EDUCAToRS GUIDE

Dear Educator,
As the author/screenwriter and director of Holes, we are proud of its
translation from page to screen. We believe that the film carries a powerful
human message.
The boys living at Camp Green Lake have all lived hard-luck lives. Each
carries the scars of a world that all too often forces kids to confront the
harsh realities of homelessness, poverty, abuse, absent authority figures,
and illiteracy. Though these are difficult topics, the ultimate message of
the film is one of redemption and hope.
We think you and your students will feel great sympathy for the kids at
Camp Green Lake, especially Stanley Caveman Yelnats and Hector Zero
Zeroni. You will like the quirky characters, intricate plot, the adventure
story, and most of all, the message that friendship and learning really
matter. Stanley and Zero are both kids having a tough time making it in
the world around them. Through perseverance, loyalty, and courage, they
rise to become accepted as heroes by the boys who previously rejected
them. Stanley is able to end a family curse because he takes the time to
teach and stand by a friend. Zero solves a hundred-year mystery through
his newfound ability to read.
Our preview audiences have told us that Holes is a great film with a great
message. We hope that this Educators Guide, the educational poster, and
the web site help you as an educator to reinforce the lessons learned in
both the novel and the film. We know that these materials can serve as
integral parts of a thoughtful and rewarding learning experience. If our
film can serve to make your kids more excited about reading, inspire them
to go out and mentor other kids to read, or simply engage them to dig
deeper into other subject matter, then we have all succeeded.
We are excited to bring both the film and these educational materials to
you. We hope you enjoy them.
Best wishes,

Louis Sachar, Author/Screenwriter

Andy Davis, Director

CONTENTS
Using tHis GUIDE
This guide is designed for teachers
to help integrate the film Holes into
the classroom. All lessons are targeted to students in grades 58 and
comply with national content standards. Each lesson also includes an
adaptation with suggestions for
how to scale the lesson for use with
younger students. The reproducible
worksheets and lesson plans cover
subject areas including language
arts, science, history, and technology.
Our Making Connections page shows
you how lessons can fit together and
be taught as a comprehensive series.
For an overview of content standards
correlations in this guide, please see
the chart on the National Educational
Standards page.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
WRITER
Janet Walters, Ed.M.
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Jean Kwon, Ed.M.
Karin LeMaire Crounse
REVIEWERS
Barbara Dorff, M.Ed.
Social Studies Specialist and Texas Secondary
Teacher of the Year, 2002
Dallas Independent School District
Dallas, TX

About The Movie

Making CoNNections

Lesson 1. Zero The Hero, Trout The Lout Character Study

Lesson 2. Conflicted Examining Conflicts At Camp Green Lake

Lesson 3. Flashbacks Illuminating The Past To Brighten

The Present

Lesson 4. Chain Reactions Cause And Effect

10

Lesson 5. Like It Or Not? Write A Review Of Holes, The Movie

11

Lesson 6. Two Lives Collide Stanley And Zero

14

Lesson 7. The Desert Biome

15

Lesson 8. Park Ranger In Training

16

Lesson 9. Leapin Lizards And Other Facts About Reptiles

And Amphibians

18

Lesson 10. Jim Crow Laws And The American South

20

Lesson 11. Westward Expansion Chief Josephs Words

Of Surrender

22

Lesson 12. The Primary Source

24

National Educational Standards Chart

25

Useful References

Susie Sung, M.Ed.

3rd Grade Teacher
Fiske Elementary School
Lexington, MA

COPY EDITORS
Alissa Farber, Citizens School Fellow
David Kramer, Citizens School Fellow
Barbara Byrne, Ed.M., Former 7th Grade Teacher, NJ

John Evan Roberts, Ed.M.

7th Grade Science and 9th Grade English Teacher
Fowlerville Junior High School
Fowlerville, MI

Special thanks to: Jack Pan, Micheal Flaherty, Deborah

Kovacs, and Erin Mackey

Julie Cohen, MLS

Director of Libraries, K-12
Berkshire Country Day School
Stockbridge, MA

This guide may be reproduced for educational purposes

only. Cover art reprinted courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures
Distribution. 2003 Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
and Walden Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Stills,
text, and design 2003 Walden Media, LLC. Walden
Media and the Walden Media skipping stone logo are
trademarks of Walden Media, LLC. All rights reserved.

ABOUT

THE MOVIE

Based on the award-winning book by Louis Sachar, Holes is a funny and poignant coming-of-age adventure.
It tells the story of Stanley Yelnats (Shia LaBeouf) an unusual young hero, dogged by bad luck stemming
from an ancient family curse. Perpetually in the wrong place at the wrong time, Stanley is unfairly sentenced
to months of detention at Camp Green Lake for a crime he didnt commit. There, he and his campmates
Squid, Armpit, ZigZag, Magnet, X-Ray, and Zero are forced by the menacing Warden (Sigourney Weaver)
and her right-hand men Mr. Sir (Jon Voight) and Mr. Pendanski (Tim Blake Nelson) to dig holes in order to
build character. Nobody knows the real reason theyre digging all these holes, but Stanley soon begins to
question why the Warden is so interested in anything special the boys find. Stanley and his campmates
must stick together and keep one step ahead of the Warden and her henchmen as they plot a daring
escape from the camp to solve the mystery and break the Yelnats family curse.
About Louis Sachar
Louis Sachar was born in East
Meadow, New York. He still remembers how cool it was to visit his father
in his office on the 78th floor of the
Empire State Building. When he
was nine, Louis moved to southern
California. Today he calls Austin,
Texas home.

Bathroom. They were married in

1985 and their daughter Sherre was
born in 1987. She was four years old
when he started writing the Marvin
Redpost series hence Marvin has
a four-year-old sister. In his free
time, Louis likes to play bridge, hike
with his dogs, and spend time with
Carla and Sherre.

Louis met his wife, Carla, when he

visited her elementary school to
speak about his first book, Sideways
Stories from Wayside School. She
became the inspiration for the counselor in Theres a Boy in the Girls

Among Louis Sachars numerous

writing awards are: the Newbery
Medal, the National Book Award, the
School Library Journal Best Book of
the Year (all for Holes), and more

2003 Walden Media, LLC

than 30 individual state awards

for the best book of the year, all
voted upon by the children in the
respective states.
Louis says he had a wonderful first
experience in Hollywood much
better than he ever could have
imagined. Not only was he tapped
to write the screenplay for Holes,
he was on the set every day, sitting
next to the director, Andy Davis.
Be sure to watch for Louis cameo
appearance during the film!

www.holes.com

MAKING CONNECTIONS
You can teach the lessons in this guide as stand-alone activities or use the lessons in each subject as a
comprehensive series. See how it all connects!
Language Arts
Social Sciences
Lesson 1: Zero The Hero, Trout The Lout
Character Study

Lesson 6: Two Lives Collide Stanley

And Zero

Lesson 10: Jim Crow Laws And The

American South

Since this is an activity that can be

repeated every time students are
introduced to a new character,
have students keep these character
sketches in a folder. These pages
are helpful for the essay assignment
in Lesson 6.

