Exploring Texas
Our class will explore how the history of Texas shapes our state today. Students will use resource books, encyclopedias, and teacher designated web sites to gather information about Texas. This information will be organized onto a database. Students will then compose lyrics to a song about Texas using facts from their database. The song will be sung to "She'll Be Comin' Round The Mountain". Students will also use the knowledge they acquire during their research to design a collage of Texas symbols. Then each student will design a Power Point presentation to show parents and students during Texas Public Schools week.
Recommended Literature
In My Family/En Mi Familia by Carmen Lois Garza
Bubba and The Cowboy Prince: A Fractured Texas Tale by Helen
Ketteman
My Lone Star Summer by D. Anne Love
The Cowboy and the Blackeyed Pea by Tony Johnston
Little Red Cowboy Hat by Susan Lowell
L is for Lone Star:
A Texas Alphabet by Carol Crane
Alamo Across Texas
by Jill Stover
Armadillo Rodeo by
Jan Brett
Jeannie: A Frontier
Girl by Evelyn Horan
The West Texas Chili
Monster by Judy Cox
The Legend of the
Bluebonnet by Tomie dePaolo
Tumbleweed Tom on
the Texas Trail by Kay Salem
A Line In the Sand:
The Alamo Diary of Lucinda Lawrence, Gonzales, Texas, 1836
Internet Resources Used During this Unit
Texas Facts and Symbols by geobop
TEKS covered by this unit:
2nd Grade Social Studies
(1) History. The student understands the historical significance of landmarks and celebrations in the community, state, and nation. The student is expected to:
(A) explain the significance of various community, state, and national celebrations such as Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Thanksgiving; and
(B) identify and explain the significance of various community, state, and national landmarks such as the county courthouse and state and national capitol buildings.
(3) History. The student understands how various sources provide information about the past. The student is expected to:
(A) name several sources of information about a given period or event; and
(B) compare various interpretations of the same time period using evidence such as photographs and interviews.
(4) History. The student understands how historical figures and ordinary people helped to shape our community, state, and nation. The student is expected to:
(A) identify contributions of historical figures such as Henrietta King and Thurgood Marshall who have influenced the community, state, and nation;
(6) Geography. The student understands the locations and characteristics of places and regions. The student is expected to
(B) locate the community, Texas, the United States, and selected countries on maps and globes; and
(C) compare information from different sources about places and regions.
11) Government. The student understands the purpose of governments. The student is expected to:
(A) identify functions of governments;
(B) identify some governmental services in the community such as libraries, schools, and parks and explain their value to the community; and
(C) describe how governments establish order, provide security, and manage conflict.
(12) Government. The student understands the role of public officials. The student is expected to:
(A) compare the roles of public officials including mayor, governor, and president; and
(B) identify ways that public officials are selected, including election and appointment to office.
(14) Citizenship. The student understands important customs, symbols, and celebrations that represent American beliefs and principles and contribute to our national identity. The student is expected to:
(A) identify selected patriotic songs such as America the Beautiful;
(B) identify selected symbols such as state and national birds and flowers and patriotic symbols such as the U.S. and Texas flags and Uncle Sam; and
(17) Social studies skills. The student applies critical-thinking skills to organize and use information acquired from a variety of sources including electronic technology. The student is expected to
B) obtain information about a topic using a variety of visual sources such as pictures, graphics, television, maps, computer software, literature, reference sources, and artifacts;
(C) use various parts of a source, including the table of contents, glossary, and index, as well as keyword computer searches, to locate information;
(D) sequence and categorize information; and
(18) Social studies skills. The student communicates in written, oral, and visual forms. The student is expected to:
(A) express ideas orally based on knowledge and experiences; and
(B) create written and visual material such as stories, poems, maps, and graphic organizers to express ideas.
2nd Grade Language Arts
(12) Reading inquiry/research. The student generates questions and conducts research using information from various sources. The student is expected to:
(A) identify relevant questions for inquiry such as "Why do birds build different kinds of nests?" (K-3);
(B) use alphabetical order to locate information (1-3);
(C) recognize and use parts of a book to locate information, including table of contents, chapter titles, guide words, and indices (1-3);
(D) use multiple sources, including print such as an encyclopedia, technology, and experts, to locate information that addresses questions (2-3);
(E) interpret and use graphic sources of information such as maps, charts, graphs, and diagrams (2-3);
(F) locate and use important areas of the library media center (2-3);
(G) demonstrate learning through productions and displays such as murals, written and oral reports, and dramatizations (2-3); and
(H) draw conclusions from information gathered (K-3).
(20) Writing/inquiry/research. The student uses writing as a tool for learning and research. The student is expected to:
(A) write or dictate questions for investigating (2-3);
(B) record his/her own knowledge of a topic in various ways such as by drawing pictures, making lists, and showing connections among ideas (K-3);
(C) take simple notes from relevant sources such as classroom guests, information books, and media sources (2-3); and
(D) compile notes into outlines, reports, summaries, or other written efforts using available technology (2-3).
graphics from Texas-Gal's Clip Art
