Abstract
This mini-unit lesson plan is intended for 4th-grade students to educate them about the history of the Republic of Texas. It also fulfills the purpose of supplying teachers with the materials and directions necessary to establish a comprehensive overview of the state’s history. The unit introduces students to the early history of Texas until its annexation into the United States. Students will learn about the significant events and individuals of the period and establish logical connections that link the Mexican Revolution and the state’s annexation, establishing a meaningful and valuable relationship with its past.
Social Studies Content
The independent history of the Republic of Texas will be the primary focus of the module. It will cover developments beginning with the Texas Revolution and ending with the annexation of the territory by the United States. Students will learn about the principal events of the period, their causes, and the prominent individuals of that time. They will obtain an understanding of the origins of the state of Texas, the roots of its demographics, and establish a knowledge base for further education in history. At the end of the unit, students are expected to be able to describe the period and identify the essential events as well as the primary reasons behind them.
History is fundamentally an inquiry into the societies of the past to determine why specific events took place and how modern norms have evolved from those of the times before. According to Ocal (2016), cultural-historical heritage courses are essential to social studies education because they help preserve the territory’s culture and values. Thus, learning why Texas chose to separate from Mexico and to become a part of the United States eventually is vital to understanding the community and becoming a citizen. Without this knowledge, students may struggle to integrate into society as they fail to recognize traditions and make mistakes.
As such, the discipline is closely related to social studies and is often considered a subset of the definition. The history of a student’s homeland is particularly relevant because it provides context to the community that is the reference point of most of his or her societal observations. Young children tend to observe and imitate their immediate surroundings, and so it is crucial that such behaviors are not undertaken blindly. Students should know the background and reasons behind the traditions and practices they see in their everyday life. In doing so, they will recognize their necessity or challenge them with modern perspectives while still understanding the original ideas.
Unit TEKS
The TEKS for this mini-unit has been taken from “Chapter 113” (2011).
- 15 (b) (3) (A) “Analyze the causes, major events, and effects of the Texas Revolution, including the Battle of the Alamo, the Texas Declaration of Independence, the Runaway Scrape, and the Battle of San Jacinto;”
- 15 (b) (3) (B) “Summarize the significant contributions of individuals such as Texians William B. Travis, …, and Enrique Esparza;”
- 15 (b) (3) (B) “Identify leaders important to the founding of Texas as a republic and state, including José Antonio Navarro, Sam Houston, Mirabeau Lamar, and Anson Jones;”
- 15 (b) (3) (D) “Describe the successes, problems, and organizations of the Republic of Texas such as the establishment of a constitution, economic struggles, relations with American Indians, and the Texas Rangers;”
- 15 (b) (3) (E) “Explain the events that led to the annexation of Texas to the United States, including the impact of the U.S.-Mexican War.”
Daily Lesson Plans
References
Chapter 113. Texas essential knowledge and skills for social studies. Subchapter A. Elementary. (2011). Web.
Ocal, T. (2016). The necessity of cultural-historical heritage education in social studies teaching. Creative Education, 7, 396-406.