Texas TEKS 4.2.C

Social Studies4th GradeHistory

The Standard

explain when, where, and why the Spanish established settlements and Catholic missions in Texas as well as important individuals

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Social Studies

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students place Spanish mission and settlement building in the late 1600s and 1700s and locate key areas such as East Texas, San Antonio, and South Texas. They connect Spain's religious and territorial goals to people such as José de Escandón.
What Mastery Looks Like: Given a map and timeline, students accurately identify major regions and the general period of Spanish expansion. They explain conversion, colonization, and protection from French claims, then describe José de Escandón's role in settling South Texas.
Common Misconceptions: Students often treat missions, presidios, and settlements as the same type of place. They may think Spain acted only to spread religion, or that all Spanish communities were built near San Antonio at the same time.
How to Assess It: Exit ticket: On a blank Texas map, mark San Antonio and South Texas. Write the general time period, two reasons for Spanish expansion, and José de Escandón's role.

Lesson moves

Give pairs a Texas map, date cards, place cards, and leader cards to arrange, match, and justify with evidence.
Ask students to write: Why did Spain build both missions and settlements, and which goal mattered most?
Play a four-corners game using When, Where, Why, and Who clues from short Spanish Texas scenario cards.
Compare a current San Antonio map with an old mission map, then identify landmarks and place names that preserve Spanish influence.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 4.2.C, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

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