Holes
Chapter 15 — Teaching Companion
Louis Sachar · Trailblazers 4th–6th
Coaching, not a script — and not an answer key: every question here has more than one defensible answer.
This chapter's big question
The Warden makes sure nobody in Group D is thirsty and tells Stanley he is doing fine. Is her kindness today for the boys, or for what she wants from them?
The tension She keeps the boys watered, praises them and says there is no hurry, while every order she gives is meant to make sure nothing is missed in the dirt.
Today's focus
Notice what the Warden does and says at the dig, and how the boys respond.
Two core ideas
- The Warden changes how Group D digs: boys work in pairs, the dirt is searched twice, and no one is left thirsty.
- Stanley decides the campers are looking for something, and thinks they are looking in the wrong place.
The shape at a glance
After the Warden's argument with Mr. Pendanski, X-Ray is driven away and the Warden reorganizes the dig: Zero takes X-Ray's hole, and the boys work in pairs, one digging and one searching the dirt. She stays all day, says there is no hurry, and sends the boys back for the night. On the walk home Zigzag and Armpit tell Stanley about cameras and microphones, and Stanley decides they are digging for something.
A way in
Start with the Warden's words "There's no hurry" and "The main thing is not to miss anything." Ask the student what kind of person says both.
Lesson plan
Retell The student tells the chapter back in order: X-Ray leaves, the Warden's orders, the paired digging, the Warden's long day, Zigzag's rumor and Stanley's last thoughts.
Imitate the author After copying the passage, the student writes two sentences in the same pattern: a colon after a short opening, then a short sentence that carries the idea further.
Debate Take sides on the big question: is the Warden's kindness today for the boys, or for what she wants from them? Each side must use one quote from the chapter.
Purpose Close by asking why an author might show a powerful person being kind and watchful in the same scene.
Easier Read the Warden's orders aloud together and talk through discussion questions 1 and 4 only.
On level Talk through all five discussion questions, then have the student write one critical-thinking answer with two pieces of evidence from the chapter.
Harder Ask the student to find one more place where the Warden's words sound kind and her actions sound careful, and to add it to a critical-thinking answer.
Discussion
- The Warden says “There’s no hurry” several times, and later, “I’ve waited this long, I can wait another day.” What does her patience tell you about her?Character
What it asks It asks the student to read the Warden from how she handles time: calm, careful, or something else.
One reading
She is careful and steady: she would rather be thorough than fast.
“There’s no hurry,” the Warden said several times.
The main thing is not to miss anything.
Another reading
She is determined: she has waited a long time and means to see this through.
I’ve waited this long, I can wait another day.
The Warden remained at the site for the remainder of the day
Listen for
- Says what she values more than speed.
- Uses her own words, not only what Stanley sees.
If stuck
- What does she say is the main thing?
- How long does she stay at the site?
- What does she say about waiting?
A strong answer The Warden tells the boys there is no hurry and that the main thing is not to miss anything, so she values care over speed. She also says she has waited this long and can wait another day, which suggests she has wanted something for a long time. A strong answer says what kind of person is patient this way, and points to her words.
- The chapter opens, “Mr. Pendanski filled the canteens.” Why might the author begin with such a short, plain sentence?Author's choice
What it asks It asks what a very short first sentence does, and how it links this chapter to the last.
One reading
It shows how quickly he obeys, so the Warden's power is the first thing we see.
Mr. Pendanski filled the canteens.
The Warden got a pitchfork out of the back of the pickup.
Another reading
It is a plain beat that settles last chapter's quarrel and lets the new orders stand out.
“After you drop off X-Ray, I want you to bring back three wheelbarrows,” she said.
“Zero,” said the Warden. “I want you to take over X-Ray’s hole.”
Listen for
- Says what the short sentence is about, and what it leaves out.
- Says what the next sentences add.
If stuck
- Whose order did Mr. Pendanski follow?
- How long is this sentence, compared with the ones after it?
- What happens right after it?
A strong answer The sentence is five words, and it shows Mr. Pendanski doing at once what the Warden told him to do. After it the Warden takes the pitchfork and begins giving orders, so the plain opening makes the new orders stand out. A strong answer says what the short sentence does and points to the sentences that follow.
- Zigzag says the Warden has hidden cameras and microphones, and Stanley has his doubts. What would you believe, and why?Inference
What it asks It asks the student to weigh a rumor against what the chapter shows, and to say how far to trust it.
One reading
It could be true: the Warden knew all their names, and she seems to watch everything.
“I wonder how she knew all our names,” Stanley said as he walked back to the compound.
“She watches us all the time,” said Zigzag.
Another reading
It is doubtful: Zigzag may simply be nervous, and tiny cameras seem too much.
He wondered if Zigzag was just being paranoid.
He didn’t think they could make cameras that small. Microphones, maybe.
Listen for
- Weighs what Zigzag says against what Stanley thinks.
- Says what would make the rumor believable.
If stuck
- What does Stanley wonder about her?
- What size does Armpit say the cameras are?
- Which does Stanley think are more likely, cameras or microphones?
A strong answer The rumor fits one thing Stanley noticed: the Warden knew everyone's name. But Stanley has doubts about cameras that small, and he wonders if Zigzag is paranoid, though he allows that microphones are possible. The chapter does not say whether the rumor is true, so a strong answer weighs what is given and says what it cannot know.
