The Diseño Project

The diseño project includes 3 parts:
  1. a hand-drawn map, which shows where you'd like your California rancho to start and end,
  2. a sheet of handwritten flow map notes from class, and
  3. a land grant request, which gives some background about your fictional family from Mexico, and what you plan to do with the land if the Governor of Alta California gives it to you. 
Click here to see a step-by-step webpage detailing this project.

Want to see what students wrote for their survey? Click here!
The Map's Requirements
On your diseño (that's your map), make sure you include the following items and details:
  • Landmarks drawn, colored: may include a river, roads, trees, rocks, other buildings
  • A compass rose (see samples on maps below; be sure to at least  include North)
  • Your plans for your rancho: your house, corral, etc.
  • A Mexican seal of approval (see p. 162 in your Social Studies book, or the Internet)
  • It's attached to the front of your diseño folder
  • It's colored and outlined in black pen/Sharpie
  • All pencil marks erased
  • Neat 4th grade work
  • Completed to turn in on the due date
  • CLICK HERE to see some hints on getting the best grade on your diseño.
  • The diseño map is worth 5 points.
Picture
Here's an example of a seal from the government of Mexico. Make sure your diseño has one.
The Land Grant Requirements
On your land grant request (that's your handwritten letter), you'll need:
  • The date you're making your request (pick a date between September 27, 1821 to September 9, 1850)
  • The governor's name, which matches the date of your letter (click here to see a list of governors and when they ruled)
  • Click here to see a copy of the notes posted in class, as well as a letter template to get you started; click here to see a sample letter. Make sure you include all the items in the 5 paragraphs from your classroom notes.
  • 5 paragraphs, listing this information: 
  1. the request for land, 
  2. how the land will be used, 
  3. the role of the vaqueros, 
  4. the roles of the women and Indians, and 
  5. describe daily and social life on the rancho
  • The land grant request is worth 15 points.
Picture
Your map also needs a compass rose showing the cardinal points. North will do.

A sample letter:

                                                                                               April 21, 1825

Dear Gov. Arguello,

I am Juan Gabriel, a Mexican citizen. I currently live in Ensenada with my wife and two teenage sons and 3 hard-working daughters. I attend the local Catholic church, Our Lady of Sorrows. We live in a one-bedroom house with dirt floors. We have a hundred head of cattle, 5 goats, and a small garden that we use to provide food for our family. I’m writing to you to request a land grant in Alta California. Please find attached my diseño, which shows the boundaries of the rancho I’m requesting. You’ll see the San Bernardino Mountains to the north, with a stream running to the west, both of which establish the northern and western borders to my requested property. The land I am requesting has good soil for planting, plenty of room to raise livestock, and I could build a nice adobe for my family. 

My vaqueros will help round up my cattle and take care of them. They will be experts at horse-riding and lassoing wandering cattle, and quick with the brand to mark my calves to keep them from getting stolen.

 My two sons will help manage the farm, and I will employ 30 local Indians from the mountains, which have no work now, and have to beg for food. I know they are hard workers. The women who ride well will also help with rounding up the cattle for branding, and hosting the fiestas. Many of the women in the area are excellent at organizing the running of a rancho.

It will not be all work, of course. We will make time for fiestas to honor birthdays, anniversaries, baptisms, and of course, weddings when my sons and daughters decide it's time to start families of their own!

Please consider my request so that I can provide a better and richer life for my family. Thank you so much for your time.

Warm regards to you and your family,
Juan Gabriel

Student samples