The Spanish Missions is a free printable Grade 3 to Grade 5 social studies worksheet on why the Spanish built missions and what they caused, aligned to C3 Framework indicator D2.His.14.3-5. It prints 2 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two students in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.
Set 1 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.
An information text written for this worksheet.
Mexico won its independence from Spain in 1821, and the missions came under Mexico.
In 1833 Mexico passed a law to close the California missions, and over the next few years their lands were taken from the priests.
Most of the land was granted to Mexican settlers as huge cattle ranches called ranchos.
The law said mission land should go to the Native people who had worked it, but very little did.
Many Native people had to work on the ranchos for food and shelter instead of wages.
Ranchos sold cattle hides and tallow, a fat used for candles and soap, to ships from the United States and Britain.
1. Why did the missions come under Mexico?
2. What does the text not tell you about the Native people on the ranchos?
3. What did the ranchos sell to ships?
2.Read the text, then answer the questions.
The California Missions
An information text written for this worksheet.
In 1769 Spain began building missions in Alta California, starting at San Diego.
Father Junípero Serra led the first missions. By 1823 there were 21, spread along the coast from San Diego to Sonoma.
Spain wanted to hold the coast against Russia and Britain, and to make Native people Catholic farmers and workers.
Native people baptized at a mission were not allowed to leave it freely. Soldiers brought back those who ran away.
They worked in the fields, in the workshops and with the herds of cattle and sheep.
Crowded living and new diseases killed many thousands, and the Native population of the coast fell sharply.
1. What does the text not tell you about the people who ran away?
2. How many California missions were there by 1823?
3. Where was the first California mission built?
LessonPrint · D2.His.14.3-5 · Set 1 · free to copy for classroom use
Answer key — The Spanish Missions
Set 1. Prints on its own sheet.
1.1. Mexico won its independence from Spain in 1821. 2. It does not say how many of them there were or how they felt about the work. 3. Cattle hides and tallow.
2.1. It does not tell you why each person ran away or what happened after soldiers brought them back. 2. There were 21 missions. 3. At San Diego, in 1769.
Questions about The Spanish Missions
What does the The Spanish Missions worksheet cover?
It practices why the Spanish built missions and what they caused — 2 questions for Grade 3 to Grade 5, all on C3 Framework D2.His.14.3-5: Explain the likely causes and effects of an event. The instruction to students is “Read each text, then answer the questions”, and the answer key follows on the next sheet.
Which C3 Framework indicator does The Spanish Missions practice?
D2.His.14.3-5, under History for Grade 3 to Grade 5. The published indicator reads: “Explain probable causes and effects of events and developments.” The worksheet assesses that indicator rather than a paraphrase of it.
What age or grade is this worksheet for?
The Spanish Missions is written for Grade 3 to Grade 5, typically ages 40-41. It is one of the sheets on D2.His.14.3-5, so it suits any student working at that standard — including older students revisiting it and younger ones working ahead.
Does The Spanish Missions come with an answer key?
Yes. All 2 answers are generated from the same problems as the questions, so the key cannot drift out of step with the sheet. It starts on a fresh sheet of paper, after the questions, so it is not handed out with the class by accident.
How many different versions of The Spanish Missions can I print?
25 — one per student, and all 25 ask different questions. Set 1 downloads the whole class as a single PDF. Every version is fixed to its own address, so a sheet printed today holds the same problems when you reopen it next week.
Is The Spanish Missions free to print and photocopy?
Yes. The Spanish Missions, its answer key and its 25 versions are free to print and photocopy for your own class, with no account, no email capture and no subscription at the download step. Please do not resell them or republish them as your own.
More practice for D2.His.14.3-5
Explain the likely causes and effects of an event.