The ideas and quotations collected in

Language Arts Lesson 1 are helpful
for this essay if students completed
character sketches for both Stanley
and Zero. The students can use that
information as evidence and examples for their essays.

Lesson 2: Conflicted Examining Conflicts

At Camp Green Lake

Science

Beyond the relationship between

Miss Katherine and Sam, the Onion
Man, the boys of Camp Green Lake
are aware of racial differences and
the strain it can put on relationships. These examples might be a
way to make the idea of the Civil
Rights movement more accessible
to students.

Conflict is often a result of characters

we call antagonists. Based on the
character sketches students have
made, which characters might be
antagonists? Protagonists?

The process of desertification, the

change of arable land into a desert
from natural or human causes, is
the process that creates the setting
of present day Camp Green Lake.
This lesson is the first of three on
deserts, desert wildlife, and issues
surrounding water use.

Lesson 3: Flashbacks Illuminating The

Past To Brighten The Present!

The flashbacks in Holes can be difficult for some students. Thinking

about this idea now may make the
discussion of cause and effect in
Lesson 4 more effective.
Lesson 4: Chain Reactions Cause
And Effect

Reviewing the work done in the lesson

on flashbacks may help facilitate the
discussion on cause and effect
because the chronological order of
events begins to be important for
unraveling the puzzle that is Holes.
Lesson 5: Like It Or Not? Write A Review
Of Holes, The Movie

Movies inevitably change parts of a

book when they are put into a script.
Push students thinking beyond
whether they simply like or dislike
the movie to support that opinion
with specific changes or omissions
that might alter the story.

Lesson 7: The Desert Biome

Lesson 8: Park Ranger In Training

Water, weather, and chemicals contribute to erosion and result in

many rock formations. In this lesson,
students will pretend to be park
rangers explaining the natural
history of specific rock formations.
Lesson 9: Leapin Lizards And Other
Facts About Reptiles And Amphibians

The arid conditions of the desert

biome require living things to adapt
in order to survive. Ask students
to propose these adaptations before
researching them. Even Stanley notices
his own body adapting to the conditions of Camp Green Lake.

Lesson 11: Westward Expansion Chief

Josephs Words Of Surrender

Chief Josephs speech, read aloud

in this lesson, is a primary source.
Primary sources are the subject of
Lesson 12.
Lesson 12: The Primary Source

Students will have prior knowledge

of a primary source. One such
example is Chief Josephs speech
in Lesson 11.

TIPS FOR THE

ONE-COMPUTER
CLASSROOM
The following are a few suggestions for
teachers with one or very few computers
available to students:
Hook up the computer to a video monitor
or a projector so that the class can browse
the web together. Invite students to participate by taking turns clicking on the
hyperlinks or reading information aloud.
Assign small groups of students to work
together on the computer for about 15 to
20 minutes in rotation. Give the rest of
the class other related activities to do
while waiting their turn on the computer.
If students have access to the Internet at
home, consider assigning certain activities
as homework. You can get them started
with the project in class and have them
finish their work at home.

2003 Walden Media, LLC

www.holes.com

Teacher Page

ZERO THE HERO, TROUT THE LOUT

CHARACTER STUDY
GRADE LEVEL: 58
SUBJECT: Language Arts
DURATION: One 40-minute class period
NATIONAL STANDARDS: Language Arts, Standard 3: Evaluation strategies
MATERIALS: Student worksheet, writing journals
Use this lesson to map out character traits for a character from Holes.

DESCRIPTION
A character sketch is a short piece of writing that reveals or shows something important about a person or fictional
character. Think about the different characters in Holes. Some are likeable, and some are not so likeable. Students
will choose one main character from Holes to diagram in the worksheet.

OBJECTIVES

PROCEDURES

To demonstrate an understanding of character traits

To recall facts, characters, and events from Holes, and
evidence for certain character traits

1. Instruct students to think about the character of

Trout Walker. Then work toward the idea of character
traits. Start with a problem or idea and then discover
the solution or answers along the way. Where in the
story do these character traits reveal themselves?

ADAPTATIONS
For younger students, follow the same procedures. In
place of the worksheet, have students draw a picture
of a character of their choice from the story. Instruct
students to draw the character in the scene that best
portrays the characters traits.

2. Copy the worksheet chart on the blackboard.

3. Fill in the chart with the students. Use Trout Walker
as an example.
4. Write Trout Walkers name in the center of the chart.

ASSESSMENT

5. Instruct students to think of four characteristic traits

of Trout Walker (see answer key). To initiate discussion: Describe Trout Walkers personality. What are
some distinguishing features or traits that describe
his character? What does Trout say or do in the book
or movie that proves your ideas? Write the four traits
in the oval shapes.

Design a five-point rubric to assess students on their

demonstrated understanding of character traits as
indicated by their word choice and scene selections
from Holes.

EXTENsIONS
Use the worksheet as a springboard for a creative
writing exercise. Have students imagine a character
they want to write a story about. Using the worksheet,
students can flesh out their characters personality
traits and brainstorm scenes or events that they want
to incorporate into their stories.
Use the filled-out worksheets as an opportunity to
discuss literary terms such as dynamic, static, round,
and flat which describe the characters. Place characters into their respective category.

6. For each trait, ask students to return to the Holes

book or movie and find two instances when the
character displayed each trait. Whenever possible,
have students find specific quotations and use them
as examples of evidence to write in the rectangles.
ANSWER KEY: Trout walker
Characteristic/trait: Rich
1. His family owned most of the peach trees and land east of
Green Lake.
2. Bought a new motorboat.
Characteristic/trait: Influential
1. Gets the townspeople to help him burn down the schoolhouse.
2. Knowing that Trouts behind the schoolhouse burning, the
sheriff doesnt do anything about it.

USEFUL RESOURCES
SparkNotes concise descriptions of the main Holes characters:
www.sparknotes.com/lit/holes/characters.html

Characteristic/trait: Conceited
1. No one ever says, No to Charles Walker.
2. Cant believe that Katherine doesnt like him.

Teacher Visions list of character traits:

www.teachervision.com/lesson-plans/lesson-2669.html

Characteristic/trait: Hateful
1. Trout kills Sam.
2. Trout calls Katherine The Devil Woman.

The Writers Guide to Character Traits, by Linda N.

Edelstein, Writers Digest Books, 1999.

2003 Walden Media, LLC

www.holes.com

STUDENT Page

ZERO THE HERO, TROUT THE LOUT

CHARACTER STUDY
Name

Date

what is A character Sketch?

