Contents By Pam Munoz Ryan

Summary

Resources

Recorded Music

Non-fiction

Related Book

Video-Clip

WebQuest

Conclusion Multiple Text Assignment

FRMS 7331
Elizabeth Futch
 Esperanza Ortega was a privileged young Mexican girl growing up on
her family’s ranch and vineyard in Aguascalientes, Mexico in the
early1920’s. The day before Esperanza’s thirteenth birthday, her father,
was murdered by bandits. Esperanza’s corrupt uncles became owners of
the ranch because women could not own land. The uncles threaten to
destroy all that her father had worked so hard to establish unless Ramona,
Esperanza’s beautiful mother, agrees to marry Tia Luis. Tia Luis is a
powerful and corrupt banker and step-brother of Esperanza’s father.
When Esperanza’s mother refuses to marry Tio Luis, the house,
vineyards, and Papa’s beloved rose garden are set on fire. Esperanza and
her mother escape to the train station by riding in a secret compartment
of a wagon carrying fruit. The train would take them to America were
they were hopeful to begin a new life. Helping them and providing a
pillar of strength are Hortensia, Alfonso, and Miguel, former servants of
the Ortega family. Upon their arrival in America, Esperanza is confronted
with a life that is vastly different from the one she lived in
Aguascalientes. She is no longer a child privileged, but becomes a
migrant farm worker to help pay for her mother’s medical bills and to
bring Abuelita, her grandmother, to be with them in California.
Esperanza faces many trials and tribulations but never loses faith as she
learns to rise and embrace the new life she has been given.

Back to Content Page

 Caldwell, Joyce. "Esperanza Rising - Introduction." Baltimore County Public Schools - Welcome.
13 June 2006. 2 July 2009
<[Link]

 Hesse, Karen. Out Of The Dust (Apple Signature Edition). New York: Scholastic Paperbacks, 1999.

 Ibis Communications. "The Dust Bowl, 1936." EyeWitness to History - history through the eyes of
those who lived it. 2 July 2009. 2 July 2009
<[Link]

 Myers, Bill. "YouTube - The Great Dust Storms - a Ken Burns style video."
YouTube – Broadcast Yourself.. 24 Sep. 2007. 2 July 2009
<[Link]

 Orozco, Jose-Luis. Las Mañanitas. 8 August 2007. 1 July 2009

<[Link]

 "Picture This: Depression Era." Oakland Museum of California. 2003. 1 July 2009
<[Link]
 Ryan, Pam Munoz. Esperanza Rising. Sterling Heights: Blue Sky Press, 2002.

 "The American Experience | Surviving the Dust Bowl | Interview Transcripts." PBS. 8 July 2009
<[Link]
Las Mañanitas are traditional Mexican songs that people sing early in the
morning on birthdays and other special days. Often people are awakened
with this song on their birthdays. Young men also serenade their
girlfriends with this beautiful song. Sometimes mariachi bands are hired
to serenade the celebrant. In Esperanza Rising, Esperanza’s father would
sing this to her on the morning of her birthday.

English Click on the Spanish

speaker to
These are the morning songs hear the song Estas son las mañanitas
that King David used to sing. que cantaba el Rey David.
Because today is your birthday Hoy por ser día de tu santo
We are singing them to you. te las cantamos a ti.
 
 Chorus: Coro:
Awaken, my dear, awaken, Chorus:
and see that the day has Despierta, mi bien, despierta,
dawned, mira que ya amaneci�
now the little birds are singing, ya los pajarillos cantan,
And the moon has set. la luna ya se meti�.

How to Use this Resource

Back to Content Page
Lesson: Making Family Tradition Connections
Objectives:
 Students will discuss cultural connections to the birthday song Las
Mananitas and the song Happy Birthday To You.
 Students will listen to the song Las Mananitas and draw connections
to songs or family traditions that have meaning in their lives.

Activities:
1. Students create a family tradition presentation. They have the
option of creating a PowerPoint presentation, a written
presentation, or drawing. Students are encouraged to bring in a
favorite recipe, sing a favorite song, or show off a treasured item.
2. Students will present their family tradition assignment to the class.
An open session question and answer session will follow each
presentation so that students can make connections to their fellow
classmates.
Back to Content Page
 This website contains pictures and information
about Mexican Migrant Camps during the
Depression Era.
Click on picture below to link to the website

How to Use this Resource

Back to Content Page
Lesson: Understanding Migrant Camps
Objectives:
 Students look at pictures of migrant camps during the early 1900’s
and make connections to current living conditions of migrant workers.
 Students will imagine and discuss what life would be like if they had
to work outside in the fields instead of attending school.

