HOLES
Webquest

Stanley Yelnats is sent to Camp Green Lake as punishment for a crime he didn’t commit.  He isn’t surprised, however, because his family has a history of bad luck. The camp isn’t a camp, it isn’t green, and there’s no lake – at least not anymore. The boys there have to dig a hole 5 ft deep and 5 ft wide daily. The warden claims it builds character, but she is really looking for buried treasure.

It’s a story that began many generations ago and finally comes to a happy conclusion.
 

Holes is a great book-
Full of twists and turns
 It forms a united story,
As everybody learns.
   There is mystery and excitement
     Around each and every bend.
   It’s a fantastic quest
    Of one who triumphs in the end.

Read the book
 And learn its plot.
 I’m sure you;ll like it
A whole lot.
 Then take the challenge,
   If you dare –
  But it’s from the Warden,
So BEWARE!
 
 
 

        This is one of many holes you will see here.

The Welcome

I am the Warden around here. When you enter my camp, you follow my rules.  This is not a Girl Scout Camp. There will be
no canoeing or swimming (and no cookies).  In fact, there isn’t even any water at Camp Green Lake, except what the
counselors and I allow you to have.  There is also no escaping Camp Green Lake.  It’s true that we have no fences or bars,
but we don’t need any – we have miles and miles of sun and desert to keep you here.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot to tell you about our yellow-spotted lizards – one bite and you’re dead.  Watch your step!
 
 

This will be like nothing you have ever experienced before.  You will be digging a hole five feet deep and five feet wide to
“build your character”. We will teach you perseverance here, and we will take you on an adventure you won’t forget. When
you leave us, if you survive, you will be wiser and braver. Your hole will not require the normal tool for digging, though – you
won’t use a shovel- you’ll use your brain.
 
 

The Task

Just like Stanley and the others, you must create a hole five feet deep and five feet wide – to build character.  Your hole,
however, is a little different from your predecessors’. There will be an assignment for each foot deep and wide, which equals
five total assignments. It will be challenging… extremely challenging. To complete the “hole” you must successfully complete
the assignment at each “foot.”
       Create a hole folder to place all of your “hole” assignments into.
       Keep up with your folder.
       Be prepared to turn it in to your teacher in by the deadline - p.s. they don’t call it deadline for nothing.
       You will have three weeks to finish your hole.  Good Luck!

Caution: If you don’t complete your “hole” you may have to face my venomous red nail polish.  Trust me, you
don’t want that to happen.

1 Foot Deep and 1 Foot Wide

This is the beginning of your hole.  Read the instructions and follow them carefully.

Assessment:
   Ø      3 points for creativity
   Ø      6 points for every question answered
   Ø      3 points for for following directions
           10 points for completing your story including all the information on your outlaw workpage.

Total possible points = 22

You are headed west, to the Wild West, for an adventure.  Look through the web site below. You will not find Kissin’ Kate
Barlow, but you will find other real-life outlaws from the time-period.  Choose a character from these pages or invent your
own.  Also, create a character who is trying to capture your outlaw, then answer the questions that follow.

Click on the cowboy to get information to get information about outlaws.  Search and enjoy.  I’ll see you back here in a little while.

1. What is the setting of your story?
Examples: Tombstone, Alamo, Camp Green Lake, etc.

2. What is the time-period of your story?
Examples: the 1850s, the early 1900s, etc.

3. Who is your outlaw?  Describe his/her physical appearance, but not what he/she is wearing. Now, do the same for the
character trying to capture your outlaw. And, if you have any other characters you’d like to add to your story, describe them,
too.
Examples: tall, thin, scruffy black beard, etc.

4. Describe the costumes your characters are wearing.
Examples: brown dungarees, red scarf, gun holster, etc.

5. What crime is your outlaw famous for (or guilty of)?
Examples: bank robbing, train hold-ups, etc.

6. Why is your outlaw being chased by your other character?
Examples: he/she is a law enforcer and it’s his duty, or maybe your outlaw robbed this character’s bank, etc.

        Take your answers and compile the information into a Wild West Adventure story.
        Your story should only be 1 page long (or longer if you need).
        Make it up or write one similar to something you read on the web pages.  (This should be easy and fun.)
        It can be about any kind of Wild West Adventure scene you like, however you must include all of the information I
         asked you above.      .
        Be careful not to include too much violence – this assignment is supposed to be productive, not destructive!
        Place your finished story in your Holes folder.

