©GinaKennedy

“HOLES” By Louis Sachar

Reading/Writing Interactive Notebook

Plus: Enrichment Projects

Grades 4th-8th By Gina Kennedy

56 Page Complete Literature Guide

©GinaKennedy

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Holes By Louis Sachar

Louis Sachar Louis Sachar was born on

March 20, 1954, in East Meadow,

New York, to Robert J. Sachar, a

salesman, and Ruth Sachar, a

real estate broker. When he was

nine years old, his family moved

to Tustin, California. Sachar was

a good student and liked school.

He always enjoyed reading

books, especially those by E.B.

White. However, it wasn't until

Sachar was in high school that

he truly realized his love for

reading.

After high school, Sachar

attended college in Ohio;

however, his father died while he

was in college and he returned

to California to help his mother.

He then enrolled at the University

of California where his favorite

class was working as a teacher

aide in an elementary school.

Later in life, many of his novels

are based on stories from his

days at a teacher’s aide.

After entering the business

world, Sachar decided his real

love was writing. He decided to

attend law school so that he

could write part-time and

support himself as a lawyer.

Eventually Sachar married an

elementary school counselor,

Carla, and they had one

daughter, Sherre.

Living in Austin, Texas Sachar

wrote his award winning novel,

Holes, about young teens who

were living in a correctional

facility in Texas. The novel has

won multiple awards including

the Newbery Medal Award and

was eventually made into a Walt

Disney movie.

Do you think people create their own problems or are

some people just unlucky for trouble? Explain with at least

two reasons to defend your answer. _____________________

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Stanley Yelnats IV is a 14-year-old boy from a hard-working, but

poor family that is allegedly affected by a curse of bad luck, which

they blame on at Stanley's "no-good-dirty-rotten pig-stealing-great-

great-grandfather". Stanley's latest problem is to be wrongly

accused of stealing a pair of shoes contributed to a children's

orphanage by the baseball player Clyde "Sweet Feet" Livingston.

As retribution, Stanley is sent to Camp Green Lake, a juvenile

imprisonment and disciplinary facility which is ironically in the middle

of a sterile desert. As a punishment, the inmates of the camp have to

dig 1 hole a day 5 feet wide and 5 feet deep to 'build character'.

Stanley soon begins to suspect that they are not digging to build

character, but rather to find something hidden beneath the dry,

rocky ground.

©GinaKennedy

Chapters 1-5

Use barren, canteen and descendants

in three sentences referring to the

events in Chapters 1-5.

barren:______________________________

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canteen:____________________________

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descendents:________________________

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Vocabulary: barren- unable to have children

canteen- container for carrying drinking water

descendants- heirs or offspring

desolate- without inhabitants, empty

perseverance- continued effort in spite of difficulty

spigot- faucet

vast- a large humungous area

warden- officer at a prison camp

What point of view is this story being told from? How do

you know?______________________________________________

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Describe the setting of the story at the beginning of

Chapter One.________________________________________

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How was Camp Green different from

Stanley’s idea of a camp?___________

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Why did some “campers” allow

themselves to be bitten by scorpions

or rattlesnakes?___________________

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How had Stanley been treated by his teacher and the

students at his school? Cite evidence from the text. ______

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Infer one reason why the warden is not nice to the campers.

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©GinaKennedy

How can you tell that Stanley’s father had

perseverance? ________________________________

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Use desolate, perseverance and spigot in

three sentences referring to the events in

Chapters 1-5.

desolate:__________________________________

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perseverance:_____________________________

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spigot: _________________________________

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tenant:____________________________________

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Describe how Stanley’s family justified their

bad luck? ________________________________

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Illustrate how you visualized Camp Green to look.

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Illustration

Describe what Stanley’s teacher did that

ended up humiliating him. _________________

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Record two options that the judge gave

Stanley during his trial.

1.

2.

©GinaKennedy

Why weren’t there any fences around Camp

Green Lake?____________________________________

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Use vast and warden in two sentences

referring to the events in Chapters 1-5.

vast:_______________________________________

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warden:____________________________________

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spigot: _________________________________

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In some ways, the story “Holes” is like a tall

tale. In tall tales, “things are extreme”.

Good is very, very good and bad is very,

very bad. Things don’t change- a rule is a

rule. What is “the one rule” at Camp

Green? ___________________________________

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Who is probably a very, very bad

character? _______________________________

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Illustrate why “Barf Bag” was in the hospital and unable

to return. Add a caption to explain your drawing.

:

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Explain how the author revealed Stanley’s

character trait of kindness. ________________

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Describe the mood in the first two chapters.

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Why did you think Stanley did not explain his

innocence to Mr. Pendanski?____________________

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Caption:

©GinaKennedy

Unfairly Accused… Directions: Write about a time when you or someone you know was unfairly

accused of a wrongdoing. Describe the situation and tell whether your

innocence or the victim’s innocence was ever proven. What did you or the

other perso learn from this experience?

