Holes Lesson 22: One More Hole - Lesson Plan

In Lesson 22 of the Holes Lesson Plan, the learning objective is to enhance students' understanding of how Louis Sachar masterfully creates suspense in his novel "Holes". To achieve this, the class will closely examine a particularly tense scene from the book. The lesson's effectiveness will be measured using a tension graph and a 'Building Tension' task, which will help students visualise and articulate the methods used by Sachar to engage the reader.

The lesson begins with a collaborative starter activity, in which students read and discuss the novel up to the end of Chapter 45, setting the stage for a deeper analysis. The main teaching activity is divided into three parts: identifying language that contributes to the atmosphere in Chapter 45, plotting a tension graph to visually represent the build-up of suspense, and writing a paragraph analysing Sachar's techniques. For those who are ready to extend their learning, there is an opportunity to explore the narrative purpose behind the creation of tension at this particular juncture in the story. The lesson concludes with a plenary where volunteers share their paragraphs and receive constructive feedback, promoting peer and self-assessment. Differentiation opportunities are provided to tailor the lesson to varying abilities, including editing the PowerPoint presentation, adjusting scaffolding, and finding the right balance between teacher guidance and independent learning.