In a show of support for California Missions, Mervyn's Department Store (no longer in business) commissioned Father Jerome Tupa to paint all 21 California Missions in 1997. Mervyn's hired Think Jacobson and Roth to create a traveling exhibit which visited four California cities between 1999 and 2001.

Recognizing the value of the exhibit, AT&T AT&T Knowledge Network Explorer was approached by Think Jacobson and Roth on behalf of Mervyn's and discussions began on the possibility of porting the existing materials over to a web-based format. Mervyn's has expressed an interest in an interactive web site that would appeal to teachers and students as well as the Hispanic community. Think Jacobson and Roth created many print activities and resources in both Spanish and English that could easily port over the Internet.

Purpose of Site
The goal is to:

• Create a "permanent" place where Father Tupa's mission artwork may be seen.
• Enhance the learning experience of all who have an interest in the missions, with an emphasis on California fourth graders (Mission history is part of the state curriculum for fourth graders in California).
• Encourage participation from the community by providing a space where students can submit small bits of their work for public posting.
• Provide much-needed resources to the Hispanic community by making web site/handouts available in Spanish.
• Provide links to additional resources for further study.

Existing Sites
There are many existing sites about California Missions. Most of these sites are merely links to other sites and are text-heavy. The use of Father Tupa's images and the activities created by Think Jacobson and Roth should increase the visual appeal and interactive nature of the web site. None of the existing sites emphasize artistic expression in connection with the Missions.

Frameworks, Standards and Classroom Use
The frameworks and standards encourage students to apply what they learned in visual arts across subject areas. Students develop competencies and creative skills in problem solving, communication, and management of time and resources, which contribute to lifelong learning and career skills. They learn about careers in and related to the visual arts. You can find activities related to specific standards on the Activities page. We have also included an overview of the standards.