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©GinaKennedy

0ppp]-p-p-‘p-‘]]’’]]

Chapters 6-10

Vocabulary: despicable- mean, angry and disgusting

detective- an official who solves a crime

excavated- to make hollow by removing the inner part

fossil- any remains or trace of a living thing

orphan- someone’s who parents have passed away

perimeter- space within the fenced in area

predatory- someone that preys on others

scarcity- short of or not enough of something

What upset Stanley most at his

trial?_______________________________ ___________________________________

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Why did Stanley think the sneakers were a “gift

from God” when he first found them? _________

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Use despicable, detective, and excavated in three

sentences referring to the events in Chapter 6-10.

despicable:______________________________________

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detective:_______________________________________

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excavated:______________________________________

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Describe Chapters 6-10 using just three main ideas.

1.

2.

3.

Briefly explain the events that led up to

Stanley’s arrest?_________________________

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©GinaKennedy

Use fossil, orphan and perimeter in three

sentences referring to the events in Chapters 6-10.

fossil:____________________________________________

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orphan:_________________________________________

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perimeter:_______________________________________

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Why had Elya Yelnats, Stanley’s great-great-

grandfather, agreed to carry a piglet up a

mountain every day? _________________________

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Describe how Stanley’s parent’s belief in the

court system affected Stanley.______________

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In Chapter Seven, what was the first sentence of

the author’s flashback to his grandfather’s time?

What was the setting (time and place)?___________

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Explain why Elya left for America, and why he

carried a family curse with him?__________________

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Why was it harder for Stanley to dig than it

was for the other two boys?_________________

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Why did Stanley show a rock to Mr. Pendanski

when he came around with the water truck?

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©GinaKennedy

Use predatory and scarcity in two sentences

referring to the events in Chapters 6-10.

predatory:_______________________________________

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scarcity:_________________________________________

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perimeter:_______________________________________

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In your opinion, why did Elya decide not to

marry Myra?__________________________________

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Caption:

Why do you think the story of Elya Yelnats

was recounted as Stanley began his days at

Camp Green Lake?______________________

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Readers are introduced to a character named,

“Caveman”. Stanley made a few inferences as to

who the Caveman was. What were the

inferences? _____________________________________

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Why do you think Stanley’s fossil was of no interest

to the Warden?__________________________________

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Illustrate how you visualized a scene with Stanley

in Chapters 6-10. Write a caption to describe the

scene below.

Do you think there was any value to the work

program at Camp Green Lake? If so, what?____

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©GinaKennedy

Directions: Recall the six most important events that occurred in Chapters 1-10. Illustrate each event

and then write a short caption to describe what happened.

Story Board Recall

Event #1:

Event #2:

Event #3:

Event #4:

Event #5:

Caption:

Caption:

Caption:

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Caption:

Event #6:

©GinaKennedy

Dear Journal… Directions: After reading Chapters 6-10, write an honest journal entry for Stanley’s first full day at Camp

Green Lake. Use some, or all, of the phrases below to help you.

I woke up at… … My hands were… I really can’t stand….. It was still dark when I… This was really hard… I hope that… For breakfast I had …. The first hole was… My biggest fear is…

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Dear Journal,

Sincerely,

©GinaKennedy

Chapters 11-15

Vocabulary: accomplish- to reach a successful goal

appropriate- the right one

authority- the power to make decisions

compound- area or place that serves multiple functions

engraved- to impress deeply on a surface

etched- to scratch a drawing or word on a surface with

a sharp tool

paranoid- mental illness in which someone thinks others

are constantly trying to harm them

presumed- to take for granted

Why did Stanley agree to give

anything he found to X-Ray? Cite

evidence from the text. _________

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How did memories of the boys at

school help Stanley survive his second

day of digging?_____________________

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Analyze this statement from Chapters 11-15, “If anybody

gets a day off, it should be me. That’s only fair, right?” What

was meant by this?________________________________________

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What lesson could readers learn about Stanley’s character based on what they’ve read in Chapters

11-15? ___________________________________________________________________________________________

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Use accomplish, appropriate and authority in three

sentences referring to the events in Chapters 11-15 of

the novel.

accomplish:__________________________________________

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appropriate:__________________________________________

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authority:_____________________________________________

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©GinaKennedy

Make two inferences about Mr. Pandanski

based on the text you read in these

chapters._____________________________________

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How did Stanley benefit from giving the gold tube

he found to X-Ray?_______________________________

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If you were to ask other inmates at the Correctional

Facility to tell you what two character traits they

would use to describe Stanley, what might they say?

Explain each one.

A. Character Trait:________________________

Why?

