Description
Get your learners thinking! Our PRINT AND DIGITAL Esperanza Rising novel study unit plan has the activities and quizzes you need to teach a 7-week novel study. This Esperanza Rising book study covers prereading questions, character analysis, vocabulary, writing activities, and more.
You’ll love the “print-and-go” activities in slideshow and .pdf, AND the same fun activities converted and optimized for digital learning (600+ pages, slides, and forms for all your print and digital teaching needs).
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ And don’t forget the easy-grade Google Forms!
Your learners will have fun with the rigor and creativity of our engaging activities built from best teaching practices. We want to make your lesson plan journey easy, so you can focus on your expertise. This instructional guide includes a curriculum map pacing guide that offers our day-by-day suggestion for how to plan out your weeks of fun activities.
Our pedagogy section explains the instructive idea behind the activity, gives ideas for implementation, and aligns the lesson plan to the standards. We’ve filmed some training videos on (1) how to assemble a Novel Analysis Packet that is unique to the academic needs of your learners and (2) how to effectively use our Quickwrite writing prompts.
To make your digital experience smooth, we include instructions (w/ screenshots!) of how to download and organize your activities in Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive. We’ve added easy-grade Google Forms versions of each activity that auto-corrects their responses using a suggested answer key (which you can adjust afterward or modify your answer key). Grades compile into a spreadsheet with learners’ names and class periods for easy grading. Some types of questions aren’t able to auto-grade because of the short-answer format.
TEXT: ESPERANZA RISING by Pam Muñoz Ryan
LEVEL: 5th – 7th
TOTAL: 600+ combined slides/pages/forms in lesson plan unit → Based off the 2000 Scholastic Edition [ISBN: 0439576172].
→ Our activities easily integrate w/ Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, Canvas, Schoology, Edmodo, Blackboard, Moodle, Brightspace, Sakai, Showbie, Remind, & more.
→ Pacing Guide and Suggested Answer Keys included
About Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan
Esperanza Rising is a beloved historical fiction novel by Pam Muñoz Ryan. The story follows Esperanza, a young girl from a wealthy family in Mexico during the 1920s and 1930s. After her father is killed during the Mexican Revolution, Esperanza and her mother flee to California. There they face life as migrant laborers during the Great Depression.
The novel explores themes of resilience, social class, immigration, and hope. Students connect with Esperanza’s journey from privilege to hardship as she discovers her own inner strength. The narrative structure uses chapters named after fruits and vegetables to reflect agricultural cycles and Esperanza’s growth.
This Esperanza Rising novel study gives teachers a complete set of resources to teach the novel from start to finish. It includes comprehension activities, character analysis, vocabulary words, figurative language practice, and written responses that help students read closely and respond to the text.
What Other Teachers Are Saying About This Novel Study Resource
♥ I love ALL the products I have gotten from these guys! They provide SO much for the price! Plus, their materials are very detailed and easy to use! This reading unit comes with schedules of when to read the chapters and when to teach things. They provide resources about how to use their materials, links to online resources related to the text, and even background informational comprehension passages about the Great Depression and farm worker diseases, which help kids build background about the historical events related to Esperanza Rising. Overall, one of my favorite resources!
♥ This unit is absolutely fantastic! Can’t wait to use Google Earth to show my students where Esperanza is from! I also like how grammar and figurative language are included! Thank you!
♥ I love all of the non-fiction pieces that are in this unit! Saved me tons of time. Quality questions and activities to help me boost my novel study.
♥ This will be a great addition to my homeschool!
♥ I love this!!! My fifth graders are engaged and learning a lot!! Thank you for sharing!!
♥ What a great resource! I’m so appreciative of you putting this out for us to use!
♥ I love, love, love this unit! Many standards covered and very complete. Thank you so much! My co-teacher and I wanted to use a new novel this year. I love the book, but she was a bit skeptical. This unit has won her over!
Esperanza Rising Novel Study Contents
- Suggested timeline of how a teacher could plan out the unit book study
- Detailed explanations of the goals of each activity and how to conduct the activities
- Meets Common Core Standards (CCSS novel unit). Easy TEKS conversion.
- Easy to differentiate for different learning levels: Honors, 2nd language learners, and Sped
➡️ BEFORE READING
★ Pre-reading Bias Intro Activity
- Students respond to thematic questions to build background knowledge before reading Esperanza Rising.This gets learners thinking about their unique point of view or bias on given statements.
- 24 pages & Google slides
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.1
★ Google Earth Introduction Tour (19 Locations)
- Aguascalientes, El Centro, Arvin, San Joaquin Valley, the Sierra Madre, Highway 99, and even Pam Munoz Ryan’s grandparents’ home in California. Students connect with the story’s historical context through a 3D tour of Mexico and California.
- 19-location 3D tour across Mexico and California
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.9
➡️ DURING READING
★ Plot Chart Analyzer Diagram Arc
- Students analyze the 6 parts of the plot, tracking the story structure of Esperanza Rising
- 10 pages & Google slides
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2
★ Conflict Graphic Analyzer – 6 Types of Conflict
- Students analyze the 6 different types of conflict in stories using examples from the novel
- 8 pages & Google slides
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2
★ Characters Analyzer
- Analyze the main characters using text quotes from the novel. Character analysis activities focus on how characters change throughout Esperanza’s journey.
