There is so much to look forward to in fifth grade. At Circleville Elementary School, the Esperanza Rising experience is certainly a highlight!.

All fifth-grade students at CES read the Scholastic classic, Esperanza Rising. But they don’t just read it; they experience it!

 

 

Esperanza is a young girl living a life of privilege on her family’s ranch in Mexico. She enjoys all of the finer things in life with no hardships. However, she is entitled and spoiled. She doesn’t treat people with respect the way she should. Then tragedy strikes, her father dies. This changes everything for Esperanza and her mama. They lose everything including their ranch because women cannot own land. The two run away to California to work at a Mexican farm labor camp. This changes Esperanza. For the first time in her life she is working hard and facing financial struggles brought on by her circumstance and the Great Depression. Now she is not being accepted by people.

 

 

Much happens in her journey to make her a better person. Her abuelita teaches Esperanza how to crochet. Esperanza’s mama teaches her how to make a doll from yarn. There is also a theme with roses through the story. The roses symbolize home and the resilience of the family. They represent beauty and the thorns are life’s hardships.

“I have students from many years ago who tell me they still have their yarn doll from our Esperanza project,” said Robin Conklin, one of the fifth-grade teachers at CES.

 

 

The students spent part of a day doing some of the things that meant so much to Esperanza. They made dolls from yarn. They learned how to crochet, making headbands, hair ties, bracelets and hats. They created paper roses to show there is no life without beautify and difficulties.

 

In the end, Esperanza grows as a person, maturing into someone who accepts people no matter their circumstances. Esperanza rises from the depths of her circumstances into a better human being.

 

A wonderful lesson for our students, and so much fun learning to crochet, make their yarn dolls and beautiful paper roses.