A character sketch is a short piece of writing that reveals or shows something important about a
person or fictional character. Think about the different characters in Holes. Some are likeable, and
some are not so likeable. Choose one main character from Holes to diagram in the chart below.
Instructions
Write the name of the character you choose in the center. (Draw a picture of the character if you like.)
Then think of four character traits of this character (for example: loyal, brave, hostile). Write the four
traits in the oval shapes. For each trait, find two instances in the book or movie when the character
displayed each trait. Whenever possible, look for exact quotations by the character to use as proof.
Write these examples in the rectangles.
Proof

racteristic/trait
Cha

Proof

Proof

Proof

racteristic/trait
Cha

racteristic/trait
Cha

Proof

Proof

Character

Proof

2003 Walden Media, LLC

racteristic/trait
Cha

Proof

www.holes.com

teacher page

CONFLICTED
EXAMINING CONFLICTS AT CAMP GREEN LAKE
GRADE LEVEL: 58
SUBJECT: Language Arts
DURATION: One 40-minute class period
NATIONAL STANDARDS: Language Arts, Standard 4: Communication skills, Standard 6: Applying knowledge
MATERIALS: Writing journals
Use this lesson to understand conflict as a literary device that triggers action in a story.

DESCRIPTION

ASSESSMENT

Conflict is a problem or struggle in a story that triggers

action. There are six basic types of conflict:

Design a five-point rubric to assess students on their

demonstrated understanding of literary conflict based
on evidence in their essay or paragraph.

Person vs. Person: One character has a problem with

one or more of the other characters.

EXTENSIONS

Person vs. Society: A character has a problem with

some element of society: the school, the law, the
accepted way of doing things, etc.

Using a dictionary or language arts textbook, instruct

students to define several of the literary terms below
and identify examples of each from Holes.
Literary terms:
Action
Antagonist
Climax
Denouement
Falling action
Flashback
Foreshadowing
Local color
Plot
Protagonist
Rising action
Theme

Person vs. Self: A character has a problem deciding

what to do in a particular situation.
Person vs. Nature: A character has a problem with
some natural occurrence: a snowstorm, an avalanche,
the bitter cold, or any other element of nature.
Person vs. Fate: A character has to battle what seems
to be an uncontrollable problem. Whenever the problem
seems to be a strange or unbelievable coincidence, fate
can be considered the cause of the conflict.

Lead a discussion with students about the connections

between literary conflict and conflict in the real world.

PROCEDURES

Person vs. Machine: A character has to confront

technology or other elements of human creation
(as opposed to natural or divine creation).

1. Introduce a conflict from Holes for students to consider.

2. Review the six basic types of literary conflicts in class.
3. Ask students to identify one type of conflict they think
is represented in Holes.
4. Instruct students to write a five-paragraph essay
about the type of conflict they have identified. Review
with students the elements of the five-paragraph
essay (an opening paragraph with a thesis statement,
three body paragraphs with specific facts to support
the thesis statement, and a closing paragraph).

OBJECTIVES
To understand literary conflict
To identify a key literary conflict in Holes
To write a clear and logical five-paragraph essay
describing one type of conflict represented in the
Holes movie or book

ADAPTATIONS
Younger students should write a single, logical, and
clear paragraph describing one type of conflict
represented in Holes.
Write and define the six different types of conflict on
separate chart paper. Add book titles under each type
and continue to add to these lists throughout the year.

USEFUL RESOURCES
A Dictionary of Literary Devices: Gradus, A-Z, by Bernard Dupriez, Albert W. Halsall (Translator), University of Toronto
Press, 1991.
Literary Visions: Patterns of Action: Plot and Conflict in Drama, distributed by Annenberg/CPB Channel:
www.mkn.org/Handbook/splash_assets/html/L/LiteraryVisions/literary_visions20.html

2003 Walden Media, LLC

www.holes.com

teacher page

FLASHBACKS
ILLUMINATING THE PAST TO BRIGHTEN THE PRESENT!
GRADE LEVEL: 58
SUBJECT: Language Arts
DURATION: One 40-minute class period, one homework assignment
NATIONAL STANDARD: Language Arts, Standard 6: Applying knowledge
MATERIALS: Writing journals
Use this lesson to have students define flashback and identify several examples in Holes.

DESCRIPTION
A flashback is a literary device used to show the audience something that occurred before the story. It is used to
help us better understand what is happening now or to make us think differently about why certain events and
decisions are occurring.

OBJECTIVES

PROCEDURES

To define flashback
To demonstrate an understanding of flashback as a
literary device by identifying scenes in Holes where
flashback is used
To use understanding of flashback in a short, original
creative writing piece

1. Write the definition of flashback on the board or overhead projector. Ask students to copy the definition in
their journals.
2. Review with students some examples of flashbacks
from Holes.
3. Instruct students to respond to the following writing
prompt:
Describe flashback and explain how it is used in
telling the story, Holes.

ADAPTATIONS
None needed

ASSESSMENTS

4. For homework, have students write a two to threepage creative short story with one flashback scene.

Design a five-point rubric to assess students on their

demonstrated understanding of the term flashback as
indicated by their choice of scene or event from Holes.
Assess understanding through the use of a flashback
scene in their creative piece. How well does the flashback scene help us understand the story? Is the story
made clearer or more intriguing as a result of the
scenes addition?

EXTENSIONS
Define foreshadowing as a literary term. Ask students
to point to places in Holes where foreshadowing as a
literary device is put to use.

USEFUL RESOURCES
3 Tips for Writing Successful Flashbacks, by Nancy Kress: www.writersdigest.com/articles/column/kress/flashbacks.asp
Writeguide.coms Letter Writing Program Lesson Four: www.writeguide.com/Lesson%20Four%20-%20Flashbacks.PDF
A Dictionary of Literary Devices: Gradus, A-Z, by Bernard Dupriez, Albert W. Halsall (Translator),
University of Toronto Press, 1991.

2003 Walden Media, LLC

www.holes.com

TEACHER PAGE

CHAIN REACTIONS
CAUSE AND EFFECT
GRADE LEVEL: 58
SUBJECT: Language Arts
DURATION: One 40-minute class period
NATIONAL STANDARD: Language Arts, Standard 3: Evaluation strategies
MATERIALS: Synopsis or list of the main events in Holes, ordered by occurrence in the story, student worksheet
Use this activity to help students learn to distinguish and/or choose important information from a text, and also begin to understand
a narrative as a causal chain of events.

DESCRIPTION
Holes is a complicated story, spanning not only generations of Yelnatses but also numerous events and seemingly
endless days of digging holes. The tangled plot, including countless flashbacks, presents a great opportunity to
develop the ability to decode a written text or various story lines.

OBJECTIVES

PROCEDURES

To reconstruct temporal order in a narrative

To identify cause and effect relationships in the
development of a narrative

1. Ask students to choose four or five major events

from the story.
2. Direct students to select four final choices to use in
the chain.

ADAPTATIONS
For younger students, go to the Holes movie web site,
www.holes.com, to download movie images of major events
from the story. Students will cut out the pictures and
paste them on a separate sheet of paper in chronological
order. Discuss cause and effect.

3. Students will write each event in the appropriate

space of the chain, giving careful attention to the
chronological order of events.
4. Last, students will write the cause and effect of each
event in the related links of the chain.

