Holes Lesson 17: Sam and Kate - Lesson Plan

In Lesson 17 of the 'Holes' novel study, the learning objective is to explore how Louis Sachar presents the relationship between the characters Sam and Kate to the readers. This lesson aims to deepen students' comprehension through targeted activities, including the creation of a newspaper article. The lesson is structured to assess students' understanding through their responses to comprehension questions and their ability to craft a newspaper story that reflects the narrative's social context and the dynamics of Sam and Kate's relationship.

The lesson begins with a 10-minute starter activity focusing on sequencing to consolidate students' understanding of the plot. This collaborative task sets the stage for the main teaching activity, which spans 40 minutes and is divided into two parts. Initially, students tackle extension questions about Sam and Kate for 15 minutes, followed by a 25-minute task to write a newspaper article for the fictional 'Green Lake Times'. This article should reflect the social context of the relationship, demonstrating students' grasp of the material. Differentiation opportunities are provided throughout the lesson, including the ability to edit or adapt the PowerPoint, add or remove scaffolding, and balance teacher guidance with independent learning. The lesson concludes with a 10-minute plenary where volunteers present their newspaper stories and receive constructive criticism from peers, facilitating both peer and self-assessment.