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Workshop Detail: Monday, July 20, 2009
(5-8): HOLES: Can You Dig It?
presented by
Elissa Adams, BS (Bastrop I.S.D.), Danna Geist, BS (Bastrop I.S.D.), Amanda Mershon, BS (Hays C.I.S.D.)
Curriculum Developed by MIDAS Project, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and Bastrop Independent School District
Can You Dig It? is a complete integrated unit incorporating science, Texas history, math and language arts into a novel study of Holes, by Texas author, Louis Sachar. A series of hands-on activities and accompanying Powerpoint presentations focus on themes found in the award-winning book. Created and tested by Texas teachers, the novel comes to life in the classroom with lessons on sun exposure and dehydration in science; the hero archetype, conflict and character development in language arts; famous Texas inventions and the study of artifacts in Texas history; and calculating volume and circumference in math. Special attention is given to the role environmental health plays in the novel. This workshop is geared towards 7th grade but can easily be adapted to other grade levels.
Attendees of this workshop will receive a complete binder and CD-ROM of all integrated activities in the unit. Participants will experience the UV Exposure labs, the math game, several power point presentations, and much more!
These topics are included in the unit.
Science
- Dehydration
- The Desert Biome
- Sun Exposure
- Weathering and Soil
- Food poisoning
- The Incredible Edible Onion
- Simple Machines
Math
- Volume Lab
- PowerPoint Game
Language arts
- The Hero Archetype
- Conflict and Character Analysis
- Within Your Onion Soul
- TAKS and Creative Writing Topics
Texas History
- Artifacts
- Inventions
- Regions of Texas
Summary of Holes: (From Amazon.com)
"If you take a bad boy and make him dig a hole every day in the hot sun, it will turn him into a good boy." Such is the reigning philosophy at Camp Green Lake , a juvenile detention facility where there is no lake, and there are no happy campers. In place of what used to be "the largest lake in Texas " is now a dry, flat, sunburned wasteland, pocked with countless identical holes dug by boys improving their character. Stanley Yelnats, of palindromic name and ill-fated pedigree, has landed at Camp Green Lake because it seemed a better option than jail. No matter that his conviction was all a case of mistaken identity, the Yelnats family has become accustomed to a long history of bad luck, thanks to their "no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather!" Despite his innocence, Stanley is quickly enmeshed in the Camp Green Lake routine: rising before dawn to dig a hole five feet deep and five feet in diameter; learning how to get along with the Lord of the Flies -styled pack of boys in Group D; and fearing the warden, who paints her fingernails with rattlesnake venom. But when Stanley realizes that the boys may not just be digging to build character--that in fact the warden is seeking something specific--the plot gets as thick as the irony.
Please view the HOLES Slideshow for a more detailed look at the workshop.
Trainers:
Elissa Adams, Cedar Creek Middle School, Bastrop ISD, Bastrop, TX
Amanda Mershon, Cedar Creek Middle School, Bastrop ISD, Bastrop, TX
Elissa
Adams is a middle school science teacher for Bastrop I.S.D. She is a graduate
from Texas State's teacher preparation program. Part of her student teaching
experience included student teaching abroad in London, England for 2 months.
Elissa is very interested in staying up to date in the field of science and
including research in her science classes. She has participated in teacher
enrichment programs such as S.M.T.E.I., Xtreem Science, and an internship
at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Smithville. Elissa is proud to be part of
the Summer Institute because it is another great outlet to stay current and
make learning fun for her students.
Amanda Mershon is a 7th grade language arts teacher at Cedar Creek Middle School. In her 8th year of teaching, Ms. Mershon has had the honor of teaching several workshops based on curriculum she has written at campus, district, state, and national levels. Ms. Mershon is also certified as a Teen Leadership teacher and is currently the sponsor of the campus Peer Assistance and Leadership program, as well as acting as the MIDAS team leader. With the MIDAS program, Ms. Mershon has had the opportunity to link her love for language arts with other subject areas to enhance student learning. Ms. Mershon prides herself in making learning come alive for her students and believes learning must be fun in order to have the greatest impact young people today.
Summer Institute, a component of the MIDAS Project, is supported by a