ASSESSMENT
Design a five-point rubric to assess student success
in correctly reordering events chronologically, and to
assess the ability to identify and understand the cause
and effect for each event.

EXTENSIONS
Guide a discussion to encourage students to think
critically about cause and effect:
Ask students to consider the process that a writer goes
through in designing a story by asking the following
question: would the Holes story have been better if it
had been presented in straight chronological order?
Explore the differences between cause and effect in
a narrative and cause and effect in historical events.
Which is more complex? Why? How can we understand
history if no simple cause and effect chain exists?

USEFUL RESOURCES
Cause-and-Effect Writing Challenges Students, by Mary Daniels Brown, Education World, 2001:
www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr376.shtml
Methods of Development Cause and Effect: www.accd.edu/sac/english/mgarcia/writfils/modcause.htm
Ready to Write More: From Paragraph to Essay, by Karen Blanchard and Christine Root, Addison-Wesley Publishing
Company, 1997.

2003 Walden Media, LLC

www.holes.com

STUDENT PAGE

CHAIN REACTIONS
CAUSE AND EFFECT
Name

Date

Holes is a complicated story, spanning not only generations of Yelnatses but also numerous events
and seemingly endless days of digging holes. Fill in the cause and effect chain below to recall
important events from the story.
First, list four or five major events from the story, then pick four to write in the appropriate spaces
of the chain. Then, identify each events cause and effect, and put these in the appropriate spaces of
the chain. Remember to give careful attention to the chronological order of events.
Possible Events to Use in the Chain

Top Four Event Choices

1.
2.
3.
4.

of event 1
cause

t of event 1
Effec

of event 2
Cause

Effec

of event 4
cause

t of event 3
effec

t of event 2

of event 3
cause

t of event 4
effec

2003 Walden Media, LLC

www.holes.com

teacher page

LIKE IT OR NOT?
WRITE A REVIEW OF HOLES, THE MOVIE
GRADE LEVEL: 58
SUBJECT: Language Arts
DURATION: Two 40-minute class periods, one homework assignment
NATIONAL STANDARDS: Language Arts, Standard 4: Communication skills, Standard 5: Communication strategies,

Standard 6: Applying knowledge

MATERIALS: Sample movie reviews from various print media, background information about Holes at www.holes.com
Use this lesson to have students write a review of Holes, the movie.

DESCRIPTION
The aim of a movie review is to help readers decide if they should go see a particular film. Movie reviews are short
essays expressing the reviewers personal opinion about a particular movie. An effective movie review is informative
and enjoyable to read, and highlights important parts of the movie without giving the whole story away.

OBJECTIVES

PROCEDURES

To understand the components of a story and how it

is retold through film
To clearly express personal opinion in writing
To support personal opinion with facts and details

1. Prior to the lesson, ask students to bring in movie

reviews from various sources.
2. Discuss the purpose of a movie review and elements
of an informative and well-written review. Remind
students that a review is a type of persuasive writing
that includes an opinion supported by facts and details.

ADAPTATIONS
For younger students, focus the lesson on answering
three important questions for a book or movie review:
1. What is the movie about?
2. What is the movies theme?
3. Did I like it or not, and why?

3. Define and review literary terms that are potentially

useful such as plot, characters, setting, and theme.

ASSESSMENT

4. Discuss the elements that students may want to

examine, such as credible characters and special
effects.

Design a five-point rubric to assess students on their

ability to clearly express a written opinion of the movie.
Focus on the degree to which the students back up their
opinion with specific examples.

5. Instruct students to write a three to five-paragraph

review of Holes. It might be beneficial to designate
extra classroom time, or assign this writing piece
as homework.

EXTENSIONS
Allow access to a video camera for students to film
their review in a mock-televised format.
Ask a local reporter who has reviewed Holes to visit
the class. Prepare students for the visit by having them
write questions for the guest. Guide a class discussion
comparing the review written by the reporter to the
ones written by the students.
Publish a few of the reviews in the school newspaper.

USEFUL RESOURCES
Sample movie reviews can be found at the following web sites:
www.filmcritic.com
www.suntimes.com/index/ebert.html
www.rottentomatoes.com
PBS Kids offers student-written movie reviews: www.pbskids.org/zoom/reviews

2003 Walden Media, LLC

10

www.holes.com

teacher page

TWO LIVES COLLIDE

STANLEY AND ZERO
GRADE LEVEL: 58
SUBJECT: Language Arts
DURATION: One 40-minute class period
NATIONAL STANDARDS: Language Arts, Standard 3: Evaluation strategies, Standard 4: Communication skills
MATERIALS: Chalkboard/overhead projector, writing journals
Use this lesson to have students write an essay comparing and contrasting the characters of Stanley and Zero using a Venn diagram as a guide.

DESCRIPTION
In Holes, Stanley and Zero are two heroic figures drawn together by shared motivations to escape alive from the
torture and misery of Camp Green Lake. Each character has unique qualities, yet they are also alike in many ways.

OBJECTIVES

PROCEDURES

To use a Venn diagram to compare the two main

characters, Stanley and Zero
To write a compare and contrast essay

1. Discuss with students the ideas of comparing and

contrasting one thing to another. Music groups,
clothing, and even classes are things that are often
compared. Discuss the meaning of unique and
shared qualities.

ADAPTATIONS
For younger students, complete the Venn diagram as a
class. Instruct students to write a single, well-written
paragraph about one of the three categories, A, B, or C.

2. Draw a sample Venn diagram on the board or

overhead projector as follows:

ASSESSMENT
A

Design a five-point rubric to assess students on quality

of class contribution, completion of their own Venn
diagram, and demonstrated use and understanding of
the Venn diagram as a prewriting tool. The final essay
should be used as the final assessment tool.

(Stanley)

B
(Zero)

3. Ask students to draw the same diagram.

EXTENSIONS

4. Ask students to list unique qualities to describe

Stanley. Write these qualities in the Venn diagram in
section A. Give students the opportunity to look back
at their character study from Lesson 1 to help provide
evidence.

Define the qualities of a heroic character. What makes

Stanley a literary hero? What makes Zero a literary
hero? Write a paragraph explaining why. Use the web
site www.forbetterlife.org to find a good list of heroic
qualities.

5. Next, ask students to list unique qualities for Zero.

Have students write these details down in section B.
Write them in the Venn diagram on the board or
overhead projector.
6. In section C, have students write characteristics
shared by the two characters.
7. Review students answers aloud in class. Encourage
students to add to their lists.
8. Instruct students to write a compare and contrast
essay from their diagram. The first paragraph should
discuss characteristics about Stanley, drawn from the
first section. The second paragraph should describe
Zero. In the third paragraph, write about the characteristics shared by both characters.

USEFUL RESOURCES

Information on using a Venn diagram: www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/actbank/tvenn.htm

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Author/screenwriter, Louis Sachar, listens to director, Andy

Davis, describe his big upcoming scene.
Stanleys family.

Elya Yelnats asks Madame Zeroni for

fateful advice.

