Life in a Mission

Students brainstorm buildings included in a mission compound. Then they learn about the physical structure of a mission, including the role of the church and the irrigation system. Next they watch a video about missions and indigenous people in Texas. Finally students write about the differences in experiences between friars and indigenous people.

This learning experience is designed for device-enabled classrooms. The teacher guides the lesson, and students use embedded resources, social media skills, and critical thinking skills to actively participate. To get access to a free version of the complete lesson, sign up for an exploros account.

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Teacher Pack

The Pack contains associated resources for the learning experience, typically in the form of articles and videos. There is a teacher Pack (with only teacher information) and a student Pack (which contains only student information). As a teacher, you can toggle between both to see everything.

Here are the teacher pack items for Life in a Mission:

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Overview

In this experience, students brainstorm buildings included in a mission compound. Then they learn about the physical structure of a mission, including the role of the church and the irrigation system. Next they watch a video about missions and indigenous people in Texas. Finally students write about the differences in experiences between friars and indigenous people

If you have access to leveled readers about life on a Spanish mission, assign them to the students in parallel to this experience.

Estimated duration: 40–50 minutes

 

Discovery Reading

A printable Discovery Reading is included in the student pack as a support for understanding the experience’s core content and concepts. This Discovery Reading is not necessary to complete the experience and serves as an optional support resource.

Vocabulary Words:

These vocabulary words are used in the experience or connect closely to the standards and content students examine. Students should understand these terms as they work through the experience.

  • mission: a Spanish settlement in Texas where friars, indigenous people, and others lived and worked, and where people were taught Christianity.
  • compound: the enclosed area of a mission, with walls, gates, and buildings inside.
  • friar: a Catholic religious man who lived and worked at a mission and taught Christianity.
  • indigenous people: the first people who lived in Texas before Europeans arrived.
  • aqueduct: a structure or ditch system that carried water from a river to the mission and its fields.
  • irrigation: bringing water to farmland so crops can grow.
  • self-sufficient: able to make or grow what is needed to live without depending much on outside help.
 

Objectives

  • Describe the structure of life in a mission.
  • Explain the purpose of the mission system.
  • Describe the impact of Spanish colonization on indigenous people in the Americas.


Engage


In the previous lesson you learned some of the reasons that the Spanish built the missions: to convert indigenous people to Christianity, to have a claim to the land and its natural resources, and to change the area to mirror life in Europe. In this lesson you will take a closer look at daily life on a mission.

Objectives

  • Describe the structure of life in a mission.
  • Explain the purpose of the mission system.
  • Describe the impact of Spanish colonization on indigenous people in the Americas.


Photograph of the mission

Mission San Jose Church in San Antonio, seen through the mission gate


The missions served as entire villages for the residents. Name a building or area that was probably included in every mission.

Post your answer

Sample answers include church, residence halls or dorms, kitchen and dining hall, workshops, farmland and gardens. Ask students: Have you ever visited the remains of one of the Spanish missions? What did you see there?


When everyone is ready to continue, unlock the next scene.

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The Complete List of Learning Experiences in European Exploration and Settlement Unit.

The Founding of San Antonio

European Exploration and Settlement: Unit Assessment

European Exploration and Settlement: Vocabulary

Early Settlement in Texas

Spanish Exploration in Texas

Life in a Mission

French Exploration in Texas

European Exploration

End of the Missions
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