El Camino Real:

Back to the Future

Introduction
Task
Resources
Off-Line Resources
Process
Conclusion
Spanish

Introduction:

In 1598, Don Juan de Oñate explored the territiory of what is now Mexico, Texas, and New Mexico. This is historically called El Camino Real. You are Don Juan de Oñate in 1997 re-exploring El Camino Real.When Oñate traveled through the land, he went in a caravan with people helping him explore and settle the land. Your job is to document how much El Camino Real has changed in 400 years.

Background Information:

Don Juan de Oñate first traveled this route in 1598 on orders from King Philip of Spain to discover a route to Nuevo España (New Spain -what is now New Mexico) that earlier explorers, like Coronado, had only glimpsed. His caravan consisted of about 175 soldiers and their families (exact numbers are not known as many hid until the King's auditors left as they were considered criminals) and over 5,000 head of cattle and sheep. In less than four hundred years, ruts from hooves, feet and simple wooden wheels have grown enormously, into railroads, interstate highways, microwave towers, power lines and contrails that fill our vistas today. Although altered in form, El Camino Real remains an avenue for ideas as well as commodities. The information and attitudes it conveys will continue to shape this land and its people for centuries to come.The old trail of ideas can carry attitudes of mutual trust, respect, cooperation, and responsibility for this shared region, thus ensuring the continuation of the finest traditions for living on this beautiful part of the earth. Our quest to have Don Juan de Onate discover how much his original trail has changed.

The Task

You and your classmates will form two groups: The Conquistadores and The Land Rovers. The Conquistadores will research the original Camino Real Trail and create a travel brochure. The Land Rovers will research the present day Camino Real Trail and create a travel brochure.

Congratulations! You are the original Conquistadores. Your conquest is the original El Camino Real Trail! Your group will select an original city along the El Camino Real Trail and will create a travel brochure that must include the following:

How the town was named
Physical features of the land
Population
Original settlers
Mode of travel
Shelter and/or Architecture
Food
Art
Celebrations or Festivals

Land Rovers

Congratulations! You are the Land Rovers. You are to bring Don Juan de Onate to rediscover the El Camino Real Trail today!Your group will rove along the trail and select a present day city that is along the El Camino Real trail and create a travel brochure that must include the following:

History of the city
Physical features of the land
Population
Mode of travel
Shelter and/or Architecture
One major point of interest
Recreation
Food
Art
Celebrations or Festivals

Resources

Off-Line Resources

El Camino Real : Un Sendero Historico by the Camino Real Project in cooperation with the Latin American Institute, University of New Mexico

The Process

The Camino Real Patron' (a.k.a. classroom teacher) will choose who will be in the Conquistadores Group and the Land Rover Group.The Conquistadores Group will be documenting the original Camino Real Trail. The Land Rovers will be documenting the present day Camino Real Trail.

CONQUISTADORES

Within your group you will need to decide what each person is to research.

1. Gather information on the following:

How the town was named
Physical features of the land
Language(s)
Population
Original settlers
Mode of travel
Shelter and/or Architecture
Recreation
Food
Art
Celebrations or Festivals

2. Compile information into a brochure of your town or city. Present to class for comparison of the Original and Modern trail.

Things to consider:

Were there already original settlers on the land? Who were they? What was the population? Did they have celebrations, festivals, shelter, food that were new to the Conquistadores?
Was the original town already named by the original settlers or did the Spanish Conquistadores name this site? What was the population of the settled site?
What mode of travel, shelter or architecture, food, celebrations or festivals, or art did the Spanish give to this area?
What were the physical features of the land? Was it mountainous, plains, desert, near water? Describe and give a graphical representation of the area.

After compiling your group's information packet you may want to see how to design your travel brochure.

Land Rovers

Within your group you will need to decide what each person will research.

1. Gather information on the following:

History of the city
Physical features of the land
Population
Language(s)
Mode of travel
Shelter and/or Architecture
Recreation
Food
Art
Celebrations or Festivals
One major point of interest

2. Compile information into a brochure of your town or city. Present to class for comparison of the Original and Modern trail.

Things to Consider:

What is the history of your city?
What cultures are represented in your area?
What major languages are spoken?
What is the current population of your city?
What are the physical features of the land? Is it mountainous, plains, desert, near water? Describe and give a graphical representation of the area.
Is there a common type of shelter or architecture that is seen throughout your city?
What types of recreation are present in your city?
What mode of travel is used now?
What types of food are available?
What type of recreation, art, celebrations or festivals does your city have?
Name a point of interest in your city

After compiling your group's information packet you may want to see how to design your travel brochure.

Conclusion

The Land Rovers and the Conquistadores will present to the class the brochures that each group has created. After showcasing the brochures you and your classmates will compare and contrast how the trail has changed in 400 years. An extension to this activity would be for you to make a time-line or a mural of the Camino Real from its beginning to the present time.