B. Character Trait:________________________

Why

C. Character Trait:________________________

Why

Use compound, engraved and etched in

three sentences referring to the events in

Chapters 11-15 of the novel.

compound:_________________________________

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etched:_____________________________________

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Why did X-ray refuse to discuss the gold tube

with Stanley at breakfast?____________________

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__________________________Grace Wexler writes

housewife on her receipt then crosses it out and

writes heiress. What

do you think this says about her personality?_

How did Stanley conclude that they were

not digging holes just to build character?

Cite evidence from the text.

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©GinaKennedy

Why do you think X-Ray was the leader of the

group despite his small size?__________________

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Why do you think the warden accepted the

gold tube, but was presumed to reject the

fossil? Which object do you think is more

interesting?__________________________________

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Use paranoid and presumed in two sentences

referring to the events in Chapters 11-15 of the

novel.

paranoid:____________________________________

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presumed:___________________________________

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etched:______________________________________

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Make two inferences about Stanley’s

character based on these chapters?

1.

2.Grace Wexler writes housewife on her receipt

then crosses it out and writes heiress. What

do you think this says about her personality?_

Describe the ways that Stanley began to lose

his innocence in these chapters. ______________

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Draw the Warden doing something that she did

in these chapters. Add a caption to explain the

illustration.

Caption:

©GinaKennedy

Include at least two goals for each category.

“Goals” Directions: In Holes, Mr. Penkanski encouraged the boys to consider goals for their lives after they

are released. Write about your goals for the future in each category below. (Use Complete

Sentences)

Future School/Education Goals:

Future Family Relationship Goals:

Future Goals Past High School:

Future Friendship Goals:

©GinaKennedy

Chapters 16-20

Vocabulary: approached- to come near

callused- hard bumps on hands and feet due to rubbing

collapsed- faint or fall down

condemned- to put someone down, or knock something

down

conditioned- to be programed to do something

recede- to go or move away

stationary- in one position without moving

unearthed- to uncover or bring to light

Explain why Zigzag attacked

Stanley. ________________________

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Personification gives human like

qualities to something that is not

human such as “the spider really

disliked me”. Provide two examples

of personification from these chapters

below, identify their page number.

1.

2.

Why did Stanley refuse to teach Zero to read and write?____

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What inference can you make about Stanley based on his

decision not to help him? __________________________________

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Use approached, callused, and collapsed in three

sentences referring to the events in Chapters 16-20 of

the novel.

approached:_________________________________________

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callused:_____________________________________________

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collapsed:____________________________________________

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Stanley now knows why Zigzag did

not want to talk about the thing

he found at breakfast, why was

that?____________________________

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you were in Stanley's shoes?

24__

©GinaKennedy

How did Stanley find himself once again in the

wrong place at the wrong time?_____________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

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_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

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_____________________________________________

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_____________________________________________

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_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_______________________________ .

What are two conflicts in Chapter 17, explain

both thoroughly citing evidence from the text?

1.

2.

How had the Atlas Clearing changed since the last

time Elijah had been there?

Stanley’s “heart had hardened” as well as

his muscles. This didn’t mean his heart

muscles were harder. What did the author

mean by that? ____________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

Use condemned, conditioned and recede in three

sentences referring to the events in Chapters 16-20

of the novel.

condemned:______________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

conditioned:______________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

recede:___________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

What did Stanley say to Mr. Sir when he found the

sunflower seed bag in his hole?_________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

____________

How did the Warden openly exhibit her cruelty

in these chapters? __________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

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_____________________________________________

______________

Use one word to describe the Warden,

explain why you chose it. _________________

Why? ____________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

©GinaKennedy

Describe a conflict from Chapters 19-20 and

how then record how the character solved the

conflict. Conflict:

Solution:

How had the Atlas Clearing changed since the last

time Elijah had been there?

Describe the method that the Warden

used to punish Mr. Sir?___________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

______________________________

Use stationary and unearthed in three sentences

referring to the events in Chapters 16-20 of the

novel.

stationary:_________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

________________________________________________

unearthed:________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

recede:___________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

Why do you think X-Ray showed no response

when Stanley alluded to a nursery rhyme?______

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

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_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

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_______________

Why do you think Squid was crying? Why did he

become angry when Stanley showed concern for

him?_____________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

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__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

________________________________

Of all of the characters you’ve met thus

far, who do you think would be the most

reliable and honest friend? Why? ______

________________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

©GinaKennedy

Stanley Character Sketch Directions: Think about what you’ve learned so far about Stanley. Write a character sketch of him

based on what you’ve learned from the text and your imagination.

A character sketch is a short essay that informs others about a character in a book. When you write a

character sketch, you want the reader to have a strong mental image of the person including how the

person talks, acts and thinks.

