Holes Lesson 23: Filling in the Holes - Lesson Plan

In Lesson 23 of the 'Holes' novel study, the learning objective is to explore how Louis Sachar utilises the onion motif to develop both character and theme, with a particular focus on the protagonist Stanley Yelnats. The lesson aims to deepen students' understanding of literary devices and their effects on narrative progression. To achieve this, the lesson will involve discussions on motifs and themes, as well as targeted written tasks designed to assess students' comprehension and analytical skills.

The lesson begins with a collaborative 'Know Your Onions' activity, which serves as a warm-up to the main teaching content. During the 40-minute core of the lesson, students engage in a guided discussion on the factors contributing to Stanley's character development, followed by a writing task titled 'The Times They are a'changing'. In this task, students are expected to compose a paragraph discussing Sachar's development of Stanley's character throughout the story. For those ready to extend their learning, there is an additional challenge to explain the narrative significance of Stanley's transformation. The lesson concludes with a plenary where volunteers share their paragraphs, receiving and offering constructive criticism through peer and self-assessment. Differentiation opportunities are provided to tailor the lesson to varying abilities, including the option to edit PowerPoint materials, adjust scaffolding, and balance teacher guidance with independent learning.