Cornerstones Community Partnerships
Creating hands-on interdisciplinary adobe restoration curriculum for New Mexico schools
Since 1986, Cornerstones has worked in partnership with communities to restore historic structures, preserve cultural landscapes, encourage traditional building practices, and conserve natural resources. Our Adobe Curriculum Experiential learning promotes cultural awareness and historic preservation by introducing the skills needed to restore, rehabilitate and preserve the adobe structures characteristic of the state's architecture.
Our curriculums can be applied to Pre-k - first grade, elementary and middle school and are designed to meet New Mexico Education Department's New Mexico Content Standards with Benchmarks and Performance Standards. The new Middle School Curriculum is supported by a grant from the Santa Fe Community Foundation. The curriculum was tested out by teachers during an adobe workshop and Professional Development session at The Academy for Technology and the Classics (ATC) in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The curriculum, written by Joaquin Martinez, is digitally available through the Cornerstones website.
The author of the lesson plans met with the ATC teachers several times through the year as the students built the adobe pueblo and the week's Professional Development was a culmination of what the teachers already participated in with the students during the 2023-2024 school year, as the lesson plans were being put into best practice.
One of the curriculum's success was the ability to share the plans' application to other disciplines. Pictured, you will see the Spanish, Math, Science and Art teachers at ATC. The lesson plans are designed in such a way that all of these teachers will be applying them to their respective disciplines in the coming year to create a truly interdisciplinary yearlong Project Based Learning experience for the students at ATC.
Cornerstones appreciates the opportunity to continue our Adobe curriculum project and looks forward to establishing a high school format which may include internships and trades training, collaborating with shop classes and career planning within schools.
____
The Santa Fe Community Foundation invited its nonprofit grantees to submit stories related to our July topic of Arts & Culture.
La Clínica del Pueblo de Río Arriba
La Clínica del Pueblo de Río Arriba has been a trusted healthcare provider in northern New Mexico for more than 50 years, ensuring families in rural and remote communities can access quality, culturally responsive care close to home. Serving as a primary source of care for infants, toddlers, and caregivers in Rio Arriba County, the clinic recently launched La Clínica Baby Essentials — a new “baby bank” offering essential supplies, parenting education, and infant health screenings.
The Food Depot
Families need more than groceries to stay healthy and stable. That is why The Food Depot also operates Diaper Depot, providing diapers, wipes, and resources to hundreds of families each month. This wraparound program supports household well-being and helps families stay on a stronger path toward food security.
McCurdy Ministries
Local nonprofit McCurdy Ministries shares their story, including the early childhood programs that support young children and families in the Española Valley, offering care, education, and essential resources during critical early years.