- The Warden tells Stanley, “You’re doing fine, just fine.” How do you think Stanley hears those words?Tone
What it asks It asks the student to hear praise from a person who is also watching closely, and to say how it might sound to the one praised.
One reading
He hears encouragement: it is warm, and she says it kindly.
“You’re doing fine, just fine,” she told Stanley.
Stanley did as he was told.
Another reading
He hears it uneasily, since she keeps close watch as she says it.
The Warden couldn’t keep still.
She kept walking around, looking over the boys’ shoulders, and sticking her pitchfork through the dirt piles.
Listen for
- Names a feeling and ties it to the words.
- Notices what the Warden is doing as she speaks.
If stuck
- What is the Warden doing while she says it?
- What is Stanley doing?
- Can praise sound different when someone is watching?
A strong answer The words are kind, and Stanley is doing as he was told, so he might hear them as praise. But the Warden says them while she walks around, looks over shoulders and pokes the dirt with a pitchfork, so the praise may also sound like a watcher's. A strong answer picks what it hears and says what the Warden's pacing adds.
- Stanley searches every shovelful carefully, though he knows he won't find anything. Is that honest work, or just doing as he is told?Moral reasoning
What it asks It asks the student to judge whether careful work done without hope is honest effort or simple obedience.
One reading
It is honest work: he looks carefully even with no hope of finding anything.
He carefully looked through all the dirt dug up by Zero
though he knew he wouldn’t find anything
Another reading
It is obedience: he does what the Warden says because she is watching.
Stanley did as he was told.
She kept walking around, looking over the boys’ shoulders
Listen for
- Says what the difference is between honest work and obeying.
- Uses what Stanley knows and what the Warden does.
If stuck
- What does the chapter say Stanley did with the dirt?
- What did he know he would find?
- Who is watching?
A strong answer Stanley sifts the dirt carefully even though he does not expect to find anything, which is honest work. But the chapter also says he did as he was told, and the Warden is close by and watching, so it may be obedience more than effort. A strong answer says which it thinks and what it would take to tell them apart.
Critical thinking
- The Warden has the boys dig the dirt twice, once into the hole and once through the wheelbarrow. Using two pieces of evidence, explain what she is trying to do.
What it asks It asks the student to work out the purpose of the new plan from what she says and how the work is arranged.
One reading
She wants to be sure nothing small is missed in the dirt.
We don’t want to miss anything.
Zero will dig it out of the hole, and Caveman will carefully shovel it into a wheelbarrow.
Another reading
She wants to keep the search clear, so nothing hides the spot she is digging.
When the wheelbarrows are full, you are to dump them away from this area.
We don’t want any dirt piles to get in the way.
Listen for
- Two separate pieces of evidence, not one told twice.
- A reason that says what the plan is for, not only what it is.
If stuck
- What does the Warden say she does not want to happen?
- Where does the dirt go when the wheelbarrow is full?
- Why would a dirt pile get in her way?
A strong answer One reason is to catch anything small: the dirt is dug once and shoveled again, and she says she does not want to miss anything. The other is to keep the area clear, since the full wheelbarrows must be dumped away and piles are not to get in the way. A strong answer uses two different pieces of evidence and says what the plan shows about how much the Warden wants whatever she is looking for.
- The Warden gives X-Ray's hole to Zero, who she seems to know is the fastest digger. Using two pieces of evidence, explain what that shows about how she sees the boys.
What it asks It asks what the Warden's choice of Zero shows about how closely she watches the boys, and what she values in them.
One reading
She watches closely and knows each boy's strengths.
She seemed to know that Zero was the fastest digger.
“I wonder how she knew all our names,” Stanley said as he walked back to the compound.
Another reading
She uses each boy as a part of her plan, and gives each a job that fits it.
Zero will dig it out of the hole, and Caveman will carefully shovel it into a wheelbarrow.
After a while, she told the boys to switch places
Listen for
- Two separate pieces of evidence, not one told twice.
- Says what she gains by knowing who is fastest.
If stuck
- Who is the fastest digger, and who takes X-Ray's hole?
- What jobs does she give to each pair?
- What does she do after a while?
A strong answer The chapter says she seemed to know Zero was the fastest digger, which suggests she watches the boys closely. She also gives each pair a job that fits the plan and has them switch places later, so she may be using them as parts of it. A strong answer picks one reading with two pieces of evidence and says what the other would add.
- Stanley decides they are looking in the wrong place and gazes toward where he found the tube. Using two pieces of evidence, explain why he thinks so.
What it asks It asks the student to follow Stanley's thinking at the end of the chapter, and to see how much is known and how much is guessed.
One reading
He found the tube in his own hole, not in the one they are digging now.
Stanley gazed out across the lake, toward the spot where he had been digging yesterday when he found the gold tube.
And whatever they were looking for, they were looking in the wrong place.
Another reading
He does not know what they are after, so his thought is partly a guess.
They were definitely looking for something.
They weren’t just digging to “build character.”
Listen for
- Two separate pieces of evidence, not one told twice.
- Says what Stanley knows and what he does not.
If stuck
- Where does Stanley look at the end of the chapter?
- What did he find there?
- Does the chapter say what they are looking for?
A strong answer Stanley looks toward the spot where he found the tube, so he knows the tube did not come from where the Warden is digging. But the chapter never says what they are looking for, so his thought about the wrong place is partly a guess. A strong answer uses two different pieces of evidence and says what Stanley knows for sure.