California's Rancho Period

Help students understand what changed when California became part of Mexico. This print-and-go reading set covers Mexican independence, the end of the missions, land grants, rancho life, and the hide and tallow trade. Each page has a short, kid-friendly passage and two quick activities. No prep needed. Just print and teach!

What's Inside (8 pages)

• 1 overview page: Mexico Wins Independence
• 5 topic pages: California Under Mexican Rule, The End of the Missions, Land Grants and Ranchos, Life on a Rancho, and The Hide and Tallow Trade
• 1 map activity: Mexico's borders in 1821 and the 42nd parallel
• 1 answer key with sample answers for every written response

Features

• Short passages written at a grade 4 reading level
• Key terms: Californios, secularize, land grant, diseño, vaqueros, rodeo, hides and tallow
• Quick activities: true/false, word bank fill-ins, matching, circle two, number the steps, and a hands-on map task
• Black-and-white friendly design
  How to Use It in Your Classroom
• Unit lessons: teach one page a day across a week.
• Small groups or stations: give each group a topic, then share out.
• Review: use the map page as a quick check before moving on to the Gold Rush.
• Homework or sub plans: each page works on its own.

• Standards

• California HSS 4.2.7, 4.2.8 and CCSS RI.4.1, RI.4.3, RI.4.7
• Completes the series with California's First People, California's Explorers, and California's Missions!