Holes Lesson 13: The Past and the Present - PowerPoint

In this insightful lesson from Teacher-of-English.com, students delve into the dynamic contrasts between past and present depictions of Green Lake as presented in Louis Sachar's novel "Holes." The objective of the lesson is to enhance students' understanding of how Sachar skilfully employs language to craft vivid imagery and evoke a particular mood. The focal point of the lesson is Chapter 23, where students are encouraged to read attentively and compare the lush, vibrant Green Lake of a century ago, described as a "giant emerald" sparkling in the sunlight, with the stark, desolate landscape of the modern-day Camp Green Lake, depicted as a "dry, flat wasteland."

After the comparative reading, students are tasked with writing a paragraph that encapsulates the transformation of Green Lake over the last 110 years. Sentence starters are provided to spark their creativity and aid in structuring their responses. The lesson culminates in a plenary session where volunteers share their work with the class. This collaborative review is not just an exercise in presentation but also an opportunity for peer feedback. The class engages in constructive criticism, focusing on the strengths of the work and discussing potential enhancements, all centred around Sachar's masterful use of descriptive language to contrast the past splendour with the present desolation of Green Lake.