History and Social Studies:

4.2.4 Describe the mapping of, geographic basis of, and economic factors in the placement and function of the Spanish missions; and understand how the mission system expanded the influence of Spain and Catholicism throughout New Spain and Latin America.

Literature and Language Arts:

1.2 Create multiple-paragraph compositions:
a. Provide an introductory paragraph.
b. Establish and support a central idea with a topic sentence at or near the beginning of the first paragraph.
c. Include supporting paragraphs with simple facts, details, and explanations.
d. Conclude with a paragraph that summarizes the points.
e. Use correct indention.

1.3 Use traditional structures for conveying information (e.g., chronological order, cause and effect, similarity and difference, posing and answering a question).

Penmanship

1.4 Write fluidly and legibly in cursive or joined italic.
2.1 Write narratives:
a. Relate ideas, observations, or recollections of an event or experience.
b. Provide a context to enable the reader to imagine the world of the event or experience.
c. Use concrete sensory details.
Provide insight into why the selected event or experience is memorable.

Introduction
Background for the Teacher
Guiding Questions
Learning Opportunities
Assessment
Guided Discussion Questions
Instructional Plan
Materials Needed
Groupings
Checking for Student Understanding
Guided Practice
Independent Practice
Closure
Extention
English Learners
G.A.T.E. Students

Mission Inn Museum website
California Missions detailed architectural features
Mission Inn architecture
Mission Inn architecture
California Missions
California Missions
California Mission History
California Mission style architecture

Background Information:

Much of California's history began with the arrival of the Spanish and the building of the Spanish Missions. The twenty-one missions along California's El Camino Real represent the first arrival of non-Native Americans to California. Life for the California Native Americans was forever changed. In addition to Christianity, the missions brought many other influences to California such as livestock, fruits, flowers, grains and industry and the architecture of Spain.

A specific site was chosen that featured a plentiful water supply, wood for fires and building materials, and fields for grazing herds and raising crops.  The padres blessed the site before the building began.  Because of the lack of supplies nearby, each mission was forced to be self-supporting; the nearest based of supplies was months away in Mexico.  The padres and Spanish soldiers of the missions relied on the local native-Californians to tend the crops and livestock. 

Building materials for the missions included adobe, timber, stone, brick, and tile.  Padres copied the building styles and techniques from their native Spain.  They were influenced by the early Romans, who built domes, vaults, and arches as well as church belfries.  Other building features included long corridors and pillars. 

A common characteristic of the California Missions was the fountain at the center of a courtyard, which indicated the wealth of the mission.  Another feature is the number of courtyards and gardens. 

Each mission also contained a chapel, also designed using features of buildings in Spain.  Decorations were usually copied from books brought from Spain and recreated by the native artists.  All of the missions were built simply, comfortably, and with coolness in the heat of the day and warmth in the cold.

Over one hundred years later the influence of these magnificent missions can still be seen.  Frank Miller, founder of the Mission Inn, was fascinated by the architecture of the California Missions and as a result, much of the Riverside Mission Inn was modeled after these beautiful structures.