Station 1: Agriculture, Part I

Background: Agriculture was the main resource of every Spanish mission in Texas. A
Spanish friar described an area along the San Antonio River, The best site in the world, with good and abundant irrigation water, rich lands for pasture, plentiful building stone, and excellent timber. Inhabitants of the mission were expected to maintain and cultivate crops and cattle in order to survive. This made daily rituals long and tiresome for the Catholic priests. Once the Native American was brought onto the mission, the job of maintaining crops and converting crops into useable food products no longer belonged to the priests in the mission. Before the Native Americans could plant the seeds or grind the corn, they would often have to sort the crops into the different food groups.

What to do:
Sort the different types of agricultural products. Separate the seeds into different containers. Maintain total silence at this station.

Station 1

Station 2: Language Translation

Background: When the Native Americans were taken to live in the missions, the difference
in language made it difficult for communication between them and the Spanish-speaking priests. They were expected to learn the language in order to carry out daily rituals and to learn the Roman Catholic religion. Within a mission there were several different buildings built to serve several different purposes. In one building, you might find Native Americans being taught the Spanish language. Children and adults were expected to learn the language in order to survive in the mission. Only a narrow window lighted the rooms.

What to do:

Pretend you are a Native American trying to learn the Spanish language. You are given blank paper, a pencil and copies from a Spanish dictionary. Using the dictionary pages, begin copying words in Spanish and then translate them into English. Copy as much as you can. Maintain total silence at this station.

Station 2

Station 3: Education/Learning
Background: Since the earliest days of Spanish exploration in the Americas, a highly
successful mission system was put in place. In the southeastern United States it extended from Florida up to North Carolina, and in the southwest from Texas to California. Through this system, Catholic priests received financial and military support from the Spanish Crown to build missions where the priests could convert the indigenous people not only to the Catholic faith, but also to the Spanish way of life. Spanish soldiers protected the priests as new lands were claimed, although very often these two groups disagreed about the best way to treat the new converts. The priests were the protectors of the indigenous, and taught them religion as well as valuable vocational skills.

What to do:

Use the 2nd QR code to watch the video and fill out the cloze notes.

Station 3 QR code #1 QR code #2

Station 4: Mission Building and Design

Background: The oldest and best known of these missions is San Antonio de Valero, named
for the Spanish viceroy of Mexico, el marqus de Valero. It is also known as the Alamo, one of the most famous landmarks in Texas history. The original building was made of sticks and straw, but these flimsy-building materials made it an easy victim of attacks. Subsequent construction of this and other missions was made with sturdier materials, such as sandstone, which could be cut into slabs for floors and walls, or certain clay soils, which were made into tiles and bricks. Although some of the missions were more elaborate than others, their overall architectural style was simple and practical. The mission of Concepcin (full name: Misin Nuestra Seora de la Pursima Concepcin de Acuna) is the best preserved of the San Antonio missions, with 45-inch thick walls. It has what many consider to be the oldest fully preserved church building in the United States. Concepcin was well-known for its religious celebrations. The mission of Espada is unique because of its irrigation system, the oldest still in use in the United States. Missions depended on a steady harvesting of crops for the survival of its residents. Because rainfall was irregular in this part of Texas, an irrigation system was a top priority. Irrigation was so important that settlers measured the farmland in suertes, which is the amount of land that they could water in a day.

What to do:

At your station, you have Lincoln Logs. You are going to build an outline of a mission, with different rooms for the mission. After you have built your mission to what you want, go to the app Screen Chomp and take a picture of it. Then record yourself talking about your mission, making a video. Copy the link of the video and post that link on Edmodo.

Station 5: Agriculture, Part II

Background: Agriculture was the main resource of every Spanish mission in Texas. A
Spanish friar described an area along the San Antonio River, The best site in the world, with good and abundant irrigation water, rich lands for pasture, plentiful building stone, and excellent timber. Inhabitants of the mission were expected to maintain and cultivate crops and cattle in order to survive. This made daily rituals long and tiresome for the Catholic priests. Once the Native American was brought onto the mission, the job of maintaining crops and converting crops into useable food products no longer belonged to the priests in the mission. Before the Native Americans could plant the seeds or grind the corn, they would often have to sort the crops into the different food groups.

What to do:
Put the corn/oats on the grinder. Take turns grinding out the materials until they are smaller grains, no chunks. Maintain total silence at this station.

Station 5

Station 6: Weaving Watch the video for this station.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dKvH4P7E-g

Station 6

Station 7: Pottery
At this station, you will be making pottery. Take the piece of clay and form it into a bowl/pot. Use water gently to smooth out the edges. Once done, add glaze to the pot to all sides, even the insideBUT NOT THE BOTTOM.

Use your pencil to put your initials in the inside of the pot.

Class will be broken into two 23-minute sections.

Monday Station 1: Agriculture I Station 2: Language Translation Station 3: Education/Learning Station 4: Mission Building Station 5: Agriculture II Station 6: Weaving Station 7: Pottery
intro A/F intro B intro C intro D/E intro G

Tuesday
D C A D B A B C F/E F /E G G

Wednesday
G B F G F A B A C C D/E D/E

Thursday

Friday
E C

E G F G E F A/D A/D B/C B/C

E D C D B/G B/G A/F A/F