Holes Lesson 4: Building Tension - PowerPoint

In Lesson 4 of the 'Holes' series, the objective is to delve into the literary technique of building tension. The lesson begins by setting the scene at Camp Green Lake, specifically the end of Chapter 4, where Mr. Sir introduces Stanley to the camp. This particular scene is rife with tension, and students are prompted to think about what tension means in different contexts. They're given examples of scenarios to consider, such as waiting for an injection or sitting outside the head teacher’s office, and are asked to reflect on what elements make these situations tense.

The concept of tension is further explored by defining it as a state of mental worry or emotional strain that often arises from suspense. To illustrate this, students are asked to imagine the suspenseful build-up experienced while ascending the peak of a rollercoaster's first drop. In literature, tension serves to inject drama and captivate the reader's attention. The lesson then shifts to an analysis of how tension is crafted by the author at the end of Chapter 4. Students are encouraged to identify specific words, phrases, sentence structures, and punctuation that contribute to the scene's tension. To consolidate their understanding, they are given sentence starters to help them articulate in writing how Louis Sachar effectively creates tension in the narrative. The plenary wraps up the lesson, with students explaining Sachar's techniques for building tension in the chapter, cementing their grasp of this essential storytelling element.