Consider the following about your character:

• gender, age and name

• appearance

• physical and personal strengths and weaknesses

• likes and dislikes and feelings and behaviors towards other characters

• feelings of other characters towards the character

• feelings of character towards himself/herself

• personality at the beginning of the novel

• changes in personality as story progresses

• your opinion about the character

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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___________________________________________________________________________________________________

©GinaKennedy

Chapters 21-25

Vocabulary: astonished- to fill with sudden wonder and joy

concoctions- a mixture of several ingredients

grotesque- nasty, awful

monstrous- extremely huge and gigantic

preserve- to keep up or maintain

reconsider- consider something again, rethink

remedy- something that cures a disease

refuge- shelter or protection from danger

Why did Stanley agree to teach

Zero to read and write? Cite

evidence from the text. ________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

____________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

Why was Stanley surprised that

Zero was able to calculate

numbers quickly? _____________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________

Use astonished, concoctions and grotesque in three sentences

referring to the events in Chapters 21-25.

astonished:__________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

concoctions:________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

grotesque:__________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

__

When Stanley went back to his hole, it had already been

dug. What inference did he make about who dug it for him.

What evidence in the text supported his inference? __

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________

What conclusion did Stanley reach

about the gold tube? _____________

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

Why did Stanley infer that Zero was very smart when he first

started working with him?___________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

©GinaKennedy

Exp

How did Green Lake of Katherine Barlow’s

time contrast with Green Lake of Stanley’s

time?______________________________________ ____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

_________________________________

Describe how Stanley’s grandfather survived

the desert._________________________________ ____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

_____________

Why was Katherine unhappy when Sam had

completed all of the repairs on the school

building?___________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

________

____________________________________________

___________

Use monstrous, preserve and reconsider in three sentences referring to the events in Chapters 21-

25.

monstrous:_____________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

preserve:______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

reconsider:____________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

____

How did Mr. Sir punish Stanley?___________________ ________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

_____________________________________

Why wasn’t Sam allowed to attend classes at the school along with the other men in town?__________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

©GinaKennedy

Exp

What evidence did the author provide that

Sam returned Katherine’s feelings of

affection?__________________________________ ____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

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____________________________________________

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____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

Why do you think the author introduced

Katherine Barlow to the story? What value did

she add? _____________________________ ____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

_____________

Illustrate a picture of Sam from a scene in

Chapter 25. Then write a caption describing his

character in 2-3 sentences.

Use remedy and refuge in two sentences referring to the events in Chapters 21-25.

remedy:________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

refuge:__________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

reconsider:______________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Why do you think Sam was treated unfairly in the

community at the banks of Green Lake? ________ _________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

_______________________________

Will not talking about a problem make it go

away? Why or why not?_______________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

_____________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

____

Caption:

©GinaKennedy

Write 2-3 interesting facts (complete sentences) for each category below.

“Rattlesnakes” Directions: In Holes, the boys find several rattlesnakes in the desert. Research rattlesnakes and

answer the questions below. (Use Complete Sentences)

Physical description of rattlesnakes:

History of Rattlesnakes:

Geography of Rattlesnakes:

Two Other Fun Facts about Rattlesnakes:

©GinaKennedy

Chapters 26-28

Use delirious, deprive, drought and

feeble in four sentences referring to the

events in Chapters 26-28.

delirious:_______________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

______________________________________

deprive:________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

drought:________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

feeble:_________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

Vocabulary: delirious- wild with excitement or enthusiasm

deprive- to withhold something from someone

drought- long period without rain

feeble- physically weak

hazy- not clear or lacking clarity

holstered- a carrying case for a firearm

rummage- to search thoroughly

What did Stanley infer about his canteen when Mr. Sir

disappeared with it? Why didn’t he drink from it? ____

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

______________________________

According to legend, how had Green Lake become as

it was when Stanley came to “camp”?_________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

___

Why did the heirs write out their questions?

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_____________

Describe the amazing discovery Stanley made about

Hector. Did it change the way Stanley felt about him?

_______________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

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________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

Why did Trout Walker lead the angry

mob to destroy the schoolhouse?___

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

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_____________________________________

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_____________________________________

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_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

___________________________

Explain why Katherine become an

outlaw?_____________________________

____________________________________

____________________________________

____________________________________

____________________________________

©GinaKennedy

What character in the story intrigues you the most

and why?______________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

Use hazy, holstered, and rummage in three

sentences referring to the events in

Chapters 26-28.

hazy:______________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

holstered:_________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

rummage:_________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

wary: _____________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

Why did Trout Walker and his wife Linda

confront Kate when she returned to Green

Lake?_____________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

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___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

_____________

How did Katherine change Trout and Linda’s

plans? Cite evidence from the text.______________

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

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_________________________________________________

________________________________

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

_________________________________

_________________________________________________

_______________________________

_________________________________________________

________________________________

Why do you think there was so much racial

prejudice during the time of Sam and Kate?

____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

___________________________

In your opinion? Why did Green Lake dry up?__

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________

Explain why you think ZigZag started the fight

with Stanley. ________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

________________

©GinaKennedy

Green Lake and More… Directions: Illustrate a detailed setting from each chapter below.

