A common use for Storyboard That is to help students create a plot diagram of the events from a story. Not only is this a great way to teach the parts of the plot, but it reinforces major events and helps students develop greater understanding of literary structures, such as five act structure.
Students can create a storyboard capturing the narrative arc in a work with a six-cell storyboard containing the major parts of the plot diagram. For each cell, have students create a scene that follows the story in sequence using: Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution.
Esperanza lives with her mother, father, and abuelita (grandmother) on El Rancho de las Rosas, a large vineyard in 1930s Mexico. Due to the family land, wealth, and faithful servants, Esperanza has lived a happy and privileged life with plenty of food, dresses, toys, and fun.
When Papa is killed by bandits, his brothers, Tio Luis and Tio Marco, try to take over his home. When Mama refuses to marry Tio Luis, he burns down the house and vineyard. After this, Mama and Esperanza decide to secretly move to the U.S. with their servants Hortensia, Alfonso, and Miguel. Sadly, they must leave Abuelita behind for now.
Esperanza has difficulty adjusting to the work and the poor conditions in the farm camps in Los Angeles. When Mama is sent to the hospital, she begins working in the fields to support them. Each week, Esperanza saves a little money to pay for Abuelita's journey to the U.S. She never knows if the work will last, though, due to the threat of labor strikes.
Esperanza reaches her breaking point and tells Miguel she no longer has hope for the future. The next day, Miguel disappears, taking Esperanza's money with him.
Eventually, Mama comes home from the hospital. A little later, Miguel returns home with a surprise: he has brought Abuelita all the way from Mexico!
Esperanza celebrates her first birthday after Papa's death. She has struggled through many difficulties, but grown stronger as a result. Her family is back together, and she once again has hope for the future.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a visual plot diagram of Esperanza Rising.
Deepen understanding by pairing plot diagram work with character analysis. Exploring character traits and changes helps students connect with the story on a personal level and supports comprehension of motivations and themes.
Have students choose or assign them a character, like Esperanza or Mama. Students should note character actions, thoughts, and feelings in a dedicated section of their notebooks or on a worksheet as they read each chapter.
Ask students to pinpoint scenes where their character faces challenges or makes important decisions. Emphasize how these moments influence the character's development and affect the story's outcome.
Organize small groups and have students share what they observed about their assigned characters. Encourage them to discuss similarities and differences in how characters react to events and grow over time.
Ask students to add notes or visuals about character changes at relevant points in their plot diagrams. This helps tie together plot structure and character arcs for a richer literary analysis experience.
Esperanza Rising follows Esperanza, a young girl who loses her wealthy life in Mexico after her father's death and must adapt to hardships in a U.S. farm camp. The novel traces her journey from privilege to resilience, highlighting key events like family separation, overcoming adversity, and reuniting with her loved ones.
To create a plot diagram for Esperanza Rising, divide the story into six parts: Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution. For each, illustrate and describe a major event, using a storyboard or graphic organizer to visualize the narrative arc.
Major events include Esperanza’s privileged life in Mexico, her father's death, fleeing to the U.S., adjusting to farm camp life, her mother's illness, saving for Abuelita’s journey, Miguel’s disappearance, and the family’s emotional reunion and renewed hope.
Esperanza Rising offers relatable themes and a clear narrative arc, making it ideal for teaching plot structure. Middle school students can visually organize events, understand literary elements, and connect emotionally to the character's growth and challenges.
The best way is to use a storyboard or plot diagram, prompting students to identify and illustrate key scenes for the exposition (Esperanza’s early life), conflict (family tragedy and escape), and resolution (family reunification and hope), encouraging discussion and written summaries.