Between the Lines Book Club: Holes by Louis Sachar
In this discussion/speech-based novel study, students will deep dive into the book while uncovering the themes of adventure, resilience, friendships, and self-discovery.
Jessica Whitenight
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(63)
What's included
21 live meetings
19 hrs 15 mins in-class hoursHomework
1 hour per week. Each week learners will be required to read chapters listed before class (chapters listed above) and complete vocabulary sentences. Students also may need to finish cross-circular activities outside of class if there is not enough time in class.Assessment
Students will be assessed informally throughout the class.Class Experience
US Grade 7 - 10
Come along as we discuss these three unlikely and different times in history which soon become woven together by Fate, Luck, and Choice in the "Between the Lines Book Club: Holes." In this book club, students will be able to understand the novel better when they connect the story to their own personal experiences and feelings, to their general background knowledge, and to other stories they have read before through guided discussion questions. We will focus on asking questions before we read chapters, while reading them, and after reading them. Students will learn that good readers ask questions and write them down while they are reading, to become better readers. Students will be able to express themselves via multiple cross-curricular activities. Additionally, we will work on building the student's vocabulary base. In each class, we will be defining new vocabulary words and creating our own sentences with them. Throughout this novel study, we will focus on literary terms and applications, the importance of setting, themes and motifs, meaning study, and comprehension questions via engaging PowerPoint lessons. ***Note: We will not be reading the book in class.*** Our class will be discussion based. The book "Holes," by Louis Sachar will be read outside of class. Students will have assigned chapters to read before class. "Between the Lines Book Club: Holes" Schedule: Week #1: Introduction * Before Class*: Have a copy of the book. • About the Author • Theme Thoughts • Prereading Discussion • Vocabulary Lesson Week #2: Chapters 1-3 * Before Class*: Read Chapters 1-3 • Discussion questions • Social Studies/History: American Outlaws • Language Arts: Palindrome • Vocabulary Lesson Week #3: Read Chapters 4-6 * Before Class*: Read Chapters 4-6 • Discussion questions • Language Arts/Reading: Setting- Camp Brochure • Vocabulary Lesson Week #4: Chapters 7-8 * Before Class*: Read Chapters 7-8 • Discussion questions • Social Studies/History: Curses • Vocabulary Lesson Week #5: Chapters 9-11 * Before Class*: Read Chapters 9-11 • Discussion questions • Language Arts: Wall of Obstacles • Vocabulary Lesson Week #6: Chapters 12-14 * Before Class*: Read Chapters 12-14 • Discussion questions • Language Arts: Time Capsule • Vocabulary Lesson Week #7: Chapters 15-17 * Before Class*: Read Chapters 15-17 • Discussion questions • Language Arts: Character Analysis • Vocabulary Lesson Week #8: Chapters 18-20 * Before Class*: Read Chapters 18-20 • Discussion questions • Language Arts: A Letter Home • Vocabulary Lesson Week #9: Chapters 21-22 * Before Class*: Read Chapters 21-22 • Discussion questions • Language Arts: The Five Senses Camp Green Lake • Vocabulary Lesson Week #10: Chapters 23-24 * Before Class*: Read Chapters 23-24 • Discussion questions • Language Arts: Figurative Language • Vocabulary Lesson Week #11: Chapters 25-26 * Before Class*: Read Chapters 25-26 • Discussion questions • Social Studies/History: Jims Crow Laws • Vocabulary Lesson Week #12: Chapters 27-28 * Before Class*: Read Chapters 27 • Discussion questions • Science: Gila Monster Report • Vocabulary Lesson Week #13: Chapters 29-30 Part 2 * Before Class*: Read Chapters 29-30 • Discussion questions • Language Arts/History: Unearth Your Family's History • Vocabulary Lesson Week #14: Chapters 31-33 * Before Class*: Read Chapters 31-33 • Discussion questions • Science: Survival in the Desert • Vocabulary Lesson Week #15: Chapters 34-36 * Before Class*: Read Chapters 34-36 • Discussion questions • Language Arts: Making Connections Cause and Effect • Vocabulary Lesson Week #16: Chapters 37-39 * Before Class*: Read Chapters 37-39 • Discussion questions • Language Arts: Multiple Settings • Vocabulary Lesson Week #17: Chapters 40-42 * Before Class*: Read Chapters 46-42 • Discussion questions • Language Arts: Coincidences & Umbrella Themes • Vocabulary Lesson Week #18: Chapters 43-44 * Before Class*: Read Chapters 43-44 • Discussion questions • Language Arts: Symbols of the Story • Vocabulary Lesson Week #19: Chapters 45-47 * Before Class*: Read Chapters 45-47 • Discussion questions • Language Arts: Holes Motif • Vocabulary Lesson Week #20 Chapters 48-49 * Before Class*: Read Chapters 48-49 • Discussion questions • Language Arts: Compare and Contrast Stanley and Zero • Vocabulary Lesson Week #21 Chapter 50 * Before Class*: Read Chapters 50 • Discussion questions • Language Arts: Persuasive Argument Essay • Vocabulary Lesson You can borrow a copy of the book from your local library or it can be purchased from:https://www.amazon.com/Holes-Louis-Sachar/dp/0440414806
Learning Goals
CCSS RL.3.2-Recount stories, including fables, folktales, and myths from diverse cultures; determine the central message, lesson, or moral and explain how it is conveyed through key details in the text.