Chapter 26:

Chapter 27:

Chapter 28:

©GinaKennedy

Chapters 29 -35

Vocabulary: accelerated- to cause faster or greater activity

deftly- skillful and clever

mirage- optical phenomenon

parched- to completely dry

random- aimless pattern

systematic- something that just starts to happen on its own

without thinking

ventilation- a supply of fresh air

ward- a division or district of a town

What surprised you most about

these chapters?_______________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

Why did Zero run away from camp? Why

didn’t anyone try to stop him?___________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

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_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

____________________________________

_________________________________________

____________________________________

Use accelerated, deftly and mirage in three sentences

referring to events in Chapters 29-35.

accelerated:__________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

deftly:________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

mirage:_______________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

What were two possible reasons that the last hole

was about to be dug?______________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

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____________________________

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___________________________________________________

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___________________________________________________

____________________________

___________________________________________________

____________________________

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____________________

___________________________________________________

____________________

___________________________________________________

____________________

What did Stanley see when there was

a great flash of lightning over the

mountains?__________________________

____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

©GinaKennedy

Briefly describe the incident involving Zigzag,

Stanley and Zero. _____________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

__________________

How had the Atlas Clearing changed since the last

time Elijah had been there?

How did the warden plan to cover up

Zero’s disappearance?__________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

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__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

________________________

•

Use parched, random and systematic in three

sentences referring to events in Chapters 29-35.

parched:__________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

random:__________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

systematic:________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

_

soothsayer:________________________________________

How did the boys treat Stanley when they

learned that Zero was digging his hole for him?

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

___________________

Why did Stanley dig Zero’s hole after Zero ran

away?______________________________________

____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

___

List three things you would do in order to ensure

your own survival in the desert.

1.

2.

3

Why did Stanley run away from the camp?

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________

©GinaKennedy

Where did Stanley find Zero? How had he survived?

Why do you think Stanley felt like he had to find

Zero?_____________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

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___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

_

Explain why Stanley walked toward the mountain

that looked like a fist. ______________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

__________

___________________________________________________

__________

Pretend you are Stanley writing a note to the

guys back at the camp. Tell about all of the

dangers you are facing in the desert.

Use ventilation and ward in two sentences

referring to events in Chapters 29-35.

ventilation:___________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

ward:________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

_________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

How did Sam and Katherine’s past affect

Stanley and Zero’s present situation?________-

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

_________

©GinaKennedy

8.

1. Fortunately, _____________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Unfortunately, _____________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Fortunately, _____________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Unfortunately, _____________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Fortunately, _____________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Unfortunately, _____________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Fortunately, _____________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Unfortunately, _____________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Fortunately, _____________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Unfortunately, _____________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

“Fortunately/Unfortunately”

Directions: Create five sets of “fortunately/unfortunately” situations using events that have

taken place in Chapters 1-35. You may exaggerate and use humor if necessary.

For Example: Fortunately, Zero’s learned a lot from his tutoring classes with Stanley and Stanley didn’t have to dig as many holes. Unfortunately, the other boys were making fun of Stanley for letting Zero dig his holes.

©GinaKennedy

Sights and Sounds Directions: Holes is a novel filled with strange sights and sounds. Look back over the novel and

find examples of how the author appealed to the five senses in his writing. List the examples in

the chart below with a brief description of what is said and where it is found.

Sight Sound Touch Taste Smell

©GinaKennedy

Chapters 36-40

Vocabulary: altitude- height above sea level

contritely- feeling guilty

defy- to exceed other’s expectations or go against their

wishes

frail- weak and feeble

increments- small parts of a whole

leeches- bloodsucking worms

precipice- a cliff with an overhanging face

protruding- something that sticks out

Now that you’ve learned more,

explain why Zero was so eager

to go along with Stanley toward

the mountain that looked like a

fist. ___________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

How did Stanley help Zero

continue toward the mountain?

______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

________

Use altitude, contritely and defy in three sentences referring to

events in Chapters 36-40.

altitude:_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

contritely:___________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

defy:________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

What did Stanley find peculiar about the weeds and bugs

surrounding the mountains?_____________________________

_______________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

_______________

Illustrate the food item that Stanley

found buried in the mud.

©GinaKennedy

Exp

Why did Stanley think it would be more

difficult for the Warden to destroy his records

than for her to destroy Zero’s?________________

___________________ _________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

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_____________________________________________

_________________________

Why was it really difficult for Stanley and Zero

when they reached the end of Green Lake?_

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

________

____________

Do you have more or less respect for Zero

after these chapters? Explain. _______________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

__________________________________________

Use frail, increments and leeches in three sentences referring to events in Chapters 36-40.

frail:___________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

increments:____________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

leeches:_______________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

penance:______________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Illustrate how Stanley got Zero up the mountain. Write a

caption to describe your drawing.