Activities:
1. Students will make a Venn Diagram comparing how they live to those
of children living in migrant camps.
2. Students will write a daily schedule/diary entry using the ‘voice’ of a
child living and working on a migrant farm.
Include facts and support using information from Esperanza
Rising, internet research, and by viewing the pictures and
information provided with each picture on the website provided.
Read your schedule/diary entry to a small group of students and
discuss what life would be like if you had to live that way today.

Back to Content Page

 Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse is a story of a
teenage girl from Oklahoma who lived during
the Dust Bowl and Great Depression era.
Click on the book cover below for
more information on Out of the Dust

How to Use this Resource

Back to Content Page
 These are video-clips of actual dust bowl footage
from the 1930’s. In Esperanza Rising, a dust
storm like the one shown here made Esperanza’s
mom very ill.
Click on the videos below to see real footage of a dust bowl.

How to Use this Resource

Back to Content Page
Lesson: The Dust Bowl
Objectives:
 Students will compare and contrast the lives of Billie Jo and
Esperanza.
 Students will examine the Great Depression and Dust Bowl.

Activities:
1. Make a Venn Diagram comparing the similarities and differences of
Billie Jo and Esperanza.
2. View the videos of the Dust Bowl. Answer the following questions:
• What caused the Dust Bowl?
• What were some of the resulting effects of the Dust Bowl on
both humans and the land?
• How can another Dust Bowl situation be avoided?
• Why were the migrant workers in California worried about the
Okies coming to California?

Continued on Next Slide….

Back to Content Page

Activities: (continued)
3. Interview someone who lived during the Dust Bowl time period
(1930’s). What was everyday life was like. Did they hear news
about the Dust Bowl (if they didn’t live in those states). How
did they get the dust out of their houses and clothes? Did
anyone they know get Dust Pneumonia? Discuss your interviews
in small group settings.
4. If you do not know anyone to interview, go to the PBS American
Experience Website and listen to or read the following first-
hand accounts of the Dustbowl: J.R. Davison, Imogene Glover,
& Melt White
5. After the interview process (Activities 3 or 4), students will
write a diary entry or letter from the view of a farmer, mother
of a child sick with dust pneumonia, or a healthy child living in
the Dust Bowl and how they view the world around them.
6. Science Connection: Using several containers or buckets of
dirt, plant some seeds and place in the sunlight. Do not water
the plants. Do the plants grow? What do plants need to grow?
Back to Content Page
 A WebQuest is an interactive lesson in which students engage in
learning. This WebQuest was created to link students’ knowledge
of historical and cultural backgrounds to enhance students’
understanding of Esperanza Rising.
C lick on picture below to go to WebQuest

How to Use this Resource

Back to Content Page
 This WebQuest requires students to form groups (see box below for
group topics) for research on different aspects of Esperanza Rising.
 Each group will create a Visual (see box below for visuals) that will
help their class enhance understanding of Esperanza Rising.
 In addition to the group work, individual students are responsible for
writing a paragraph on a specific section of the specialty area.
 Students are provided with many resources and web-links with which
to conduct research.
 A research guide is provided for each group to help organize and
guide the group research.

Groups - Visual
Growing Seasons – seasonal calendar
Living Conditions – chart/diagram
Glossary (unfamiliar words) – classroom glossary
Customs and Traditions – scrapbook page
Growers vs. Workers – compare/contrast chart
Author’s Heritage - poster

Back to Content Page

 Some of the themes I did not cover that are found in Esperanza
Rising are as follows:
Family and community
Mexican-American heritage
Immigration
The Great Depression
Homelessness and Poverty
Feelings: Hope & Determination
 The author, Pam Munoz Ryan, is of Mexican heritage and based
the character of Esperanza on her grandmother.
 I encourage everyone to read Esperanza Rising and Pam Munoz
Ryan’s other books as well. Ryan is the focus of my Author
study and a favorite author of mine!
Thank- You!
Back to Content Page