Holes Lesson 23: Filling in the Holes - PowerPoint

In Lesson 23 of a teaching series on the novel "Holes," the focus shifts to the literary device of motifs, specifically the recurring motif of the onion. The lesson's objectives are to understand how the author, Louis Sachar, uses this motif within the story and to explore the character development of the protagonist, Stanley Yelnats. Students are encouraged to delve into the significance of the onion motif, questioning why Sachar might have chosen it and how it relates to the novel's plot, characters, and themes. The discussion extends to identifying other potential motifs that recur throughout the book and their importance to the narrative structure.

As the lesson progresses, students examine the transformation of Stanley Yelnats, whose journey is one of redemption and change. The class is tasked with considering the factors that contribute to Stanley's development—is it fate or the result of his own choices? To facilitate a deeper understanding of Stanley's character arc, students complete a table comparing his attributes at the beginning of the novel to those at the end, covering aspects such as weight, self-esteem, friendship, maturity, and fortune. They then write a paragraph detailing Stanley's development, guided by provided sentence starters. The lesson culminates in a plenary session where volunteers read their work aloud, and the class engages in constructive feedback, reflecting on the strengths of the work and areas for improvement.