Describe what caused the foul odor that Stanley

smelled on the mountain. _______________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

______

Caption:

©GinaKennedy

Exp

What saved Becca Tennyson when she almost

died from eating spoiled meat? How did this

relate to Stanley and Zero?__________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

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_________________________

Describe how the time at Camp Green Lake

changed Stanley. __________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________ ____________

What did you learn about Stanley in these

chapters that surprised you? _________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

Use precipice and protruding in two sentences referring to events in Chapters 36-40.

precipice:_______________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

protruding:______________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

leeches:________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________pe

What do you suppose gave Stanley the strength

he needed to get up the mountain and carry Zero

as well? What was he most likely thinking? _______

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

Why did Stanley most likely call Zero by his last

name as they were climbing the mountain?

Should have he always been doing that? ______

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

Why might have Stanley felt that death would

be a relief?__________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

©GinaKennedy

Changing Characters.. Directions: Generally, characters have a problem and then they solve the problem and then

change in some way to become a better person. Explain four ways that a character in Holes had a

problem, solved it and then became a better person.

Problem:_______________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

Solve/Change:__________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

______________

Problem:_______________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

Solve/Change:_________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

______________

Problem:_______________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

Solve/Change:__________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

______________

Problem:_______________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

Solve/Change:_________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

______________

©GinaKennedy

Chapters 41-45

Use adjacent, contaminate and

distinctive in three sentences referring

to the events in Chapters 41-45.

adjacent:____________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

____________________________________

contaminate:________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

distinctive:___________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

__

Vocabulary: adjacent- connected to something else

contaminate- to make something impure with a

harmful material

distinctive- having a special quality

fugitive- a person who is illegally fleeing from a lock-

down facility, runaway

inexplicable- incapable of explaining for one’s actions

precarious- living life carelessly, unstable

raspy- hoarse voice

suppress- withhold something

Why didn’t Zero understand that he was stealing Clyde

Livingston’s shoes? ______________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

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____________

______________________________________________

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____________________________________________

______________________________________________________

Describe how Zero had become

homeless. __________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

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_____________________________________

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_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_________________

How did Zero hide the absence of

his mother at the various homeless

shelters in which he stayed?________

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

What did Zero do when he realized he had been wrong to

take the shoes? __________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________

If you could find a long lost treasure, describe what you

would want it to look like and what the treasure would

be?___________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

___

©GinaKennedy

Why did Stanley and Zero eventually go back to

Camp Green Lake?

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________

Use fugitive, inexplicable and precarious in

three sentences referring to the events in

Chapters 41-45.

fugitive:____________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

________________________________________

inexplicable:_______________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

precarious:________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

shard:_____________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

Explain why Stanley wished he had kept

the shoes.________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

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__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

____________________________________

Illustrate what caused the gashes in Zero’s hand. Add

a caption to explain your drawing.

:

Illustration

Do you think the Warden knew about

Stanley’s and Zero’s plan all along? Defend

your answer with evidence from the text.

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

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____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

_________

Describe why Stanley and Zero’s return was

much easier than when they left._______________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

____________________________

Caption:

©GinaKennedy

Caption:

What was the Sploosh?__________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

____________________________________

Use raspy and suppress in two sentences

referring to the events in Chapters 41-45.

raspy:_______________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

___________________________________________

suppress:___________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

_______________________________________

meticulous:_________________________________

____________________________________________

Describe the surprise Stanley faced as he

dug the hole.____________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

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__________________________________________

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__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

____________________________________

Illustrate below where the shoes landed after Zero

threw them. Add a caption to explain your drawing.

:

Illustration

Why do you think Stanley never became sick

from drinking the Sploosh?___________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

Why do you think Stanley was glad Zero had

thrown the shoes from the overpass? __________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

All in all, do you think Zero should have been sent

to a juvenile facility? Explain. ___________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________

©GinaKennedy

Compare and Contrast Directions: By now you’ve gotten to know Stanley’s and Zero’s characters quite well. Compare

their similarities and differences on the chart below. Include at least three in each category.

MAHS.

Stanley

Zero

ALIKE

DIFFERENT

©GinaKennedy

Cliffhanger..

Directions: A cliffhanger is usually placed at the end of the chapter to encourage readers to continue

on to the next part. Describe the cliffhanger that the author included at the end of Chapter 45.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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___________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Illustrate below your prediction of what a scene from the last five chapters of the novel might look like.

Be as detailed as possible.

