
2. Why do you think the publishers have changed the covers several times?
TASK 2:
Analysing
cover images

6. • 1. What do you think is the significance of the book's
title?
• 2. Just looking at the picture, what would you believe
the book may be about?
• 3. After reading the book's description (blurb) on the
back cover, explain why you think the boys are
digging holes?
Task 3:
Analysing the information on the whole cover- Title,
Image and Blurb

7. THINK, PAIR, SHARE
What do you look for when choosing a book?
An appealing cover? An interesting title? A particular author? A specific genre? An intriguing blurb?
KEY WORDS for initial ideas about a book:
Author – Person who writes books
Title – The name of the book
Cover – The look of the cardboard protecting the pages - illustrations/colours/text
Blurb – The text on the back cover that gives clues or tells you what the story is about
Genre – The style the book is written in, e.g. Action, adventure, horror, science fiction
1. Write down the reasons you use when choosing a book (on your OneNote page.
2. Share your reasons with the class on our class padlet.
TASK 4:
Choosing your
own reading
material.

8. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC
Discuss what you learn about the book from the cover and blurb. (at least 5 sentences)
How does the blurb try to make the book sound intriguing?
“Stanley Yelnats has bad luck (which is all because of his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-
great-grandfather).
When Stanley’s bad luck unfairly lands hi in the juvenile detention centre Camp Green Lake (a very
weird place that isn’t green and doesn’t have a lake), he and his campmates Zero, X-Ray, Armpit,
Squid, Magnet and Zigzag are forced to dig holes in order to build character.
But what are they really digging for?
A HILARIOUS AND POWERFUL STORY ABOUT CRIME, PUNISHMENT AND REDEMPTION.
AND holes. LOTS AND LOTS OF holes.
TASK 5:

9. CAN YOU MAKE A PREDICTION BASED ON THE COVER ALONE?
1. Write a paragraph using the information on the cover alone. Think about what has
been discussed and use the key words from earlier.
The sentence starters below may to help you write your paragraph:
KEY WORDS:
Author – Person who writes books
Cover – The hard paper around the pages!
Blurb – The paragraph on the back cover that
gives clues/tells you what it’s about
Genre – The style the book is written in, e.g.
Horror, romance, action
Title – The name of the book
I assume the novel, Holes, will be about _____________________.
The reasons that I believe this are ________________________.
I anticipate the main character will be__________________________.
I imagine that _______________________ will happen to the main character.
I presume/surmise this because___________________________.
Extension: Write an opening paragraph for the novel
Note:
I added these
terms instead of
using the word
“THINK”
TASK 6: Prediction

10. I made an analysis of the novel, Holes, by using the skills of inference and deduction. To do
this:
A. I created a mind map of words/ideas associated with the title.
B. I made simple predictions about the story based on information on the front and back
covers, stating plot and character and using a key word or two.
C. I made predictions based on the front and back covers, stating plot and character,
justifying my reasons and using some keywords.
D. I made comprehensive predictions based on the front and back covers, stating plot and
character, justifying my reasons in detail and using many of the keywords.
Choose
which
statement
applies to
you.
Briefly
explain your
choice.
Put your
answer at
the bottom
of the lesson
1 page

12. SETTING TASK: 1

13. SETTING:
TASK 2
1. Explain WHY you have chosen
these images?
2. What words/paragraphs did you
read in the text to form your
opinions?
3. Write down the words/phrases
that you found the most descriptive
under the images.
This comparison work can be
completed by using the OneNote
page I sent you, or you can draw up
a page yourself.

14. KEY WORDS:
Setting – A particular time or place where a story takes place
Hostile – Unwelcoming, dangerous, not suitable for living
Connotation – A feeling, idea or emotion that a word suggests to you.
in addition to its literal or main meaning.
TASK 3: ANNOTATE
on the One Note Page I sent to you
Chapter 1 in Holes begins with a description of the main setting for the
novel, Camp Green Lake.
1. Highlight the words or phrases the author uses to create a HOSTILE atmosphere
in chapter 1. (There is copy on the next slide)
2. EXTENSION: Write down 5 more words that could create a hostile atmosphere
and put them into sentences

15. You have been sent a PDF Version of this
chapter on a OneNote page.
Save it into your own OneNote folder and
annotate on that page.

16. HOLES: CHAPTER 1
1: “There is no lake at Camp Green Lake.”
What does this opening sentence suggest about the setting?
2: Why does the word “lake” appear in inverted commas?
3: “The Warden owns the shade.”
What does this suggest about the Warden?
4: Find some examples of repetition.
What is the effect created by using these words and phrases?
5: What is your impression now of Camp Green Lake?
Task 4: Questions about the language used by the author

17. HOLES: CHAPTER 1
TOPIC POINT: In Chapter 1, Sachar creates a hostile environment using language.
EVIDENCE: For example, he writes “_________________________________.”
EXPLANATION: This shows that_____________________________________.
EFFECT ON READER: The effect on the reader is_______________________.
The KEY WORD ANALYSIS:
A particularly effective word is_____________________. This word gives the impression
that____________________.
Extension Task: Write a paragraph explaining how Sachar uses language to
create a hostile environment in Chapter 1.

18. HOLES: CHAPTER 1
EXAMPLE answer following the format:
• In Chapter 1, Sachar creates a hostile environment using language.
• For example, he writes“___________________.”
• This shows that_____________________________________.
• The effect on the reader is ________________.
• A particularly effective word is______________. This word gives the impression
that_____________.
Extension Task : In your OneNote Lesson 2 page answer:
Topic - How effective was the choice of language used by the author?

19. I analysed how a writer uses language to create setting.
A. I identified words in the chapter that create an impression of setting in Chapter 1.
B. I analysed how Louis Sachar uses language to create a hostile environment.
C. I evaluated the effectiveness of Sachar’s use of language to create a hostile
environment.
Choose
which
statement
applies to
you.
Briefly
explain your
choice.
Put your
answer at the
bottom of the
Lesson 2
page