Discover the early use of the land and its natural resources during a grounds tour. Students are introduced to the people who lived at the site which was an Ohlone village, a Spanish mission outpost and a Mexican rancho.In this hands-on living history program, your students will experience life on a Mexican rancho.
Students try their hand at roping a “cow” while on horseback!
• Take a house tour and participate in daily chores of a Californio rancho by grinding corn and roping a “cow.”
• Make candles and learn about the hide-and-tallow trade.
• Climb into the mud pit and make adobe bricks like those used to build the Sánchez Adobe.
• Students will be able to identify natural resources of the area used by the Ohlone, Spanish and Mexicans.
• Students will be identify the changing use of natural resources as inhabitants moved from the Ohlone hunter‐gather lifestyle to the Spanish agrarian lifestyle.
• Students will be able to identify the importance of natural resources to the rancho economy.
Online registration for the 2026-2027 school year is ongoing.
Register NowThe cost is $168 for a San Mateo County class; $188 for other counties on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. If your class has more than 30 students, we require an additional $6 fee for each student over 30. Fees apply to one class per program.
Additional fee applies for Mondays and Fridays (days that the site is only open for school programs).
You now have the option to pay for your school program online.
Pay NowFor more information, call 650.299.0104 or email us.
- Geared to fourth graders.
- History-Social Science Content Standards: 4.2, 4.3.
- To protect the historic site and for better quality of programming, school programs at the Sánchez Adobe are limited to one class per program.
- The school program usually happens rain or shine. Some modification of activities occurs on rainy days. Please note, San Mateo County Parks sometimes close during severe weather.
