Lesson 4: Belonging
Esperanza Rising (39-80) Written by Pam Munoz Ryan
Tio Luis and Tio Marco become more threatening in their effort to take over. As you continue the novel, they will come to know the characters better as they explore the actions, descriptions, and dialogue the author uses to bring characters to life for the readers.
Tio Luis and Tio Marco become more threatening in their effort to take over. As you continue the novel, they will come to know the characters better as they explore the actions, descriptions, and dialogue the author uses to bring characters to life for the readers.
Quickwrite
Ancestors
Write about what you think your great-great-grandmother or grandfather was like. What would you ask him or her about how they felt about belonging to the community of their time? What would you like to tell him or her about yourself, the world today, and how you feel like you belong in your own community?
Write about what you think your great-great-grandmother or grandfather was like. What would you ask him or her about how they felt about belonging to the community of their time? What would you like to tell him or her about yourself, the world today, and how you feel like you belong in your own community?
Vocabulary Words of the Day
Review and add these words and definitions to your vocabulary tab:
• communicate (p. 51): to exchange feelings, thoughts, or information by speaking or writing
• waif (p. 54): a homeless or abandoned person
• mesmerized (p. 64): to be so fascinated that one can't look away
• undulating (p. 68): wavelike
• communicate (p. 51): to exchange feelings, thoughts, or information by speaking or writing
• waif (p. 54): a homeless or abandoned person
• mesmerized (p. 64): to be so fascinated that one can't look away
• undulating (p. 68): wavelike
Reading
We are continuing our Belonging Unit today. We discussed how Esperanza felt a sense of belonging at the ranch, and how that sense of belonging was shattered by the death of her father.
As we continue to read, let's look for some major events that will change Esperanza's life.
DURING READING
As you read, pause for discussion as noted below. Today's text begins on page 39 and ends on page 80.
AFTER PAGE 44: Who does Esperanza think is responsible for the fire? Why is Esperanza upset with her mother's answer to Tio Luis?
AFTER PAGE 65: What are some words that might describe Esperanza's emotions during their escape to the train station? Do you think she's just feeling afraid or are there other emotions at play here as well?
AFTER PAGE 71: How does Esperanza react when the girl on the train wants to touch her doll? Why do you think the doll is so important to Esperanza? How does Esperanza's mother react toward the girl?
AFTER PAGE 79: How does the scene with Carmen show how Esperanza's mother now feels a sense of belonging with someone she has just met? What do Esperanza's reactions to Carmen tell you about Esperanza?
AFTER READING
What people say and how they act show us a lot about who they are. When Esperanza is seated in the poorer compartments on the trains, she is becoming more aware that her own social status has changed. That awareness makes her uncomfortable.
As we continue to read, let's look for some major events that will change Esperanza's life.
- Based on what you read yesterday, what was Esperanza's relationship with her father like? Do you think she still feels a sense of belonging at the ranch now that her father is gone? Why or why not?
- Tio Luis wants to marry Esperanza's mother. Based on what you read yesterday, what predictions can you make about what will happen next? If you could give Esperanza and her mother some advice, what would you say?
DURING READING
As you read, pause for discussion as noted below. Today's text begins on page 39 and ends on page 80.
AFTER PAGE 44: Who does Esperanza think is responsible for the fire? Why is Esperanza upset with her mother's answer to Tio Luis?
AFTER PAGE 65: What are some words that might describe Esperanza's emotions during their escape to the train station? Do you think she's just feeling afraid or are there other emotions at play here as well?
AFTER PAGE 71: How does Esperanza react when the girl on the train wants to touch her doll? Why do you think the doll is so important to Esperanza? How does Esperanza's mother react toward the girl?
AFTER PAGE 79: How does the scene with Carmen show how Esperanza's mother now feels a sense of belonging with someone she has just met? What do Esperanza's reactions to Carmen tell you about Esperanza?
AFTER READING
What people say and how they act show us a lot about who they are. When Esperanza is seated in the poorer compartments on the trains, she is becoming more aware that her own social status has changed. That awareness makes her uncomfortable.
- What do you think of Esperanza's attitude Why do you think she behaves the way she does?
- How has Esperanza changed over the course of the story so far?
BE BRING THE TEXT TO LIFE: Character
Today you will draw a portrait of Esperanza, her mother, Miguel, or another character in the novel. Review the text to find descriptions of the characters, and use the descriptions to draw the character using pencils, markers, and other instruments.
