Esperanza Rising

Pam Munoz Ryan

Project Profile
Introduction
Esperanza Rising is a story of a young girl from Mexico who
is taken from her luxurious life to work in a Mexican farm
workers camp in California during the Great Depression.
Esperanza has trouble adjusting to the hard labor, financial
hardships and lack of acceptance in her new life. Esperanza
turns out to be a strong character who rises above the
hardships.



Student Task
As a group you will be creating a magazine to capture the real
story behind Esperanza Rising.

You will create a magazine giving the different perspectives of
Esperanza, Mama, Marta, or Miguel. You will write one article from
the perspective of the character you will choose.

You will also write one informational article .

Finally, you will all come back together to design your magazine.

Process
First choose a role: Oldest group member, Mama
Second oldest, Miguel
Third oldest, Marta
Fourth oldest, Isabel
Youngest, Esperanza

Each of you will write an article from your
characters perspective telling what it was like to
be in the farm worker camp during the depression.
You each will write an additional informative
article on a given subject.




Process Continued
After each person has two articles written and you have
proofread them, you will come back together as a group and
design your magazine.

Your magazine should have a title and and front cover that is
eye-pleasing with different fonts and graphics. Remember,
you want people to be interested in your magazine and its
articles.

Also, think about the order in which you want to place your
articles within the magazine.

Character Sketches
Esperanza
Mama
Miguel
Marta
Isabel
Esperanza
Hello Esperanza!

Esperanza Rising was told in your voice. You lived through a tough time in
America and in the world. Your information article is going to be
about the Great Depression. Research this topic through the
following websites and find out why this time period was so rough for
so many.

http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/H/1994/ch9_p8.htm

http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/learning_history/children_depre
ssion/depression_children_menu.cfm

After finishing your research, write your informational article.
Think about what you went through in this time period and
what others went through. Think about by these tings
occurred. Include interesting facts to enhance your article.


After finishing the article on the Great Depression, you will
tell your story. People who have not read the book will be
reading your magazine so make sure and include all the
important events and your feelings. You might want to
include what happened to you after Esperanza Rising for
those who have read the book and want to know what your
are up to now.
You may want to decorate your articles with graphics found
on the web pages or you may illustrate your articles by hand
when you are finished.
Make sure your articles are complete and proofread .
Meet with your group to put your magazine together.
Esperanza
Mama
Hello Mama! Are you ready to begin your task!!
1) You had to leave your life of luxury to come to America
and work in a Mexican Farm Worker camp during the Great
Depression. Your informative article is going to be about the
Migrants camps during that time period. You will find
information and personal stories in the websites listed
below.
http://www.migrantgrandson.com/the.htm
http://www.museumca.org/picturethis/3_2.html
http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/mice/migartcl.html

Mama
2) Now that you are finished with your research write an
informative article about what you learned about the conditions and
the people who worked in these camps during the Depression. Did
you find any new or interesting facts or any graphics that will
enhance your article?
3) Next, write an article about your experiences in the migrant
camps. Give your point of view about the camp, the people, and the
events that happened while you were there. (Remember to stay in
character!)
Note: You may want to add graphics to your articles with clipart or
any relevant and appropriate images you find in your research or
you may decorate your pages by hand when they are finished.
4) When both articles are finished and proofread meet back with
your group and...

Miguel
Hello Miguel! Are you ready to begin your task?
1) You wanted a better life for yourself and your
family. You did not think that working as a migrant
was a life that you wanted. Your informational
article will be about migrant life today. Research
through the following websites to learn more.

United Farm Workers:
http://www.ufw.org/_page.php?menu=about&inc=a
bout_vision.html
/
Miguel
2) Now that you are finished with your research, use your
word processor to begin your article. Think about the
conditions of migrant camps today and how they have
changed from your experiences. Did you find any interesting
facts or graphics to enhance your article?
3) Your informational article is finished and proofread and
you are ready to begin your personal article. Tell readers
about your experiences in the camp and how you felt about
them and the people you came into contact with. (Remember
to stay in character!)
You may want to add any graphics you found into your
articles or you may illustrate your articles by hand when you
are finished.
Your articles are finished and proofread and now you are
ready to...

Marta
Hello Marta! Are you ready to begin your task??
1) You were very involved in the strikes for better
working conditions in the camps. Your informative
article will be about Cesar Chavez. You need to
research Chavez through the following sights and
find out what he has to do with your cause.

http://www.incwell.com/Biographies/Chavez.html

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/history/us/his
panicamerican/chavez/

Marta
2) Now that you are done with your research, write an
informational article explaining what you learned about
Chavez and why he is important to have in this magazine.
Think about the issues Marta and other strikers fought for
in the book, how does that relate? Did you find any good
facts or graphics that will enhance your article?
3) Next, write an article about your experiences in the farm
worker camp. Give your point of view and include your
feelings about the camp and its conditions.(Make sure to
remember to stay in character!)
Note: You may want to add graphics to your articles with
clipart or any relevant and appropriate images you find in
your research or you may decorate your pages by hand when
they are finished.
4) When both articles are finished and proofread meet back
with your group and...

Isabel
Hello, Isabel you were very important to Esperanza. You
helped her adjust to the workers camp. You shared your
experiences with taking care of the children and knowing
how the camp would run. Research information about being a
babysitter using the following websites:

http://www.youthonline.ca/babysitting/

http://stayathomeparents.suite101.com/article.cfm/should_i
_babysit


Isabel
Now that you are done with your research, write an
informational article explaining what you should do if you
decide to become a babysitter. Include some rules, activities,
and emergency situations. Look for graphics to use with your
article.
Next, write an article about your experiences in the farm
worker camp. Give your point of view and include your feelings
about the camp and its conditions. (Make sure to remember to
stay in character.)
Note: You may want to add graphics to your articles with
clipart or any relevant and appropriate images you find in your
research or you may decorate your pages by hand when they
are finished.
4) When both articles are finished and proofread meet back
with your group and...