Grade 6: ELA

Esperanza Rising [Genre: Narrative] 

Throughout the novel Esperanza Rising, Esperanza heeds the advice of other characters as she encounters conflicts in her life. Write a continuation of the story set years later that portrays Esperanza as a mother. 

TASK: Write the narrative from Esperanza’s point of view and include the advice that she has learned from her own life experiences that she would pass on to her children. [RL.2, W.3]

Essential Question: How can we change based on our life experiences?

Investigative Questions 

• How/Why do our experiences change us and cause us to grow? (Character development)

• How can we effectively bring about change when faced with injustice in our society? 

Resources: 

https://teachesperanzarising.weebly.com/index.html

https://www.missionhillschool.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Esperanza-Rising-Unit-Plan.pdf

https://www.scholastic.com/content/dam/teachers/lesson-plans/migrated-featured-files/esperanza-rising-storia-tg.pdf

I am Malala [Genre: Argumentative]

Essential Question: How can our choices impact those around us? 

Throughout the unit, you’ve read texts about the impact that individual choices can have on others. Consider Malala Yousafzhi’s experiences and the experiences of other individuals in the texts you have read in this unit. 

TASK: Write an argument to support a claim in response to the questions: Are the risks people take worth the rewards they gain? How did Malala’s and one of the other individuals’ choices impact the world around them