Things to keep in mind as you work on this project:
You will be creating a Mission Lap Folder. It's a major part of your Social Studies grade. You will need to research and write about your mission. The final project will be completed primarily in class.
It’s your job to do the research, and take notes. You will be assigned draft/final paragraphs and folder components in class.
It’s important that you keep up with the assigned tasks!Finish the project on time. Every day the project is late loses 5 points.
If you lost your paperwork for this project, you'll need to print up another copy at home. A link to the paperwork is here.
Here's what the final project will look like. Do your best, 4th grade quality work!
Details on the project
Cover/Title Page, 5 points
Neatly drawn and colored cover - Demonstrate effort and creativity.
Includes mission name and your name.
Flipbook, 48 points
Early history of mission: 10 points
Mission name: who it was named after, and why
Where it’s located and why it was located there
What Indian tribe(s) it served
Special opening day, week or year events
When it was founded (started) and by whom
What # mission it was, out of 21
Include a neat, hand-drawn picture at the bottom with a caption
Daily life of a missionary: 10 points
Describe their roles and responsibilities
What was a typical schedule for a friar/missionary?
Include a neat, hand-drawn picture at the bottom with a caption
Daily life of a Native American: 10 points
Describe their roles and responsibilities
What was typical schedule for a Native American?
How they were treated?
Include a neat, hand-drawn picture at the bottom with a caption
Important events in Mission’s history and/or interesting facts: 8 points
Identify and research 4 important events and or interesting facts in your mission’s history.
Write a brief explanation/paragraph and illustrate each event.
Layout of Mission: 10 pts.
Research your mission
Draw and color a detailed map of your mission.
Include surrounding areas that were important to your mission’s daily work.
Label and include any necessary captions.
A reminder of what's needed in each section can be found here.
Letter to the King of Spain, 10 points
Write a letter from the point of view of one of the early missionaries to the King of Spain. You should include:
The progress of the mission building.
Ask for any supplies that you need and why you need them.
Any problems that might be occurring at your mission.
Bell schedule, 3 points
Research the daily bell schedule of your assigned mission.
Starting with when the mission bells ring to wake everyone.
Ending with when the mission rings signaling when it’s bedtime.
Include at least 8 different times (in order) that the bells ring and the activity they signify.
Mission vocabulary, 3 points
You will choose 6 mission vocabulary words. A list of mission vocabulary can be found here.
Write a definition and include a small illustration.
Mission architectural features, 3 points
Research 5 architectural features on a mission. A list of architectural features can be found here.
Describe each feature and its purpose.
You will be including a colored illustration of each.
How to make an adobe brick, 3 points
Research how the early Californians made adobe bricks.
Write out 4 steps to make an adobe brick.
Be sure to include enough details to successfully make a brick.
Other points to consider
Neatness, creativity and organization counts!5 pts.
Maintain organized notes. Please do NOT lose your directions and notes.
Writing Conventions:10 pts.
Includes grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
Your child's assigned mission is listed here by their class number.
For general information on the entire mission system, see this page.
The CA Missions Resource Center: a state website with lots of details on each mission. Be sure to click on "Key Facts by Missions" on the top left side. Click here to see a map of where all the missions are located; click on the mission on the map for more information.
FactCards: There are lots of informational links here, specific to each mission, and info on general mission life.
CA Parks mission info: this link might have some quick trivia to make your report more interesting... check it out!
Here's another link with mission information called Mission Tour.org. Check it out... there are lots of pages (with pictures) at the bottom of each page.
CA Missions Trail: Basic paragraphs on each mission can be found here.
"21 Missions" can be found by clicking here. There are some NICE photos here to use to draw your cover. Click on the name of your chosen mission for photos and info.
For information on President Lincoln's help with turning California's missions back over to the Catholic church, visit this link (courtesy of Mission SJC). Click here to read an article in the Orange County Register.
Info on the San Diego de Alcala mission is here. Click here to see an article talking about Mission San Luis Rey de Francia and President Lincoln.
Why did Spain build the missions? Why where the priests (missionaries) there? Check out this link and read it carefully! Need more info? Click here and read on...
Need some info on Father Junipero Serra? Click here to learn more about this important person from California's past.
Videos you may find helpful
CA Mission Overview: Here's a quick music video touring all 21 missions. Watching this may help you decide which one you'd like to report on.
Click here to see a video from Chapman University (starring Huell Howser from California's Gold) as he visits San Gabriel de Arcangel, San Fernando Rey de Espana, and San Buenaventura.
Click here to see another Huell Howser video with a traveling mission exhibit.