Secularization of California Missions

Web Scavenger Hunt Lesson Plan Worksheet

 

Subject Matter:  Social Studies

Grade Level:  Fourth Grade

Lesson Objective: Complete the sentence below.

Learners will demonstrate the understanding of Mexican rule in California in accordance with the secularization of the mission with 90% accuracy or above. 

Subject Matter Content Standard: Discuss the period of Mexican rule in California and its attributes, including land grants, secularization of the missions, and the rise of the rancho economy.

Website Addresses Used as Resources: (2-3)

1. An article about the secularization of the California Missions that was originally published in the early 1900's.  http://www.oldandsold.com/articles17/california-missions-5.shtml
2. Information and tours of the California Missions.  http://missiontour.org/related/secularization.htm
3. Accurate California history presented by the State of California. http://www.californiahistoricalsociety.org/timeline/chapter5/003.html

Student Research Questions:

Essential Question: 

1.   Do you feel that the secularization of the California missions ever lived up to what Governor Figueroa intended it to be?

Subsidiary Questions (5-10):

2.  Why did Mexico secularize all of their missions?

3.  How many years were the missions expected to be missions before they were secularized?

4.  When mission were secularized were they ever physically damaged?

5.  What is the difference between a pueblo and a mission?

6.  In 1834 who ratified the secularization law?

7.  Why was the secularization of California mission so much different than the other missions that Mexico had?

8.  Who was the intended mission land for?

9.  Was it easy to trick the intended mission land owners out of their land?

10.  Who ended up with the land of most California missions?