Missing Chapter

This imaginative writing worksheet is designed for Grades 4-6 and invites students to deepen their engagement with Esperanza Rising by creating a believable “lost chapter” that could fit naturally into the novel. Students choose a point in the story where the chapter might occur, give it a title, and write a detailed scene that includes sensory description, character thoughts, and dialogue. To завершить (wrap up) the task, students connect their new chapter to one of the novel’s major themes-such as family, resilience, hope, or social justice-showing thoughtful understanding of the text.

Learning Goals

• Creative Writing (Upper Elementary ELA) – Write an original narrative that fits a known story world
• Narrative Structure – Develop a scene with a clear setting, characters, and progression
• Character & Setting Development – Stay consistent with Esperanza’s voice, personality, and circumstances
• Theme Understanding – Explicitly connect creative writing to a central theme of the novel

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Aligned with upper elementary writing and literature standards
• Text-Grounded Creativity – Encourages imagination while requiring close reading and accuracy
• Choice & Ownership – Students select where the chapter fits, increasing engagement
• Builds Writing Stamina – Supports extended writing with planning and purpose
• Flexible Use – Ideal as a culminating project, enrichment activity, or alternative assessment
• Low Prep – Print-and-use worksheet with clear steps and writing guidance

This missing chapter worksheet helps students blend creativity with literary understanding. By imagining a new moment in Esperanza’s journey and tying it to the novel’s themes, learners strengthen narrative writing skills, deepen character insight, and demonstrate meaningful comprehension. Whether used at the end of a unit or as a creative extension, this activity offers a powerful way for students to step inside the story and make it their own.

This worksheet is part of our Esperanza Rising Worksheets collection.