Robin Conklin’s fifth-grade students continued a tradition at Circleville Elementary School reading Esperanza Rising, a historical fiction chapter book that is read by fifth grade classes at CES and across the district.  

In addition to the reading, students also make their own yarn dolls, which have significant meaning in the story about a young girl, Esperanza, who at one time has a charmed life in Mexico with her family. A tragedy causes a change in their lives and she and her mom flee to California and settle in a farm camp. They confront and overcome many challenges which are brought on by the Great Depression.

 

 

In Ms. Conklin’s class, they celebrate the end of the story with a fiesta. Of course this year the fiesta looked quite different but they still kept the tradition!

Part of the fiesta is the making of yarn dolls by each student. This year, virtual and in-person students received supplies for the dolls and individually packaged snacks for the fiesta. And it was a success!

 

 

 

 

“This event is remembered by students for years to come as they reflect back on their fifth grade year,” said Ms. Conklin.  “One student’s mom commented to me after hearing we were still making yarn dolls that her daughter still had hers and she is a sophomore in PBHS.”