Esperanza Rising

Introduction    |   Task    |  Process    |   Resources

Evaluation    | Teacher Resources

Great misfortune has come to El Rancho de las Rosas.  Senor Ortega has died.  His wife Ramona, and his daughter Esperanza, have been forced to flee from Senor Ortega's brother Luis.  We can not stay in Mexico to work for such an unhonorable man as Luis Ortega.  We should follow Senora Ortega and her daughter to California to work in the migrant camp.  My family and I will leave the ranch in the next few weeks.  Anyone who wishes to make this journey with us is welcome.

As a , you feel this is a great opportunity for you.  Keep a ten-day journal describing your journey from Mexico to California, including your first experiences at the Arvin Camp.

*  Before you begin your journal, read the Author's Note to understand a real-life description of what it is like to live as a Migrant worker.

*  You will do you research on reasons why people decide to leave Mexico to work in California.  How does the Depression affect your decision?

*  Next look for information about Migrant Camps and their impact on the lives of the workers. What changes occur in your life as a worker? Will your future be improved by the move from Mexico to California?

*  Not everyone was able to make the journey with you.  What could you do to help a relative move from Mexico to California?  How will you fund their journey?  How will they travel?  What will they need to get to California?

*  Write your journal in two sections.  The first five journal entries should include your reason for going to California, and details about your experiences from when you left Mexico.  The next five journal entries will be about your feelings and experiences at the Arvin Camp.  Use the information you have researched for supporting details in your journal.

As you know, journals are based on people's experiences and feelings.  Here are some very helpful sites for gathering information for your journal.

• http://www.albany.edu/projren/1997_98/student_projects/museum/history/before/greatdep.htm
• http://newdeal.feri.org/eleanor/index.htm

• http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/afctshtml/tsme.html
• http://www.netxn.com/~weedpatch/

Rubric:
 

3 -	Completed ten-day journal.  Entries are accurate and supported by research.
2 -	Completed ten-day journal.  Entries are not entirely supported by research.
1 -	Journal does not include ten days of entries.  Entries are not supported by research.

Pam Munoz Ryan's Website
http://www.pammunozryan.com

Biography of Pam Munoz Ryan
http://teacher.scholastic.com/authorsandbooks/authors/ryan/bio.htm