California Missions

                                                                       

Subject Matter: The California Mission were a important part of California history and the colonization of California Native Americans. The Spanish Missionaries had a complex system of trade and travel that thrived in California for over 60 years.

Grade Level: 4

Lesson Objective:

Learners will demonstrate knowledge of/understanding of/ability to describe Mission life, location and relationships.

Subject Matter Content Standard:

History-4.2 Students describe the social, political, cultural, and economic life and interactions among people of California from the pre-Columbian societies to the Spanish mission and Mexican rancho periods.

3. Describe the Spanish exploration and colonization of California, including the relationships among soldiers, missionaries, and Indians (e.g., Juan Crespi, Junipero Serra, Gaspar de Portola).

Website Addresses Used as Resources:

1. http:// www.missionscalifornia.com/ Comprehensive site about the California Missions

2. http://library.thinkquest.org/3615/ Virtual tour of a Mission in the 18^th Century

3. http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=22722 Great description of the “El Camino Real” and the Mission Trail

Student Research Questions:

Essential Question

1.What was the relationship between California Native Americans and the Missions?

Other Questions

2. Describe what the El Camino Real was and how it worked.

3. Why did the Missions of California fail?

4. What was life like for Native American children on the Missions?

5. List 3 California Missions

6. Who is Junipero Serra?

7. How did the Spanish Army play a part in the creation of the Missions?

8. Name when the first mission was founded in California and where?

Assessment: 

Students not only got all the vital information about the Missions of California, they literally could view pictures of these missions. The can look at interactive maps of the missions and take a virtual tour of a Mission in the 18^th Century. Including a graphic organizer accompanying this assignment or having students as a class recreate a mock Mission with students taking on the different role of Mission Inhabitants would both be excellent assessments