CCSS RL.3.3-Describe characters in a story (e.g., their traits, motivations, or feelings) and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events.
CCSS RL.3.4-Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, distinguishing literal from nonliteral language.
CCSS RL.3.6-Distinguish their own point of view from that of the narrator or those of the characters.
CCSS RL.3.7-Explain how specific aspects of a text’s illustrations contribute to what is conveyed by the words in a story (e.g., create mood, emphasize aspects of a character or setting).
CCSS RL.4.2-Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text; summarize the text.
CCSS RL.4.3-Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., a character’s thoughts, words, or actions).
CCSS RL.4.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including those that allude to significant characters found in mythology (e.g., Herculean).
CCSS RL.4.6 Compare and contrast the point of view from which different stories are narrated, including the difference between first- and third-person narrations.
Make connections between the text of a story or drama and a visual or oral presentation of the text, identifying where each version reflects specific descriptions and directions in the text.
CCSS RL.5.2-Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text, including how characters in a story or drama respond to challenges or how the speaker in a poem reflects upon a topic; summarize the text.
CCSS RL.5.3-Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or events in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., how characters interact).
CCSS RL.5.4-Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative language such as metaphors and similes.
CCSS RL.5.7-Analyze how visual and multimedia elements contribute to the meaning, tone, or beauty of a text (e.g., graphic novel, multimedia presentation of fiction, folktale, myth, poem).
CCSS RL.6.2-Determine a theme or central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments.
CCSS RL.6.3-Describe how a particular story’s or drama’s plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution.
CCSS RL.6.4-Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of a specific word choice on meaning and tone.
CCSS RL.6.6-Explain how an author develops the point of view of the narrator or speaker in a text.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Holes is the winner of the 1999 Newbery Medal. The Newbery Medal honors the finest contributions to American literature for children, and the children’s librarians of the American Library Association choose each year’s winner. Holes is classified as magical realism in the literary genre. Magical realism takes place in a mostly realistic world, where a few magical elements exist. This story does touch on topics of bullying, death, dehydration/starvation, curses, poisoning, and racism.
As a certified Social Studies/History teacher in the state of Pennsylvania, I have experience approaching these topics with compassion and sensitivity. The book rating can be found at https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/holes#:~:text=Parents%20need%20to%20know%20that,was%20adapted%20for%20a%202003
Supply List
-Students will need the book "Holes" by Louis Sachar. You can borrow a copy of the book from your local library or it can be purchased from:https://www.amazon.com/Holes-Louis-Sachar/dp/0440414806 - Students will need a notebook/writing paper for class. - Students will need a pencil for class. - Students will need markers, crayons, or colored pencils for class.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
The students will be able to use their knowledge of the historical period to interpret the evidence and present an informed view.
Sources that can be referenced in conjunction with this course:
• National Geographic Society. (2022, July 8). The Black Codes and Jim Crow Laws. National Geographic Education. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/black-codes-and-jim-crow-laws/
• National Geographic Society. (2022a, May 20). The 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution. National Geographic Education. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/13th-amendment-united-states-constitution/
• National Geographic Society. (2022c, December 6). Storytelling. National Geographic Education. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/storytelling-x/
• National Geographic Society. (2022c, December 2). Storytelling and Cultural Traditions. National Geographic Education. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/storytelling-and-cultural-traditions/
Joined August, 2020
5.0
63reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
I am a Certified Teacher in the state of Pennsylvania. I currently teach ESL & Language Arts/Reading online and have been working with children for the last 3.5 years to develop their English and Reading skills. This is where I took multiple trainings and coursework, in which I learned to expand young children’s language and reading development. I have been teaching different subjects for 9 years, all while linking language and reading to critical subjects like science and social studies. I have a bachelor's degree in Social Sciences-Education from The Pennsylvania State University. Reviews
Live Group Class
$450
for 21 classes1x per week, 21 weeks
55 min
Completed by 1 learner
Live video meetings
Ages: 12-16
1-6 learners per class
