Holes By: Louis Sachar
![Picture](/uploads/1/1/6/2/11627417/3686865.jpg)
Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction
Grade: 5-8
ISBN: 044022859
Bibliography: Sachar, L. (2002). Holes. New York: Dell Yearling
Synopsis: The story begins with Stanley Yelnats is under a curse. This curse originated with his grandfather and has plagued the Yelnats family for years. When Stanley is unjustly sent to a boys' detention center, Camp Green Lake, he is forced to dig holes. Stanley quickly realizes that the holes they are digging are meant to uncover something magical. This tale of mischief, wonder and redemption is constructed between the pages of what could be truth and what is seemingly to truthful to be fantasy.
Activity: Text to film Connection: Students will take Cornell notes on the film holes once they have completed the book. The left side of their division will have key events in the plot. On the right side of the division students will explain how the event is different of the same. At the end of the assignments students will complete a summer that tells of their findings and explain whether they preferred the book or the film and why. *adapted from www.Avid.Org
Awards: winner of the Newbery Medal and the National Book Award
Grade: 5-8
ISBN: 044022859
Bibliography: Sachar, L. (2002). Holes. New York: Dell Yearling
Synopsis: The story begins with Stanley Yelnats is under a curse. This curse originated with his grandfather and has plagued the Yelnats family for years. When Stanley is unjustly sent to a boys' detention center, Camp Green Lake, he is forced to dig holes. Stanley quickly realizes that the holes they are digging are meant to uncover something magical. This tale of mischief, wonder and redemption is constructed between the pages of what could be truth and what is seemingly to truthful to be fantasy.
Activity: Text to film Connection: Students will take Cornell notes on the film holes once they have completed the book. The left side of their division will have key events in the plot. On the right side of the division students will explain how the event is different of the same. At the end of the assignments students will complete a summer that tells of their findings and explain whether they preferred the book or the film and why. *adapted from www.Avid.Org
Awards: winner of the Newbery Medal and the National Book Award
Speak By: Laurie Halse Anderson
![Picture](/uploads/1/1/6/2/11627417/4296479.jpg)
Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction
Grade: 9-12
ISBN: 0312674392
Bibliography: Anderson, L. H. (1999). Speak. Square Fish.
Synopsis: It is freshman year at Merryweather High and Melinda Sordino is an outcast. Her trouble began when she abruptly ended the final party of the summer by calling the police. From that moment on she is ostracized by her peers and is forced to go through her days alone. It is only through art that she finds peace and gains the courage to speak up about the horror that has plagued her since that fateful night in August. This powerful story of rediscover and redemption is ideal for High school students struggling with the same issues.
Activity: What do you Think? Throughout the reading of the text students are prompted with images, quotes, and video clips and asked to write about what they have seen/read in relation to the text. This guided text to life activity will help students make connections between what they are reading and their lives.
*Addapted from Yopps.
Awards: 1999 National Book Award Finalist for Young People's Literature.
Grade: 9-12
ISBN: 0312674392
Bibliography: Anderson, L. H. (1999). Speak. Square Fish.
Synopsis: It is freshman year at Merryweather High and Melinda Sordino is an outcast. Her trouble began when she abruptly ended the final party of the summer by calling the police. From that moment on she is ostracized by her peers and is forced to go through her days alone. It is only through art that she finds peace and gains the courage to speak up about the horror that has plagued her since that fateful night in August. This powerful story of rediscover and redemption is ideal for High school students struggling with the same issues.
Activity: What do you Think? Throughout the reading of the text students are prompted with images, quotes, and video clips and asked to write about what they have seen/read in relation to the text. This guided text to life activity will help students make connections between what they are reading and their lives.
*Addapted from Yopps.
Awards: 1999 National Book Award Finalist for Young People's Literature.
Thank you, Mr. Falker By: Patricia Polacco
![Picture](/uploads/1/1/6/2/11627417/8744861.jpg)
Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction
Grade: 2-5
ISBN: 0399257624
Bibliography: Polacco, P. (1998). Thank you, mr. falker. New York: Penguin Books.
Synopsis: Polacco crafts a telling story of a young girl named Trisha who is unable to read due to her dyslexia. When she enters fifth Grade Mr. Falkner, her teacher, changes her fate by helping her to learn to read and write. This moving story tells the real life struggle of many middle and upper elementary students who struggle with the dyslexia every day. The
Activity: What we all have in common: For this activity students will stand on either side of a tape line on the floor. The educator would then ask the class a question about themselves and if it is true to them they would walk and place one foot on the line and then take a step back. This activity is designed to create a space excepting of diversity of all variations and to allow students to understand what they have in common with each other.
Adapted from: http://www.freedomwritersfoundation.org/images/Lesson%20Plan%20PDFs/LINE%20GAME.PDF
Awards/ Accolades: Patricia Polacco’s bestselling book with over 400,000 copies sold
Grade: 2-5
ISBN: 0399257624
Bibliography: Polacco, P. (1998). Thank you, mr. falker. New York: Penguin Books.
Synopsis: Polacco crafts a telling story of a young girl named Trisha who is unable to read due to her dyslexia. When she enters fifth Grade Mr. Falkner, her teacher, changes her fate by helping her to learn to read and write. This moving story tells the real life struggle of many middle and upper elementary students who struggle with the dyslexia every day. The
Activity: What we all have in common: For this activity students will stand on either side of a tape line on the floor. The educator would then ask the class a question about themselves and if it is true to them they would walk and place one foot on the line and then take a step back. This activity is designed to create a space excepting of diversity of all variations and to allow students to understand what they have in common with each other.
Adapted from: http://www.freedomwritersfoundation.org/images/Lesson%20Plan%20PDFs/LINE%20GAME.PDF
Awards/ Accolades: Patricia Polacco’s bestselling book with over 400,000 copies sold