Stanley and Zero, full of onions and muddy water, discuss what they should do next.

Ex SCUSE me? Warden

Whos the neanderthal?

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Stanley takes a whiff of the mystery sneakers

from the sky they are perfect for his dads
experiments!
The boys of D-Tent celebrate and cheer as Stanley escapes to find Zero.

A yellow-spotted lizard.
Stanley and Zero discover SPLOOSH.

Stanley learns that Zig Zag is not happy with his

bargain with Zero.

Do you see any fences here...? Mr. Sir

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THE DESERT BIOME

GRADE LEVEL: 58
SUBJECTS: Science, Visual Arts
DURATION: Three 40-minute class periods
NATIONAL STANDARDS: Science, Standard 3: Life science; Visual Arts, Standard 1: Understanding and applying media,

techniques, and processes

MATERIALS: Reference materials about a desert biome, colored paper, scissors, felt-tip markers, other art supplies
at the teachers discretion
Use this lesson to have students divide up tasks to create an informative class bulletin board about the desert biome.

DESCRIPTION
Camp Green Lake is located in a desert biome, home to rattlesnakes, scorpions, and the much-feared (yet fictional)
yellow-spotted lizard. Biomes are large areas or environments that share the same general climate, or temperature
and rainfall. Desert biomes usually receive less than 10 inches of rain per year. In most deserts, the days are extremely
hot and nights are cool sometimes even freezing. Cacti are typical desert plants. They are succulents plants that
store water in their waxy leaves and stems. Animals in the desert biomes are often nocturnal, active only at night,
burrowing deep into the earth during the day to escape the heat and sun.

OBJECTIVES

PROCEDURES

To understand the scientific term biome

To demonstrate awareness of the characteristics of
a desert
To work cooperatively on a team project

1. Review the concept of biomes with students. Provide

examples of biomes such as tundra, savanna, or
tropical rainforest.

ADAPTATIONS
Students can also work independently or in small groups,
choosing their own topics for research and presentation.
While they read about and study deserts, have students
fill out a chart that covers the major characteristics of a
biome: animals, plants, temperature, rainfall, and deserts
of the world.

ASSESSMENT
Design a five-point rubric to assess students on working
collaboratively as a team, meeting deadlines, and
demonstrating an understanding of key traits of the
desert biome by presenting information in a clear and
appealing fashion.

2. Students are to work as a class to create an informative

desert biome bulletin board. To emphasize working
collaboratively, assign a collective class grade, depending on your classroom dynamics. This could serve as
an opportunity to demonstrate that collaborative work
is needed to solve todays ever more complex conservation issues.
3. Tell students the display is to include information
about the following: a descriptive overview, plants,
reptiles, spiders, scorpions, mammals, birds, and
other deserts of the world.
4. Organize students into teams of three or four.
5. Allow students one full class period to research and
plan their portion of the bulletin board and one full
class period to build it.

EXTENSIONS

6. Have students present their findings to the class.

Discuss with students the importance of conservation.

How can they help in conservation efforts locally and
around the world?

USEFUL RESOURCES
DesertUSA includes information and resources about the desert biome: www.desertusa.com
The Living Desert web site has information about plants and animals of the desert: www.livingdesert.org/home.html
The Worlds Biomes web site has information on the major biomes of the Earth:
www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/glossary/gloss5/biome/index.html

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teacher Page

PARK RANGER IN TRAINING

GRADE LEVEL: 58
SUBJECTS: Science, Language Arts, Visual Arts
DURATION: Three 40-minute class periods
NATIONAL STANDARDS: Science, Standard 4: Earth and space science; Language Arts, Standard 4: Communication

skills; Visual Arts, Standard 1: Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes
MATERIALS: Reference materials about rock formations, Internet access, a park ranger hat
Use this lesson to have students pretend to be park rangers explaining the natural history of a specific rock formation.

DESCRIPTION
Stanley and Zero escape from Camp Green Lake and take refuge atop Gods Thumb. Rock formations and outcroppings, like the fictional Gods Thumb, are often formed by erosion. Erosion is a process by which rock and other
materials in the Earths crust are broken down and carried away. Water, weather, and chemicals contribute to
erosion and result in many rock formations which geologists call hoodoos fantastic or bizarre rocks that look
like familiar shapes or objects.

OBJECTIVES

PROCEDURES

To research, collect, and organize information for a

brief oral presentation about rock formations
To understand how erosion helps to shape the Earths
surface
To speak clearly and authoritatively on a research topic

1. Read the description of Gods Thumb at the end

of chapter 29 in Holes. Ask students how this rock
formation might have formed.
2. Show students examples of various interesting rock
formations. Several good examples are on the Holes
movie web site, www.holes.com.

ADAPTATIONS
Arrange younger students into groups of two or three
for their research and presentations, and extend the
presentation time to five to six minutes. Have students
look at the various formations on the Holes web site
and have students come up with similes or metaphors
to describe them.

3. Assign a different formation to each student. A rock

formations list is provided on the Useful References
page in the back of this guide.
4. Remind students to pretend they are a park ranger
giving a brief presentation to a visiting group of students.
5. Allow students the remainder of class to research
their rock formations. Students must include the
following in a two to three minute presentation: name
of rock formation, location, size and unusual features,
how the formation was formed, age of the formation,
any interesting folklore or legend associated with the
formation, a book, magazine, or web site where people
can find out more, and visual aids.

ASSESSMENT
Design a five-point rubric to assess students on: inclusion
of required information in their presentation, creative
and effective use of visual aids, and quality of responses
to questions.

EXTENSIONS
Invite a park ranger, geologist, local historian, or
American Indian storyteller to class to discuss rock
formations in your state.

6. Have students wear the ranger hat, if appropriate to

grade level, while presenting and fielding questions
from the audience.

USEFUL RESOURCES
The National Park Service provides images and information: www.nps.gov
The US Geological Survey web site provides a glossary and other useful information: www.usgs.gov
The American Geological Institute for Education provides links to educators: www.agiweb.org/education

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TEACHER PAGE

LEAPIN LIZARDS
AND OTHER FACTS ABOUT REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS
GRADE LEVEL: 58
SUBJECTS: Technology, Science, Language Arts
DURATION: One 40-minute class period,
one homework assignment
NATIONAL STANDARDS: Technology, Standard 5: Technology research tools; Science, Standard 3: Life science;
Language Arts, Standard 7: Evaluating data, Standard 8: Developing research skills
MATERIALS: Computer with Internet connection and student worksheet
Use this lesson to help students develop Internet research skills by seeking facts about reptiles and amphibians on assigned web sites.

DESCRIPTION
In Holes, the fictitious yellow-spotted lizard is feared for its deadly bite. Herpetologists (scientists who study reptiles
and amphibians) assure us that the yellow-spotted lizard does not exist. There are, however, more than 6,000 known
reptile species to learn about, and some 2,400 different amphibian species, some of which are poisonous.

