Grade 4
Social Studies
Unit: 05
Lesson: 02
Suggested Duration: 4 days
Grade 04 Social Studies Unit 05 Exemplar Lesson 02: Americans Colonize Texas
This lesson is one approach to teaching the State Standards associated with this unit. Districts are encouraged to customize this lesson
by supplementing with district-approved resources, materials, and activities to best meet the needs of learners. The duration for this
lesson is only a recommendation, and districts may modify the time frame to meet students’ needs. To better understand how your district
may be implementing CSCOPE lessons, please contact your child’s teacher. (For your convenience, please find linked the TEA
Commissioner’s List of State Board of Education Approved Instructional Resources and Midcycle State Adopted Instructional Materials.)
Lesson Synopsis
Students explain the role Texas played in the Mexican War for Independence and how this war impacted the development of Texas. The
lesson will begin by examining the Mexican War through the eyes of Jane Long and continuing with the reasons the Old Three Hundred
settled Texas.
TEKS
The Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) listed below are the standards adopted by the State Board of Education, which are
required by Texas law. Any standard that has a strike-through (e.g. sample phrase) indicates that portion of the standard is taught in a
previous or subsequent unit. The TEKS are available on the Texas Education Agency website at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?
id=6148.
4.2
History. The student understands the causes and effects of European exploration and colonization of Texas
and North America. The student is expected to:
4.2D
Identify Texas' role in the Mexican War of Independence and the war's impact on the development of
Texas.
4.8
Geography. The student understands the location and patterns of settlement and the geographic factors
that influence where people live. The student is expected to:
4.8A
Identify and explain clusters and patterns of settlement in Texas at different time periods such as prior to the Texas Revolution,
after the building of the railroads, and following World War II.
4.10
Economics. The student understands the basic economic activities of early societies in Texas and North
America. The student is expected to:
4.10B Explain the economic activities early immigrants to Texas used to meet their needs and wants.
Social Studies Skills TEKS
4.21
Social studies skills. The student applies critical-thinking skills to organize and use information acquired
from a variety of valid sources, including electronic technology. The student is expected to:
4.21B Analyze information by sequencing, categorizing, identifying cause-and-effect relationships,
comparing, contrasting, finding the main idea, summarizing, making generalizations and predictions,
and drawing inferences and conclusions.
GETTING READY FOR INSTRUCTION
Performance Indicators
Grade 04 Social Studies Unit 05 PI 01
Create a poster to recruit new settlers to Texas in the early 1800s and highlight the economic benefits and possible effects of the relocation.
Standard(s): 4.2D , 4.10B , 4.21B
ELPS ELPS.c.1C , ELPS.c.2F , ELPS.c.4I
Key Understandings
People explore and colonize new geographic regions, often in response to economic needs and wants.
— What were the causes and effects of colonization in Texas?
— How did Mexico’s independence from Spain influence the settlement of Texas by American colonists?
Last Updated 04/30/2013
Print Date 06/20/2013 Printed By Karen Johnson, MIDLAND ISD
page 1 of 8 Grade 4
Social Studies
Unit: 05
Lesson: 02
Suggested Duration: 4 days
— What role did colonization of Texas play in the Mexican War for Independence?
— What geographic factors influenced colonization in Texas?
— Where were the economic activities of early colonists in Texas?
Vocabulary of Instruction
colonization
constitution
debt
Materials
Refer to Notes for Teacher section for materials.
Attachments
All attachments associated with this lesson are referenced in the body of the lesson. Due to considerations for grading or student
assessment, attachments that are connected with Performance Indicators or serve as answer keys are available in the district site and
are not accessible on the public website.
Handout: What Would I Do? (1 set per group)
Handout: Research Notes: American Colonization (1 per student)
Handout: Austin’s Colony: Was Austin’s Colony a good place to settle? (1 per student)
Resources
The Handbook of Texas Online TSHA: http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online
Teaching Texas: http://teachingtexas.org/
Texas Almanac: http://www.texasalmanac.com
Women in Texas History: http://womenintexashistory.org/
Texas State Library and Archives – Stephen F. Austin: https://www.tsl.state.tx.us/treasures/giants/austin/austin-01.html
Advance Preparation
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Become familiar with content and procedures for the lesson.
Refer to the Instructional Focus Document for specific content to include in the lesson.
Select appropriate sections of the textbook and other classroom materials that support the learning for this lesson.
Preview available resources and websites according to district guidelines.
Prepare materials and handouts as needed.
