California Mission Report , Some Projects, and Window Cling Art

One of the typical, and very specifically Californian social studies units we learn about in 4th grade is the Mission System.  Here are a few things we have done these past two years since I moved back into the grade level.

In class, we learned about the mission system, how and why it was started, and how it affected the native Americans who were living there.  We spent a great deal of time on the impact the entire system had on the indigenous people while discussing the system as a whole. 

This year, because of time, we went simple and to the point.  We read the social studies book, watched a few videos, and did a little research on the mission system itself.   We also did a small research report and accompanying art project on the individual missions.  

Each student was assigned a mission to learn about.  I gave them this report template to help them gather their information.  This was actually rather difficult for them, which I wasn't prepared for!  I thought it was more straightforward than it turned out to be.  I ended up having to guide them through the research a bit more than I anticipated, but by the end they were able to learn about their specific mission.  

Then, I had them draw a "window cling" of the mission.  These drawings, which were to feature their mission as the primary focus, were drawn on clear contact paper with sharpie.  I then hung them on the windows in our classroom so they function very similarly to stained glass windows.  They are SO pretty in person when the light shines through!

Last year, we had a bit more time to learn about this time period in the history of our state.  Because of that, I assigned the students three different project options they had to choose from.  They could:

1)  visit any mission, taking a minimum of 10 pictures, and completing a scrapbook to share

2)  create a "mission artifact box" where they would create 5 items that typically would be found in a mission and make a museum box to show the items off

3)  make a brochure about one of the missions

Students choose whichever project they wished to complete.  I had about 1/2 of my students actually visit a mission (we live about 10 minutes from one),  many made the artifact box, and a few make a brochure.  The kids presented their projects and showed what they learned about life at the missions.  These were a break from the traditional "build a mission" project that kids just don't seem to learn much from.  Instead, by visiting an actual mission or creating artifacts that might have been used at a mission, they learned more in depth about these places very ingrained in the history of California.  You can get the project directions and rubrics here.