Spanish Mission Vocabulary Game

Teacher's Guide

By Carol Schlenk


Introduction

In the mid 1500s, a full three hundred years before the "Westward Movement" of Anglo pioneers began in the American Southwest, Spaniards were interacting with Southwestern Native Americans. Spanish efforts to convert New World Indians to Christianity centered on life in the Spanish missions. These missions were, however, more that just places where Christian religion was taught. A great many daily activities, such as eating, sleeping, working, and playing also took place within the mission walls.

Lesson Focus

The challenge of this game will be to identify different parts of the mission by identifying the definition of the word that describes each mission part. On the left-hand side of their screens, students will see a list of words for different parts of the mission. Next to this list they will find a list of definitions for those words. When words in the two lists are successfully matched, the part of the mission that has been successfully identified will appear in the frame onscreen.

Vocabulary

plaza - large, open area in the middle of the mission

stable - building where livestock was kept

forge - blacksmith shop where tools were made

cistern - water storage tank

presidio – part of the mission that served as a fort

cookery or cocina – building where mission food was prepared

dormitory – rooms where mission Indians slept

chapel – Catholic church; always the first structure built in a mission

barracks – part of the presidio where Spanish soldiers lived

implement shed – storage building for farm and building tools

rectory or convento – building where mission priests lived

recitation room – room where mission Indians memorized lessons in the Spanish language and Catholic faith

infirmary – mission hospital

granary – building where corn and other grains were stored

refectory – mission dining hall

corral – pen for horses

armory – building where weapons and ammunition were stored
Extension Activities

  • Construct models of Spanish missions out of clay or papier-mache.
  • Write and stage a costume drama depicting life in a Spanish mission
  • Divide the class into 4 groups. Have each group research missions in one of the following places and map them on posterboard along with their creation dates:
    • United States
    Mexico
    Central America
    South America
  • Create a timeline depicting establishment dates for missions in Texas.
Meeting curriculum standards with the Spanish Mission Vocabulary Game:

This learning activity fits within the following national voluntary curriculum standards:

Social Studies

Culture
Time, Continuity, & Change
People, Places & Environment
Individuals, Groups & Institutions
Production, Distribution & Consumption
Global Connections

Reading Language Arts

Reading for Information
Word Identification Strategies
Use of Technical & Informational Resources
Use of Written & Visual Language

This activity also meets the following standards from the Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills (TEKS) for the 7th grade and can be adapted to grade levels 4-8.

Social Studies

History 1,2
Geography 9,10
Science, Technology & Society 20
Social Studies Skills 21,22

English, Language Arts & Reading

Reading – Word Identification 6
Reading Fluency 7,8,9,10