Activities To Use with Sam and Dave Dig a Hole

Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett and illustrated by Jon Klassen is delightful picture book that came out in 2014 about two characters who decide they're going to dig a hole. These two little guys decide to keep digging until they find something spectacular. As they dig, the reader can see how they are tunneling through the dirt.  It is sort of like watching ants tunneling around on an ant farm. The reader can also see that as they dig, they are missing diamonds in dirt all around them.  As you read this book aloud to your students they will start pointing out the hidden diamonds, and it creates a fantastic sense of tension and attention in your students.  If your little listeners don't catch it the first time, don't worry, the diamonds get bigger and bigger. Sam and Dave, exhausted from digging such incredible tunnels, fall asleep.  Their dog smells a bone, digs it up and somehow they fall through the dirt back to their house.


Things you might want to do with this book.
1.Put toy jewels in a sand table (or something spectacular!)  so that the children can reenact Sam and Dave digging the hole. This is great for sensory motor skills.
2. Matching Exercise: Make this into an adapted for special learners. Make laminated copies of diamonds and have them place their diamond on the diamonds on each page.
 3. Turn this into a classroom game and hide laminated diamonds around the room for your kids to find.
4. Discuss the concept of finding something spectacular. Talk to the kids about things that they would consider a treasure. Then discuss whether all treasures are things that can be held.
5.  Use Sam and Dave Dig a Hole along with a Spring planting unit. Plant seeds in paper cups and tell students they are planting something spectacular. If have a planter that has viewable sides, your kids can see something spectacular growing.