4th Grade Field Trip Brings Mexican California History to Life at Castro Adobe

Oakwood School’s 4th grade students stepped back in time during a memorable field trip to Rancho San Andrés Castro Adobe, a historic site rich in culture and deeply connected to their studies of Mexican California history.

Located on what was once an 8,000-acre land grant to José Joaquín Castro, this rancho became one of the social and cultural hubs of the Central California Coast during the Mexican era. The land is part of the ancestral homeland of the Awaswas-speaking Aptos tribe, whose deep and enduring connection to the region was an important part of the students’ learning.

The centerpiece of the field trip was the hacienda, built between 1848 and 1849. Students had the chance to explore this two-story adobe home, gaining insight into the architecture and daily life of the time. In the outdoor attached cocina (kitchen), students sampled warm, fresh tortillas.

Throughout the day, students participated in hands-on activities that brought history to life. They created leather bookmarks imprinted with unique cattle brands, similar to those used during the rancho period to identify livestock. They also learned the steps of a traditional fandango dance, a lively and social style of music and movement popular in the 1800s.

Another highlight was learning about the vaquero (cowboy) culture. Students were fascinated by stories of the skilled horsemen who managed cattle across the region—and amazed to learn that bear and bull fights were once a common spectacle at ranchos like this one.

To tie it all together, students had the chance to see a diseño—an original hand-drawn map—of Rancho San Andrés, which helped them understand how land grants were recorded and visualized during the Mexican era.

The visit to Castro Adobe offered students an engaging, hands-on opportunity to connect their classroom learning to real historical experiences. It was a day of discovery, culture, and appreciation for the complex history of California—and one they’ll be sure to remember

4th Grade Rancho San Andrés Castro Adobe Field Trip