OBJECTIVES

PROCEDURES

To utilize the web for primary source information

on animals
To identify various reptiles and amphibians
To communicate found research in a creative manner
that suits the intended audience

1. Prepare for the class by familiarizing yourself with

the web sites that students will be utilizing:
The Columbus Zoo
(www.colszoo.org/animalareas/reptiles/reptext1.html)
The Smithsonian National Zoo
(www.fonz.org/animals/animalfacts.htm)
The United States Geological Surveys Field Guide
for Reptiles and Amphibians of Coastal Southern
California (www.werc.usgs.gov/fieldguide)

ADAPTATIONS
Younger students should work in groups, allowing the
teacher more time to spend with each group, and to help
encourage research. Have students draw a picture that
relates to the research that theyve found, and write one
to three sentences about their picture and findings.

2. Pose the following questions to students: How are

lizards and reptiles different from other types of
animals? Whats the difference between a reptile
and an amphibian? Discuss.

ASSESSMENT
Design a five-point rubric to assess students on
demonstrated competence in using the Internet to locate
specific pieces of information, and how the information
is incorporated into a creative and succinct idea for an
imaginary television documentary.

3. Pass out copies of the worksheet to students.

4. If computer accessibility is limited, consider having
students pair up or work together in small groups.
5. Each individual or group should submit one
worksheet.

EXTENSIONS
Using the information found in the research, have
students create posters around the findings. Present
the posters to the rest of the class.

USEFUL RESOURCES
Official Holes web site: www.holes.com
Official web site for the Animal Planet channel: http://animal.discovery.com/
Official web site for National Geographic: www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/
PBSs Nature videos from the series, The Reptiles: www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/index.html
Firefly Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians, by Tim Halliday (Editor), Kraig Adler (Editor), Firefly Books, 2002.
Herpetology (2nd Edition), by F. Harvey Pough (Editor), Robin M. Andrews, John E. Cadle, Martha L. Crump, Alan H. Savitzky,
Kentwood D. Wells, Prentice Hall, 2000.

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STUDENT PAGE

LEAPIN LIZARDS
AND OTHER FACTS ABOUT REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS
Name

Date

In Holes, the fictitious yellow-spotted lizard is feared for its deadly bite. Herpetologists (scientists
who study reptiles and amphibians) assure us that the yellow-spotted lizard does not exist. There
are, however, more than 6,000 known reptile species to learn about, as well as 2,400 different
amphibian species, some of which are poisonous.
ACTIVITY
STEP 1: Visit the web sites below, then jot down five interesting facts about reptiles and amphibians
that you find. Look for traits that are different from other animals such as mammals, fish, or birds.
How do they adapt to desert life?
Web site resources
The Columbus Zoo (www.colszoo.org/animalareas/reptiles/reptext1.html)
The Smithsonian National Zoo (www.fonz.org/animals/animalfacts.htm)
The United States Geological Surveys Field Guide for Reptiles and Amphibians
of Coastal Southern California (www.werc.usgs.gov/fieldguide)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
STEP 2: Choose one fact that you just discovered about a reptile or amphibian. Imagine that you now
have the power to create a television documentary about that animal. Who is the television show for?
Will your audience be students? Adults? Scientists? What is the title of your show? Create a brief
description of the show that could be published in your cable television guide. Use back of worksheet
if necessary.
Title:
Audience:
Description:

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teacher page

JIM CROW LAWS

AND THE AMERICAN SOUTH
GRADE LEVEL: 58
SUBJECT: Social Sciences
DURATION: One 40-minute class period
NATIONAL STANDARDS: Social Science, US History, ERA 5: Civil War and Reconstruction, ERA 9: Post-war United States
MATERIALS: Reference materials about the Civil Rights movement, writing journals
Use this lesson to have students read and take notes about the Civil Rights movement using mapping as a reading-to-learn strategy.

DESCRIPTION
In Holes, the people of Green Lake are uncomfortable and even hostile toward the affections shared between Miss
Katherine and Sam, the Onion Man. In Green Lake, it is against the law for a black man to kiss a white woman.
Such attitudes and laws were not uncommon in the late 1800s and even into the mid-1900s. Although the Thirteenth
Amendment to the Constitution freed blacks from slavery in 1865, blacks and whites remained largely segregated.
In the southern states especially, legislation known as Jim Crow laws were passed to legalize segregation. These
laws created separate areas for blacks and whites in public waiting rooms, restaurants, schools, and hospitals. The
name Jim Crow comes from a popular minstrel song, Jump, Jim Crow. The word minstrel refers to performers,
typically white men, who put black paint on their faces to mimic blacks. These performers sang, danced, and acted
happy and simple in an effort to make fun of black people. Jim Crow laws were in effect until the 1960s when segregation became illegal in the United States.

OBJECTIVES

ASSESSMENT

To gain a basic understanding of the Civil Rights

movement, historical antecedents, key figures, events,
and issues
To use reference materials to find relevant
information
To explore mapping as a reading-to-learn strategy

Design a five-point rubric to assess students on effort

and successful completion of the web. For evaluation
of retained information, a blank web can be used as a
culmination to assess what was learned.

EXTENSIONS
Discuss the term Jim Crow. What is particularly
demeaning and hurtful about the term? How does the
term stereotype black Americans? Ask students to write
a paragraph about why they think the source of the term,
in the song Jump, Jim Crow, is insulting to blacks.

ADAPTATIONS
For younger students, the goal should be awareness and
exposure to the Civil Rights movement. A read-aloud
book or short play that covers this topic would be most
appropriate. Two suggested picture books:
Goin' Someplace Special, by Pat McKissack, illustrated
by Jerry Pickney, Atheneum, 2002.
Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. by Doreen Rappaport, illustrated by Bryan
Collier, Jump at the Sun Publishers, 2001.

USEFUL RESOURCES
The PBS series, The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow provides a history of Jim Crow laws and the early Civil Rights movement:
www.jimcrowhistory.org
The National Civil Rights Museum highlights main actors from slave resistance onward: www.civilrightsmuseum.org
The Library of Congress American Memory web site offers multiple primary resources:
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/aaohtml/aohome.htm

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JIM CROW LAWS

AND THE AMERICAN SOUTH
PROCEDURES
1. Begin by reading excerpts from Holes that relate to
race and segregation as a springboard for learning
about the Civil Rights movement. Try starting with
chapters 25 (p. 109) and 26 (p. 114).

3. Direct students to relevant reference materials about

the Civil Rights movement.
4. Having students work independently, instruct students
to use mapping as a reading and note-taking strategy.

2. Review the meaning of the phrase Civil Rights movement. The phrase commonly refers to a period in the
1950s and 1960s when a number of organizations and
individuals, black and white, successfully challenged
legal segregation of the races.

5. Draw the below sample map on the board or overhead

projector for students to copy and complete as they
read about the Civil Rights movement.