©GinaKennedy

Chapters 46-50

Use authentic, exaggerated and

frantic in three sentences referring to

the events in Chapters 46-50.

authentic:___________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

exaggerated:________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

frantic:_______________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

___________________________________

Vocabulary: authentic- not false or copied

exaggerated- increase the truth with small lies

frantic- desperate or wild with excitement

incarcerate- to imprison or confine

infested- to be invaded by unwanted animals or

insects

innocent- free from being wrong

rigid- stiff or unyielding

strenuous- tiring or difficult physical movement

What connection was there between Zero’s reading

ability and him being able to keep Stanley’s suitcase in his

possession? ____________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

__________________

How did Stanley divert his fear when he and Zero were

stuck in the lizard infested hole? What did that tell you

about Stanley’s survivor skills? __________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

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_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_________________________

How did Stanley learn that he had

been declared innocent of stealing

Clyde’s shoes from the homeless

shelter? ____________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_

Do you like Stanley more or less after

reading these chapters? Explain.___

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________

Why did the Warden assume that the lizards were not

hungry? When did she realize she had been wrong?_______

___________________________________________________________

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___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

©GinaKennedy

Explain why the lizards hadn’t bitten Stanley and

Zero.___________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________

Use incarcerate, infested and innocent in

three sentences referring to the events in

Chapters 46-50.

incarcerate:________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

infested:___________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

__________________________________________

innocent: _________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

What was Stanley’s lawyer’s reasoning for

removing Stanley and Zero from the camp?

__________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

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___________________________________________

___________________________________________

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___________________________________________

_____________________________________

Cite evidence from the text for each answer.

Which character from the story….

Was most likable? Why?_______________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

Started the most trouble? Why?_________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

Would most likely hurt someone else to make

their own life better? Why?_____________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_

Is the most honest? Why?_______________________

What was your impression of Stanley’s lawyer?

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________

If there had been a curse, how was it broken?

What evidence from the text showed the

curse was broken? __________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

__

©GinaKennedy

Describe why the author may have decided to

title this novel, Holes?____________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________

Use rigid and strenuous in two sentences

referring to the events in Chapters 46-50.

rigid:________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

strenuous:___________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

innocent: _________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

The climax of a story usually occurs at the

most exciting or important point of the plot.

Where do you think the climax of Holes

occurred? Why was the event so

important to the story?___________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

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__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

_________________________________________

Do you believe there was a curse on the

Yelnats? Or do you think it was just a series of

coincidences? Cite evidence from the text in

your answer. __________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

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_______________________________________________

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_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

In your opinion, who was singing to Hector at

the end of the movie? Cite evidence from

the text in your answer. ___________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

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___________________________________________

_______________________

©GinaKennedy

“Text Exchange” Directions: Pretend that two years after the novel ended, Stanley and Zero had a text

exchange, what might that text exchange look like?

Stanley:____________________________________________

___________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Zero:___________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

________________________

Stanley:____________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

Zero:___________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

________________________

Stanley:____________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

_

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

_____________

Zero:___________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

________________________

©GinaKennedy

Digging into the Main Events Directions: Holes is a complicated story with many twists and turns. The story goes back generations of

the Yelnatses. The story includes many days of digging holes and endless discoveries. Fill in the cause

and effect chain below to recall important events from the story.

First, list the top four major events of the story and then determine the cause and effect of each event.

Major Event #1:_______________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Cause of the Event: ____________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Effect of the Event: _____________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Major Event #2:_______________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Cause of the Event: ____________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Effect of the Event: _____________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Major Event #3:_______________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Cause of the Event: ____________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Effect of the Event: _____________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Major Event #4:_______________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Cause of the Event: ____________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Effect of the Event: _____________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

©GinaKennedy

By Louis Sachar

List and describe two ways the author’s writing style in

this novel made the story more interesting.

1.___________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

2. ___________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

Explain the author’s purpose for writing

this novel: ___________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

_______________________

Write a summary below for this novel using the

“somebody wanted so but then” strategy.

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

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_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

Based on what you have read in this

novel, what two conclusions could you

draw about Stanley’s life ten years

after the end of the novel?

1.

2.

HOles

Explain the general mood of this story, or

how the author made you feel while you

were reading this novel. Use mood words

such as silly, angry and so on in your

description to defend your answer._______

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

______________

_________________________________________

______________

_________-

©GinaKennedy

Directions: Each of the following themes are among those used in Holes. Read the

themes below and provide an event from the story to support how each theme was

included by the author in the novel.

Fate:

Free Will:

Choices:

Power:

Transformation:

Man and the Natural World:

“HOLES” Themes

©GinaKennedy

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

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_____________________________________________________________________________________

Persuasive Essay: At a very young age, Zero and Stanley got a taste of our legal system. Do you

think juveniles (under 18) who are found guilty of a crime should be treated just like adults with the

same punishments or should they be treated differently? If so how should they be treated differently?

Write a one page essay below persuading others to think like you do. Provide at least three reasons to

defend your opinion.

©GinaKennedy

Directions: Challenge yourself and write an alliteration sentence about each of

the events from Holes listed below. In each sentence include at least five words

that start with the same sound.

For example: Bad boys belong in a bodacious broiling desert.

1. Stanley is headed on a bus for Camp Green Lake.

2. Stanley’s family has a history of bad luck.

3. Stanley and the boys digging holes.

4. Stanley runs away.

5. The boys return from the desert.

Bonus: Create your own alliteration sentence about anything in the novel.

