Holes/Harry Potter
Year 7 homework project
This term you will be reading a novel in class, either
Holes or Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
Complete the homework tasks for the novel your
class are reading.
Scroll down for Harry Potter tasks.
Holes: Year 7 homework tasks
Task 1: An instruction leaflet.
Camp Green Lake is a dangerous place to be. From yellow-spotted
lizards to the unwelcoming nature of the staff, there seem to be many
problems which the campers face. Stanley was unaware of Camp
Green Lake’s risks and pitfalls before he arrived - it would have been
good for him, and other new campers, to know what they need to be
aware of before beginning their imprisonment there.
Write an instruction leaflet that warns new campers about the dangers of
Camp Green Lake.
A good idea would be to use different headings/subtitles in your leaflet to
discuss the different dangers at Camp Green Lake: e.g. ‘People to be
aware of’, ‘Dangerous animals at camp’ etc.
You could also include pictures in your leaflet to show new campers what
Camp Green Lake is really like!
Remember, you need to instruct the new campers on the issues they
should be aware of and things they should avoid doing at camp so they
don’t get into trouble there.
Task 2
 Parts of the novel ‘Holes’ are set in the early 1900s in America.
Research this period and find 10 interesting facts about it.
 Attitudes to racism during this period were completely different.
Write a paragraph explaining why this was.
Task 3:
Stanley receives harsh treatment throughout his time at Camp Green
Lake. Disgusting food, pointless hole-digging, scorching heat, a
selfish warden…there is no end to the problems that Stanley and the
other campers face. Surely their treatment cannot be fair?!
Your task is, as Stanley, to write a persuasive speech convincing the other
campers that they need to protest against the injustices of Camp Green
Lake and demand that conditions at the camp change for the better.
Firstly, brainstorm ideas:
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Which problems about the camp are you going to talk about in your
speech?
How are you going to get the campers on your side to take action?
What are you going to say to the warden-what changes will you
propose to her?
Try to use persuasive devices in your speech to make your argument more
effective…
Rule of three:
‘The warden is unfair,
cruel and evil’
Rhetorical questions:
‘Don’t you think we
campers deserve better?’
Facts about the camp to back your opinions up:
‘99% of us don’t have access to water-the only
person who does is the Warden.’
Repeating parts of your argument to
make your audience remember it:
‘We need to change the way we are
treated…we need to change
conditions at Camp Green Lake ’
Task 4
Create a script for your favourite part of the book. If you are
really talented, you could act it out with your friends and record it
for your teacher to watch.
Task 5
This task needs to be done when you have read up to the end of
chapter 45 in class. At this point in the novel, Stanley and Zero have
gone back to camp one last time and managed to unearth the
warden’s big secret-a treasure chest. However, before they have
chance to open it and discover its remains the warden interrupts…
Your task is to imagine and predict what happens next for Stanley, Zero
and the treasure-write the next chapter of ‘Holes’ to inform the reader of
what happens!
Louis Sachar, the author of ‘Holes’, has his own style of writing. In the
bulletpoints below are some of the things he does to make his writing
interesting. Try and imitate some of his techniques in your own chapter of
‘Holes’ to make it interesting for your reader.
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Including narrative links/similarities between the plots
Withholding information from the reader
Short sentences to create tension for the reader
Describing the setting in detail, and character’s feelings
Switching between the different narratives/stories
Chapters ending with a mystery, or cliffhanger
Repetition of words or phrases through the chapter
REMEMBER:
Sachar’s chapters in ‘Holes’ are only a few page long at most-so
don’t worry about yours being too long either, as long as you reveal
the secret of the treasure as well as Stanley and Zero’s fate!
Extending further…
1.If you loved ‘Holes’ and didn’t want it to finish, then you could give
the follow-up to it, ‘Small Steps’, a try too! It focuses on the character
of ‘Armpit’ after he has left Camp Green Lake, and how he tries to
take ‘small steps’ towards getting his life back on track-but with plenty
of pitholes getting in his way!
“…plenty of adventures, an unlikely romance and
some uncomfortable brushes with the law…”
2. Your class has read Holes. You could now read the other Year 7 novel Harry
Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
Year 7 homework project
Task one
Joining a new school is a scary experience for anyone. Harry and his
friends have more to worry about than most – what with a magical
sorting hat, dungeons, moving staircases and frightening teachers
there is a lot to take in!
Write a leaflet informing new pupils what to expect at Hogwarts.
It would be a good idea to use subheadings to discuss the
different points of Hogwarts eg ‘People to watch out for’, ‘The
teachers’, ‘The House system’, ‘Uniform’ etc. You should
include:
 A picture of Hogwarts.
 Information about lessons and activities.
 A list of teachers and anything pupils need to know about
them.
Task 2
The author of the Harry Potter series, J.K.Rowling, has become a
well-known name. Research the author and find ten interesting
facts about her. Things that might be interesting to research
include what inspired her/gave her the idea to write the books,
does she have a favourite character etc.
Task 3
Design a poster advertising one of the shops Harry visits in Diagon
Alley. Think about what information you will include, who will be
buying from the shop and who the poster is aimed at.
The first thing an advert needs to do is grab our attention. To do this
an advert might say something funny or ridiculous, use bright colours,
use good illustrations etc. Another thing that might help is a catchy
slogan eg Kit-Kat – have a break, have a Kit-Kat.
Your poster should include:
 The name of the shop, its address and opening times.
 Details of things that the shop sells.
 A catchy slogan
 Colourful illustrations.
Task 4
Pretend you are either Harry, Ron or Hermione. Write a letter home
to your family about what has happened to you so far this term at
Hogwarts.
Task 5: Grammar revision.
Remind yourself what the following are and write a definition for them:
A noun:
An adjective:
A verb:
Next, copy out or copy and paste the passage below:
The pixies shot in every direction like rockets. Two of them
seized Neville by the ears and lifted him into the air. Several shot
straight through the window, showering the back row with
broken glass. The rest proceeded to wreck the classroom more
effectively than a rampaging rhino. They grabbed ink bottles and
sprayed the glass with them, shredded books and papers, tore
pictures from the walls, upended the waste bin, grabbed bags
and books and threw them out of the smashed window; within
minutes half the class was sheltering under desks and Neville
was swinging from the candelabra in the ceiling.
1. Circle five nouns.
2. Underline five adjectives.
3. Tick five verbs.
Task 6
Create a script for your favourite part of the book. If you are
really talented, you could act it out with your friends and record it
for your teacher to watch.
Extending further:
1. There are many other books in the Harry Potter series. Try
reading the next one – ‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of
Secrets’.
2. Your class has read Harry Potter. You could now try reading the
other Year 7 novel, Holes, by Louis Sachar.