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Primary
Digital Public Library of America

Dpla: Spanish Missions in California

For Students 9th - 10th
This primary source set uses documents, photographs, and artwork to tell the story of the development and impact of Spanish missions in California during the Mission period.
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Lesson Plan
Huntington Library

Huntington Library: Coming to California [Pdf]

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Detailed lesson plan that uses primary sources to help students learn about the people of California from pre-Columbian times to the Mexican rancho periods.
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Primary
Other

American Journeys: Life of Father Junipero Serro, Founder of Franciscan Missions

For Students 9th - 10th
This study of Junipero Serra's (1723-1789) life was first published in 1913. It's made available here with some great features. You can search the book for key terms, read background information on the author and the subject, print or...
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Interactive
Mission Tour

Mission Tour: Virtual Tour of California Missions: Secularization

For Students 9th - 10th
This website tells about the emergence of secularization of Spanish California, which resulted in the decline of the missions.
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Handout
Kidport

Missions of California (1769 1834)

For Students 3rd - 8th
Use this site to learn how the natives lived in missions and were educated and converted to Christianity. Also learn who established the missions and why they were created.
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Primary
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Primary Source Set: Spanish Missions in California

For Students 9th - 10th
A collection that uses primary sources to explore the history of Spanish missions in California.
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Website
Library of Congress

Loc: California as I Saw It: First Person Narratives, 1849 1900

For Students 9th - 10th
The Library of Congress makes available these eyewitness accounts of California's history from 1849 to 1900.
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Graphic
Curated OER

California Missions

For Students Pre-K - 1st
california missions
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Primary
Museum of the City of San Francisco

Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco: California Before Gold Discovery

For Students 9th - 10th
From the "Century" magazine, an article from 1890 by James Bidwell who came to California in 1841.
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Handout
Lone Star Junction

Lone Star Junction: The Five Spanish Missions of Old San Antonio

For Students 3rd - 8th
A brief look at each of five Spanish missions established in the 1700s along the San Antonio River in California.
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Website
Library of Congress

Loc: Early California History: An Overview

For Students 9th - 10th
Table of Contents of an easy-to-understand history of California ranging from the first peoples to the turn of the century and covers the topics of the Missions, the discovery of gold, the towns and the cities.
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Handout
Other

American Journeys: Background on Francisco Palou and Father Junipero Serra

For Students 9th - 10th
Find background information about the life of Father Junipero Serra and his biographer, Father Francisco Palou. Read about the missions they established in California and their work in converting Native Americans to Christianity. Click...
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Handout
Other

San Diego History Center: Gaspar De Portola

For Students 9th - 10th
The San Diego History Center provides the interesting story of Portola, an early governor of California. Provides a great story about Monterey.
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Article
Museum of the City of San Francisco

Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco: Ranch/mission Days Alta California

For Students 9th - 10th
An 1890 article in "Century Magazine" by Guadalupe Vallejo relates his understanding of Hispanic influences on ranches and missions that existed in California before it became a state.
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Handout
Museum of the City of San Francisco

Virtual Museum of San Francisco: Junipero Serra: Founder of California

For Students 9th - 10th
A biography of Father Junipero Serra, including excerpts from a biography written by Serra's good friend, Palou.
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Website
Mission Tour

Mission Tour: A Virtual Tour of the California Missions: Chumash

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief description of the culture of the Chumash. Read about their canoes, houses, and understanding of astronomy.
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Graphic
Curated OER

Wikipedia: National Historic Landmarks in California: Mission Inn

For Students 9th - 10th
This hotel has become the largest Mission Revival style through progressive additions and embellishments since its first predecessor cottage was built in 1876. In addition to lodgings, it features shops, a chapel, furniture from around...
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Article
Scholastic

Scholastic: Junipero Serra

For Students 9th - 10th
Junipero Serra (1713-1789) was a missionary who worked in Mexico and later California, mainly among the native people. He was beatified by the Catholic Church in 1988. This is a short profile of his life.
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Graphic
Curated OER

Wikipedia: National Historic Landmarks in California: Carmel Mission

For Students 9th - 10th
The second Roman Catholic California Mission Church, this was the headquarters of the padre presidente, Father Fermin Francisco de Lasuen . It was destroyed in the mid-19th century and restored in 1884 and 1920. It remains a parish...
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Graphic
Curated OER

Wikipedia: National Historic Landmarks in Ca: Mission San Miguel Arcangel

For Students 9th - 10th
The 16th California Mission church remains well preserved and still in use today though under earthquake remediation construction. Inside are murals by Esteban Munras.
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Graphic
Curated OER

Mission San Buenaventura

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Mission San Buenaventura in California.
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Website
Other

Cal Earth the California Institute of Earth Art and Architecture

For Students 9th - 10th
Founded and directed by the internationally renowned architect and author Nader Khalili, this institute works to create homes from the earth using such materials as sand, clay, and dirt. Its mission is to create tree-less places for...
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Graphic
Curated OER

Wikipedia: Natl Historic Landmarks in California: Mission Beach Roller Coaster

For Students 9th - 10th
one of only 2 remaining wooden coasters on the West coast, it was built in 1925 by noted coaster builders Prior and Church. It was saved from destruction in 1987, restored, and is still operating today.
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Graphic
Curated OER

Wikipedia: National Historic Landmarks in California: San Diego Mission Church

For Students 9th - 10th
This was the first Spanish Mission in Alta California and the start of El Camino Real. Originally located in the Presidio of San Diego, it later moved a few miles away. The nearby Old Mission Dam, also a NHL, provided water for milling...

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