- 20 pages & Google slides
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3
★ Journal – Quickwrite Writing Prompts
- Half-page writing assignments to spur deeper conversational thinking. These writing prompts engage students with close reading and written responses.
- 86 pages & Google slides
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.1,2 / CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.1
★ 13 Reading Comprehension Chapter Pop Quizzes
- 99 pages, Google Slides, & Google Forms
- These chapter questions test reading comprehension skills. Learners who have read the chapters recently would ace the quiz. Learners who have not read recently would not do well.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2,10
★ Figurative Language Instructional Slideshow
- We set out to create the most helpful and compelling teaching resource for figurative language. This 70+ slide slideshow introduces learners to all the various types of figurative language they need at their level.
- 140 slides & Google slides
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.7
★ Figurative Language Activity
- Students analyze and complete 49 figures of speech from the novel. This literary analysis activity covers similes, metaphors, idioms, hyperboles, analogies, alliteration, onomatopoeia, puns, and allusions.
- 26 pages, Google Slides, & Google Forms (3 parts)
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.7
★ Grammar – Commas in a Series
- Using examples from the novel, learners will study the use of commas in a series (list). They learn to identify lists in sentences and use appropriate commas.
- 4 slides & Google Slides – suggested answer key included
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.2
★ Grammar – Commas w/ Introductory Elements
- Using examples from the novel, learners will study the use of commas with introductory elements at the beginnings of sentences. They learn to locate the introductory elements and use appropriate commas.
- 4 slides & Google Slides – suggested answer key included
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.2
★ Grammar – Commas w/ Direct Address
- Using examples from the novel, learners will study the use of commas with direct address. They learn to locate direct address in sentences and use appropriate commas.
- 4 slides & Google Slides – suggested answer key included
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.2
★ Grammar – Prepositions
- Using examples from the novel, learners will locate prepositions and prepositional phrases in the sentences. They practice using the appropriate preposition for the meaning of the sentence.
- 4 slides & Google Slides – suggested answer key included
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.1
★ Grammar – Conjunctions and Interjections
- Using examples from the novel, learners will study conjunctions (coordinating, subordinating, and correlative) and interjections. They learn to locate the various conjunctions and interjections in the sentences.
- 4 slides & Google Slides – suggested answer key included
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.1
★ Vocabulary List and Quiz Assessment
- 80 academic vocabulary words from the novel. Students use context clues and word work to build meaning.
- Four 20-question lists & quizzes
- 42 pages, Google Slides, & Google Forms, along w/ suggested answer keys
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4
★ Epic Taste Test Competition
- Learners enjoy blind taste tests of the various produce from the chapter titles. This hands-on activity connects the story to real life and keeps learners engaged.
- 1-page instructional page, 1 page of taste tester labels, 1-page voting page
- 6 pages, slides & Google Slides
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5
★ Harvest Competition
- Your learners (and you!) are going to love this competition that tests their knowledge of the fruits and vegetables that are the titles of each chapter.
- 26-slide slideshow with produce photos
- Both English and Spanish versions – suggested answer key included
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5
★ Non-Fiction Valley Fever Research and Videos
- Learners read about Valley Fever, watch news videos and first-hand accounts, then answer questions. This nonfiction research builds historical context and reading comprehension.
- 1 link to the research website, 3 video links with information and interviews of victims
- 10 pages, slides, & Google slides – suggested answer key included
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.2,4,6,7
★ Farm Labor Strikes Nonfiction Research and Videos
- Learners read about the farm labor strikes and Cesar Chavez, watch related videos, and answer questions at various Bloom’s Taxonomy levels. This activity deepens understanding of the historical context in Esperanza Rising.
- 3 video links with information and stories
- 8 pages, slides, & Google Slides – suggested answer key included
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.2,3,6,7
★ Our Lady of Guadalupe Analysis
- This literary analysis activity leads learners to analyze the meaning of this art piece in history, religion, and in the story of Esperanza. Students connect the image to the novel’s overall theme.
- 2 versions of the public domain image, a 1-page non-fiction historical background, and a 1-page analysis activity
- 16 pages, slides, & Google Slides
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.7
➡️ AFTER READING
★ Essay and Speech
- 3 response-to-literature essay options for learners to choose from. Students can deliver their essay as an optional speech.
- Includes essay topics and speech grading rubrics
- 10 pages, Google Slides, & rubrics
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.1,2,3 / CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.1,9 / CCSS.ELA-SpeakingListening.SL4,6
★ Movie vs. Novel Comparison (The movie is “In-development.” This was made preemptively)
- 4 pages & Google slides
- Compare & contrast the movie and novel. A great activity for close reading and discussion of literary elements.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.7
Enjoy! And let’s rise again, with new life ahead of us!
How to Use This Esperanza Rising Novel Study
This Esperanza Rising novel study works for whole-class instruction, small groups, or independent student use. Teachers can follow the included pacing guide or pick individual Esperanza Rising activities based on classroom needs.
Use the comprehension activities and chapter questions alongside read-aloud sessions. Assign the writing activities, graphic organizers, and vocabulary words as classwork or homework. Early finishers can work through the figurative language activity or word work independently.
All materials come in both print and digital formats. This makes it easy to use the resources in any classroom setup.