Laws

People

Civil Rights Movement

Events (e.g., protests, marches, sit-ins)

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teacher page

WESTWARD EXPANSION
CHIEF JOSEPHS WORDS OF SURRENDER
GRADE LEVEL: 58 SUBJECT: Social Sciences DURATION: One to two 40-minute class periods depending on the amount of discussion
NATIONAL STANDARD: Social Science, US History, ERA 4: Expansion and reform
MATERIALS: No special materials needed
Use this lesson to have students reflect on the American Indian experience through the words of Chief Joseph.

DESCRIPTION
Stanley Yelnats great-grandfather, Stanley Yelnats the first of the Stanley Yelnatses (son of the no-good dirtyrotten pig stealer) loses his fortune while attempting to move west from New York to California. His journey is
cut short when his stagecoach is robbed by Kissing Kate, so Stanley settles in Texas instead of California.
Stanley Yelnats journey west was typical of the 1800s, the period of Westward Expansion in the United States.
Westward Expansion was a time when many people envisioned the western United States as a land of opportunity
and prosperity with the possibility of even finding gold. It was a time of pioneer heroism, adventure, and outlaws.
Westward Expansion also resulted in a time of great loss for American Indians, who were driven from their land
and forced to live on designated parcels of land called reservations.

OBJECTIVES
To understand United States Westward Expansion
and how it affected relations with American Indians
To reflect on the American Indian experience(s) of
Westward Expansion

ADAPTATIONS
Ask younger students to write two or three sentences
about the emotions they feel after hearing Chief Josephs
speech read aloud, and to give specific examples of
what part of the speech makes them feel that way.
Ask younger students to compare the experiences of
the American Indians and the U.S. soldiers. Have them
map out the hearts of the American Indians and the
American expansionists. What was important to both
parties?

ASSESSMENT
Design a five-point rubric to assess students on writing
clear and well-reasoned responses to the writing
prompt.

EXTENSIONS
For further study of the American Indian experience
go to www.holes.com to download the
Westward Expansion: The American Indian
Experience lesson plan.

USEFUL RESOURCES
PBS The West provides a short biography of Chief Joseph: www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/people/a_c/chiefjoseph.htm
For other important public statements by Chief Joseph visit: www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/resources/archives/six/jospeak.htm
This teacher-designed web quest lets students explore differences and similarities between various tribes and their respective
leaders: www.southeastern.k12.oh.us/SEHS/Media/HoppesWebquest/NAChiefsWebQuest.htm

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WESTWARD EXPANSION
CHIEF JOSEPHS WORDS OF SURRENDER
PROCEDURES
1. Review with students the motivating factors for
Westward Expansion wealth, land, and adventure.
Ranchers, farmers, merchants, and miners, among
others, made the move west. During the 1840s, the
United States acquired Texas, California, and the
Southwest. After the U.S. Civil War in the 1860s, the
migration west accelerated, and the U.S. Army focused
its military resources in that direction as well. As
more and more whites settled in the West, the U.S.
government demanded that the American Indians
move to reservations, removing tribes from land rich
in gold, silver, timber, oil, and farmland. On the reservations, American Indians were forced to live by the
whites laws and customs, and to speak English. Some
American Indian tribes fought to maintain their tribal
integrity and independence, and they resisted being
forced onto reservation land. The Cheyenne, Sioux,
Comanche, Kiowa, Apache, Arapaho, and Nez Perc
were some of the tribes who fought the most dramatically to resist reservation life.

I am tired of fighting. Our chiefs are killed.

Looking Glass is dead. Toohulhulsote is
dead. The old men are all dead. It is the
young men who say yes or no. He who led
the young men is dead. It is cold and we
have no blankets. The little children are
freezing to death. My people, some of them,
have run away to the hills, and have no

2. After several broken promises from the whites, the

Nez Perc, who lived where the states of Oregon, Idaho,
and Washington now come together, attempted to flee
the United States to Canada. U.S. soldiers caught up
with the Nez Perc just a few miles short of the
Canadian border and battles ensued. After several of
his people were killed, Nez Perc leader Chief Joseph
surrendered and the Nez Perc were relocated to
reservation land.

blankets, no food; no one knows where they

are perhaps freezing to death. I want to
have time to look for my children and see
how many of them I can find. Maybe I shall
find them among the dead. Hear me, my

3. Read aloud from Chief Josephs famous surrender

speech in class (at right).

chiefs, I am tired; my heart is sick and sad.

4. Ask students to think about Chief Josephs words.

What reasons does he give for surrendering? Compare
the effect of his language and choice of words to the
simple statement, I surrender. Discuss whether
surrendering can be a more courageous act than
continuing to fight.

From where the sun now stands I will fight

no more forever.
Chief Joseph

5. Ask students to write a paragraph expressing their

thoughts about surrender and courage. Can surrendering be more courageous than continuing a fight?
Why or why not?
6. Have students include an example from their own
lives when they either chose to surrender rather
than fight, or when they wished they had surrendered
instead of fighting, or vice versa. How could the outcome
of the situation have changed?

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THE PRIMARY SOURCE

GRADE LEVEL: 58

SUBJECTS: Technology, Social Sciences, Language Arts

DURATION: One 40-minute class period,
one homework assignment
NATIONAL STANDARDS: Technology, Standard 5: Technology research tools; Social Science, US History, ERA 4:
Expansion and reform; Language Arts, Standard 7: Evaluating data
MATERIALS: Access to the Internet, sample primary sources downloaded from the Internet
Use this lesson to introduce the concept of primary sources as historical records and to locate and evaluate a primary source from the Internet.

DESCRIPTION
Flashbacks to the Old West are intertwined in the movie Holes. The story lends itself well to the study of the
American West and Westward Expansion. Much of what students learn about the West, as with other subjects in
school, comes from textbooks that provide timelines and descriptions of historic events. Other items, however,
such as journal entries, photographs, letters, and posters, offer different perspectives and tap into students critical
thinking skills in unique ways. These types of primary sources also help to make history come alive.

OBJECTIVES
To demonstrate understanding of the difference
between primary and secondary sources
To seek primary sources of historic record using
the Internet
To evaluate and identify important features of a
primary source, such as the type of document, who
created it, what is communicated, and evident bias
of the document

ADAPTATIONS
Younger students should work in groups to research on
the Internet and discuss source questions in class. Ask
students to volunteer thoughts about the images they
found.

ASSESSMENT
Design a five-point rubric to assess students on
demonstrated competence in using the Internet to
locate a specific piece of information, their ability to
differentiate between primary and secondary sources,
and the degree to which they can evaluate a primary
source.