2 Feet Deep and 2 Feet Wide

You are getting a good start on your hole.  You only have four “feet” in each direction left.  Read the assignment below,
check out the web page, and answer the questions that follow.  Good luck!

Sam, the onion man was murdered in Holes because he loved Miss Kate Barlow.  Racism such as this was a tragic part of
our country for centuries.  Click on the picture of Martin Luther King, Jr.  It has great information about African
Americans and their struggle in America.  Read the articles carefully and thoughtfully.  It is important to learn from the
mistakes made before, so our country doesn’t’ make the same mistakes again.  As you view the web page answer the questions on your Webquest Worksheets.
 
 

Place your work in your Holes folder.
 

Assessment:
   Ø      1 point for every question answered under the “choose your example and report” bullet
   Ø      1 point for following directions
Total possible points = 22

Continue digging…

3 Feet Deep and 3 Feet Wide

You are almost half way finished now.  Keep on digging.  The next part of your hole is very interesting.  Read the instructions
and do your best.

An interesting part of the book is the connection it makes to Stanley’s ancestors.  In the beginning, he knows a little about his
family’s past (the curse caused by his dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather), but by the end of the book he has
discovered a whole lot more about his history.  In this portion of your hole, you will attempt to learn about your family
history.  Why would this be a worthwhile assignment? Because when you learn about your history, you learn about our
History.

Assessment:
   Ø      10 points for completing your family interview.
 

Total possible points = 10

4 Feet Deep and 4 Feet Wide

You are on the downhill stretch.  Your hole is nearly completed.  How are you doing, so far?  Hang in there, your first hole is
always the hardest. Your next assignment is really simple if you know your parts of speech.  If not, it’s a good time to review
them.

This assignment is what I call a Mad Lib. Follow the instructions carefully.

        Take out a clean sheet of notebook paper.
        Follow the directions below and create a list of words.
      ·        Write down an adjective. (a describing word: big, blue, funny, etc.)
      ·        Write down another adjective.
      ·        Write down a noun. ( a person, place, thing, or idea: cat, coat, love, etc.)
      ·        Write down another noun.
      ·        Write down a verb. (an action word: go, run, stop, etc.)
      ·        Write down an adverb. (a word that describes a verb [usually]: quickly, happily, etc.)
      ·        Write down another adjective.
      ·        Write down another verb.
      ·        Write down another noun.
      ·        Write down another noun.
        Use your list to fill in the blanks in the passage below.  You can’t actually write your words in, but you can still read it
         like it would sound if you did place them in there.  Make sure you fill in the blanks using the same order you wrote
         your list.  For instance, your first adjective should be placed in the first blank.  It should be very funny. Enjoy!
         Place your list of parts of speech in your holes folder.
 

From Holes chapter 9, page 43.

            Stanley stood in the shower and let the ________water pour over his ________and sore body.  It was four
                                                                          (adj)                                          (adj)
minutes of ________.  For the second day in a row he didn’t use ________.  He was too tired.
                    (noun)                                                                            (noun)
            There was no roof over the shower building, and the walls were raised up six inches off the ground except in

the corners.  There was no drain in the floor.  The water ________out under the walls and evaporated ________in
                                                                                    (verb)                                                                 (adverb)
the sun.

            He put on his clean set of ________clothes.  He ________to his tent, put his dirty clothes in his ________,
                                                       (adj)                          (verb)                                                               (noun)
got out his pen and ________, and headed to the rec room.
                                 (noun)
            A sign on the door said Wreck Room.

Assessment:
   Ø      1 point for every correct part of speech
Total possible points = 10

                                              What comes to your mind when you think of a gypsy?

            Perhaps that they travel in groups like a circus, wear red bandanas and big hoop earrings, and are usually
         thieves.
 

Evaluation

There is an opportunity for 50 possible points.

This is the grading scale:

0-50 points = You did not successfully complete your hole.  You cannot leave Camp Green Lake.
51-60 points = You did a poor job of completing your hole, you will remain here for one more day.
61-67points = You finished your hole successfully.  You may leave.
68-75 points = You are an excellent hole-digger.  You may leave with pride.