At the bottom of the portrait add descriptions from the text that describe the character(s).
At the bottom of the portrait add descriptions from the text that describe the character(s).
Reading Power: Character's Words and Actions
Actions, words, and thoughts can be used to describe a character in a story. Model how to select details from the book that show a character's personality and how this character feels about other people or events taking place in the story. Practice quoting the text accurately when recording these details. Go back to the book and look for details from the text that describe how Esperanza feels about the peasants on the train. These details could be things she does and says to herself or to others. They could be her thoughts or feelings about the events taking place around her. They could even be what other people say about her.
You will complete your "Character's Words and Actions" Graphic Organizer, using the text. When you find a detail that describes Esperanza, write it in the correct category on your graphic organizer. Remember to write down the details from the book accurately, and to write the exact words from the book and use quotation marks around those words. Write the page number where you found that quotation, too.
You will continue with the activity by analyzing Esperanza's mother, discussing how her actions, words, and thoughts contrast with Esperanza's.
CLARIFY: Details from the story can tell us about the characters. We learned a lot about Esperanza and how she feels about her mother, Miguel, the peasants, and the events taking place in the story. When we describe a character's personality, it's important to quote the details from the story accurately.
You will continue with the activity by analyzing Esperanza's mother, discussing how her actions, words, and thoughts contrast with Esperanza's.
CLARIFY: Details from the story can tell us about the characters. We learned a lot about Esperanza and how she feels about her mother, Miguel, the peasants, and the events taking place in the story. When we describe a character's personality, it's important to quote the details from the story accurately.
COMMUNITY LIT: Camp Chat
Let's discuss the concept of belonging.
We can feel a sense of belonging with our friends, family, and others. However, some people may have difficulty feeling a sense of belonging. With your group, discuss ways in which you can make people who are different from you feel a sense of belonging.
We can feel a sense of belonging with our friends, family, and others. However, some people may have difficulty feeling a sense of belonging. With your group, discuss ways in which you can make people who are different from you feel a sense of belonging.
- What can you do to help others feel as if they belong?
Writing
Heart Maps of Belonging
In Esperanza Rising, Esperanza's world is turned upside down after her father's death. Where Esperanza was once privileged, she is now poor and destitute. In the train car to the United States, her mother attempts to instill in Esperanza a sense of belonging with the other peasants on the train. Today, you will create a heart map for Esperanza or for Miguel.
First, you will make a list of all the words and ideas that describe Esperanza or Miguel. For example, she is worried, proud, and loves the land. He is wise, loyal, and loves trains. Come up with at least ten nouns and/or adjectives that apply to Esperanza or Miguel. Next, you will draw a large heart. It should take up the entire page. Inside the heart, you will write the words on your list. Illustrate your words.
You can get a better understanding of the theme of belonging by looking at the theme through the eyes of fictional characters, what they are like, and how they handle fictional situations. By looking at the theme of belonging from the perspective of others, whether they are real or fictional, we can act to help make others feel a sense of belonging in our own lives.
In Esperanza Rising, Esperanza's world is turned upside down after her father's death. Where Esperanza was once privileged, she is now poor and destitute. In the train car to the United States, her mother attempts to instill in Esperanza a sense of belonging with the other peasants on the train. Today, you will create a heart map for Esperanza or for Miguel.
- What are some of the things that make Esperanza feel like she belongs to her community?
- What about Miguel? What is important to him?
- What are some of the things that belong in their heart maps?
First, you will make a list of all the words and ideas that describe Esperanza or Miguel. For example, she is worried, proud, and loves the land. He is wise, loyal, and loves trains. Come up with at least ten nouns and/or adjectives that apply to Esperanza or Miguel. Next, you will draw a large heart. It should take up the entire page. Inside the heart, you will write the words on your list. Illustrate your words.
You can get a better understanding of the theme of belonging by looking at the theme through the eyes of fictional characters, what they are like, and how they handle fictional situations. By looking at the theme of belonging from the perspective of others, whether they are real or fictional, we can act to help make others feel a sense of belonging in our own lives.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Turn and discuss this question with your partner.
Esperanza's mother decides to move to the United States rather than marry Tio Luis. Would you have been able to make that same decision? Why or why not?