EXTENSION
Ask students to make a list of 10 primary sources for
a time capsule that would be representative of their
current year in school.
USEFUL RESOURCES
For primary resources check out the National Archives and Records Administration: www.nara.gov
For primary resources check out The End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center: www.endoftheoregontrail.org
The Library of Congress American Memory web site offers specific information on primary resources:
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/ndlpedu/lessons/primary.html
The American Memory web site includes a collection of photographs from the American West:
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/award97/codhtml/hawphome.html
Visit the Buffalo Bill Historical Center for information on Buffalo Bill and the American West: www.bbhc.org

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THE PRIMARY SOURCE

PROCEDURES
1. Show students a variety of primary sources that you,
the teacher, found on the Internet. The Library of
Congress web site (www.loc.gov) is an excellent
source of historic documents.
2. Pose a problem to the students. Ask them: What are
these documents? Where or when do they come from?
What information about history do we get from them?
3. The purpose of this lesson is to explore primary sources
as a record of history. Primary sources include items
such as journal entries, posters, photographs, and
letters. They are original documents and artifacts
from a particular time period.
4. Review with students the differences between primary
and secondary sources. While primary sources are
defined above, secondary sources are documents
created by people who were not present at the event
that occurred. History books and biographies are
examples of secondary sources.
5. Instruct students to work independently or in teams.
Tell each student to search the Library of Congress
web site to find an example of a poster or program
from Buffalo Bills Wild West Show. Remind students
to go beyond the first page of their search results to
see what they can find. Click on poster or program
images to enlarge. For a brief biography of Buffalo
Bill check out www.bbhc.org/bbm/biographyBB.cfm.
6. Instruct students to print out the document they find
and write down any details from the web site, such as
the date, the purpose, and the current location of the
original document (e.g., a museum or private collection).
7. Ask students to write two or three sentences answering
each of the following questions about their document:
What point of view towards the American West does
the poster or program convey? What was the purpose
of the poster or program? What are two things you can
learn about the time period from this poster?

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EDUCATORS GUIDE
NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS CHART

1. ZERO THE HERO, TROUT THE LOUT

2. CONFLICTED

3. FLASHBACKS
4. CHAIN REACTIONS
5. LIKE IT OR NOT?
6. TWO LIVES COLLIDE

7. THE DESERT BIOME

9. PARK RANGER IN TRAINING

ARTS
(NAEA)
ART 1 Understanding and applying
media techniques and processes

TEC 5 Technology research tools

ERA 9 Post war United States

TECH
(ISTE)

10. JIM CROW

11. WESTWARD EXPANSION

12. PRIMARY SOURCE

ERA 5 Civil War and Reconstruction

ERA 4 Expansion and reform

NSE 6 Personal and social

perspectives

SOCIAL SCIENCE
(NCSS)

8. LEAPIN LIZARDS

NSE 3 Life science

SCIENCE
(NAS)
NLA 8 Developing research skills

NLA 7 Evaluating data

NLA 6 Applying knowledge

NLA 5 Communication strategies

NLA 4 Communication skills

Lessons

NLA 3 Evaluation strategies

LANGUAGE ARTS (NCTE)

Standards Correlations
Language Arts
Zero The Hero, Trout The Lout Character
Study
National Language Arts, English, K12,
Standard 3 Evaluation strategies
Conflicted Examining Conflicts At Camp
Green Lake
National Language Arts, English, K12,
Standard 4 Communication skills
National Language Arts, English, K12,
Standard 6 Applying knowledge
Flashbacks Illuminating The Past To
Brighten The Present
National Language Arts, English, K12,
Standard 6 Applying knowledge
Chain Reactions Cause And Effect
National Language Arts, English, K12,
Standard 3 Evaluation strategies
Like It Or Not? Write A Review Of Holes,
The Movie
National Language Arts, English, K12,
Standard 4 Communication skills
National Language Arts, English, K12,
Standard 5 Communication strategies
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National Language Arts, English, K12,

Standard 6 Applying knowledge
Two Lives Collide Stanley And Zero
National Language Arts, English, K12,
Standard 3 Evaluation strategies
National Language Arts, English, K12,
Standard 4 Communication skills

Science
The Desert Biome
National Science, 58, Standard 3 Life
science
National Arts, Visual Arts 58, Standard
1 Understanding and applying media
techniques and processes
Leapin Lizards And Other Facts About
Reptiles And Amphibians
National Technology, K12, Standard 5
Technology research tools
National Science, 58, Standard 3 Life
science
National Language Arts, English, K12,
Standard 7 Evaluating data
National Language arts, English, K12,
Standard 8 Developing research skills

24

Park Ranger In Training

National Science, 58, Standard 3
Life science
National Science, 58, Standard 6
Personal and social perspectives

Social Sciences
Jim Crow Laws And The American South
National Social Science, US History,
512, ERA 5 Civil War and
Reconstruction
National Social Science, US History,
512, ERA 9 Post war United States
Westward Expansion Chief Josephs
Words Of Surrender
National Social Science, US History,
512, ERA 4Expansion and reform
The Primary Source
National Technology, K12, Standard
5Technology research tools
National Social Science, US History,
512, ERA 4Expansion and reform
National Language Arts, English,
K12, Standard 7Evaluating data

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USEFUL REFERENCES
Check out these useful references for further information on Holes:
WEB SITES
Holes, the official movie web site, www.holes.com
Walden Media, LLC, www.walden.com

PUBLICATIONS
Deborah Kovacs and Karin LeMaire, Holes: The Official
Movie Scrapbook (New York: Barnes and Noble Books,
2003).
Holes movie script excerpt, Holes: The Movie, Read,
vol. 52, no. 9 (December 20, 2002).

LESSON 8: PARK RANGER IN TRAINING

Rock Formation List

Jennifer J. Peters (adaptation of Holes movie script),

Holes: The Movie, Know Your World Extra, vol. 36,
issue 7 (January 10, 2003).

This is a general list of rock formations

in the United States. Depending on
your curriculum and your location, you
may want to use formations that are
within your state.
1. Delicate Arch, Utah
2. Big Balanced Rock, Arizona
3. Chimney Rock, Nebraska
4. Old Man in the Mountain, New
Hampshire
5. Ship Rock, New Mexico
6. Mexican Hat, Utah
7. Devils Tower, Wyoming
8. Luray Caverns, Virginia
9. Blowing Rock, North Carolina
10. Miners Castle, Michigan
11. Rainbow Bridge, Arizona
12. Boars Tusk, Wyoming
13. The Needles, Utah
14. Whitehouse Ruin, Arizona
15. Spider Rock, Arizona
16. Stone Mountain, Georgia
17. Haystack Rock, Oregon
18. Lighthouse Rock, Texas
19. Fall Creek Gorge, New York
20. Eye of the Needle, South Dakota
21. Enchanted Rock, Texas

Kate Davis, The Holes Story: A Conversation With

Louis Sachar, Read, vol. 52, no. 9 (December 20, 2002).
Louis Sachar, Holes (New York: Yearling Books, 2000).
Noel Neff, Meet Zero, Know Your World Extra, vol.
36, issue 7 (January 10, 2003).

AUDIO RECORDINGS
Sachar, Louis. Holes. [Unabridged] Read by Kerry
Beyer. Bantam Books Audio. Audiocassette.
Sachar, Louis. Holes. [Unabridged] Read by Kerry
Beyer. Bantam Books Audio. Compact disc.
Sachar, Louis. Holes. [Abridged] Listening Library.
Audiocassette.

2003 Walden Media, LLC

25

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