Awesome, Amazing Alliteration

©GinaKennedy

Directions: Conflict in literature refers to the clash opposing forces. There are

three major forms of conflict. Use the chart below to record how each is

evident in the novel. (Include two examples for each section.)

Person

Vs.

Person

Person

Vs.

Nature

Person

Vs.

Self

“Holes” Conflict Chart

©GinaKennedy

Choose one character trait to describe each character below. Use evidence from the

novel’s text to defend each choice.

“Holes” Character Analysis

Stanley Yelnats:________________________________________________________________________________

Why?__________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Zero:___________________________________________________________________________________________

Why?__________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Warden:___________________

Why?_________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

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_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

___________________

X-Ray:___________________________________________________

Why?____________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

______

Mr. Pendanski:_______________________________________

Why?___________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

______

©GinaKennedy

Elya Yelnats:___________________________________________________________________________________

Why?__________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Sam the Onion Man: ____________________________________________________________________________

Why?__________________________________________________________________________________________

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Derrick Dunne:________________

Why?_________________________

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Miss Katherine:__________________________________________________________________________________

Why?__________________________________________________________________________________________

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©GinaKennedy

Directions: Explain how each form of figurative language below could be

related to an event in Holes.

1. “Don’t judge a book by its cover”:

2. “What you don’t know, can’t hurt you”:

3. “The early bird gets the worm”:

4. “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks”:

5. “Two wrongs don’t make a right”:

6. “Every cloud has a silver lining”:

7. “Hope for the best and prepare for the worst”:

8. “He who laughs last, laughs longest”:

Holes: Figurative Language

©GinaKennedy

“Bo

ok

Jack

et”

Dire

ction

s: Yo

u w

ill be

de

sign

ing

a n

ew

bo

ok ja

cke

t for th

e b

oo

k, H

ole

s. Yo

u w

ill ne

ed

to d

ec

ide

wh

at im

ag

e y

ou

wo

uld

like

to

ha

ve

on

the

co

ve

r. On

the

ba

ck y

ou

will n

ee

d to

write

a su

mm

ary

of th

e b

oo

k a

nd

two

“o

ne

pa

rag

rap

h” re

vie

ws.

©GinaKennedy

Holes “End of the Book” Projects Name: Date:

Create a (poster size)

newspaper that is about

the entire novel, Holes,

Include such things as: • classified ads

• obituaries

• editorials written by

one of the boys at

the camp

• cartoons

• stories about what

the characters

adventures

• and so on

The newspaper should look

neat and organized with a

super catchy title and

headlines.

Write a ten page tall-tale

story book that portrays

Stanley as a tall tale hero.

Make sure your story has

the qualities of a tall tale: • A larger-than-life, or

superhuman, main

character with a

specific job.

• A problem that is

solved in a funny way.

• Exaggerated details

that describe things as

greater than they

really are.

Include 1-2 paragraphs and

an illustration on every

page.

Create a set of eight

Holes themed “Who Am I”

character trading cards

using 5” x 7” index cards.

On each card write a two

paragraph description of

one of the characters from

the novel without ever

mentioning their name. On

the backs of

the trading

cards, write

the names of

the characters

in very small

print.

Write a six stanza

poem about the boys at

Camp Green Lake and

their antics throughout

the novel. Write the

poem as if you are the

Warden from her

perspective. Include at

least two illustrations with

your poem.

Glue your poem and

illustrations

on a

poster

for display.

Holes was recreated

into a Walt Disney movie.

Create a full sized poster

that would have

advertised the movie

when it was first

produced. On the poster

include a full sized

illustration, the main stars

in the movie

and two

critics’

reviews.

Create a detailed

poster sized treasure map

of Camp Green Lake and

the surrounding area. On

the map include a short

paragraph about

something that happened

at each location (at least

six locations).

The map

should be

organized,

neat and

attractive.

Pretend that ten

years have gone by since

the end of the novel. Write

a two page sequel to

Holes, telling what has

happened in

the lives of the major

characters.

Add an

illustration to

accompany

the sequel.

Create a science

board display with a

theme of the biome:

deserts. The science

board should teach other

students about deserts:

the types of animals and

creatures that can be

found in a desert, the

climate of a desert, and

where deserts can be

found geographically.

Write a twenty

question true or false quiz

about the text in Holes for

another student to take.

Include an answer key.

Complete three projects in tic tac toe order.

©GinaKennedy

“Holes” Project Rubric:

The projects were complete and all of the necessary

components were included…………………………………40 Points

Spelling, Punctuation, Grammar……………………………20 points

Creativity and Originality…………………………..………..20 Points

Projects are Attractive and Organized…………………….20 Points

Total Possible………………………………………………….100 Points

Student’s Name:

Total Points:

Grade:

©GinaKennedy