Background Information
Mexico Independence and its influence on Texas are new to the 4th Grade Texas History. This information is important in understanding why Americans were
willing to fight for Mexican independence from Spain and why they felt comfortable in migrating to Texas. Americans wanted Mexico to be free of Spain which
would possibly allow the United States to acquire Texas. Americans felt comfortable migrating to Texas under Mexican rule because of the democratic federal
system of government that was created. This was a government much like the United States.
GETTING READY FOR INSTRUCTION
Teachers are encouraged to supplement and substitute resources, materials, and activities to meet the needs of learners. These lessons
are one approach to teaching the TEKS/Specificity as well as addressing the Performance Indicators associated with each unit. District
personnel may create original lessons using the Content Creator in the Tools Tab. All originally authored lessons can be saved in the “My
CSCOPE” Tab within the “My Content” area.
INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES
Instructional Procedures
ENGAGE – Students explain the role of Texas in the Mexican War for Independence from
Spain.
Last Updated 04/30/2013
Print Date 06/20/2013 Printed By Karen Johnson, MIDLAND ISD
Notes for Teacher
NOTE: 1 Day = 50 minutes
Suggested Day 1 – 50 minutes
page 2 of 8 Grade 4
Social Studies
Unit: 05
Lesson: 02
Suggested Duration: 4 days
1. Organize students into groups of three.
Materials
2. Distribute to each groupa set of the Handout: What Would I Do?.
Information on James Long and the Long
Expedition
Information on Jean Lafitte
Information on Jane Long
3. Groups discuss and answer the question on each card (or each student
answers the questions on one card and then the group discusses).
4. Students discuss their answers and be prepared to defend them.
Attachments:
5. Student groups share their answers in a class discussion.
Handout: What Would I Do? (1 set per group)
6. Provide “the rest of the story” after students have shared their answers.
Mexico - Mexico becomes independent from Spain in 1821 and forms a
constitutional republican government much like the United States. Mexico
will write a constitution which will include three branches of government
and citizens will vote for representatives to lead the government.
Dr. James Long – While James Long was awaiting trial in Mexico City, he
was shot and killed by a prison guard on April 1822. Officials claimed that
it was an accident but Long’s friends called it murder.
Jean Lafitte – From 1817 – 1820, Lafitte raided Spanish ships and
gathered a large fortune. When he began raiding American ships, he left
Galveston Island and went to Louisiana where he became a rancher and
cattle buyer.
Jane Long – Jane Long gave birth to a daughter on Galveston Island and
they all survived the winter. Her name was Mary James. This was the first
known Anglo American birth in Texas. Many people have called Jane
Long the Mother of Texas because of Mary James’ birth. Jane returns to
her home in Mississippi. When she returns to Mexico to try to get her
husband’s military pension, Mary James dies. After that Jane Long applies
and is approved to be part of Stephen F. Austin’s Old Three Hundred
Colony. In 1837, Jane and Kian moved to Fort Bend County, opened a
boarding house, developed a plantation, raised cattle, bought and sold
land, and grew cotton. Jane is said to have known Ben Milam, Sam
Houston, and Mirabeau B. Lamar.
EXPLORE – Stephen F. Austin and the Old Three Hundred, Anglo settlement
Suggested Day 2 – 40 minutes
2. Organize students into pairs to gather information about Stephen
F. Austin and the Old Three Hundred.
Materials:
Information on Stephen F. Austin
Information on the Old Three Hundred
Information on American colonization of Texas
Information on impact of American migration to Texas and
Mexican independence
3. Students use their textbook and other resources to gather
information about Stephen F. Austin and the Old Three Hundred
and record it on the Handout: Research Notes: American
Colonization.
4. Facilitate a discussion where students discuss what they have
learned about
Reasons people settled in Texas (push and pull factors,
economic opportunity)
Patterns of settlement, including geographic factors
Economic activities early immigrants to Texas used to meet
their needs and wants
Texas settlers and the Spanish colonial and Mexican
governments
Attachments:
Handout: Research Notes: American Colonization (1
per student)
Resources
The Texas Handbook Online:
http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/umo01
EXPLAIN – How Mexico’s independence from Spain influenced the settlement of Texas by
American colonists
Suggested Day 2 (cont’d) – 10 minutes
1. On the back of the Handout: Research Notes: American Colonization,
students answer the following questions.
Attachments:
What are 3 reasons people came to Texas to settle?
What are 2 economic activities early immigrants to Texas used to
meet their needs and wants?
Last Updated 04/30/2013
Print Date 06/20/2013 Printed By Karen Johnson, MIDLAND ISD
Handout: Research Notes: American
Colonization
Instructional Note
page 3 of 8 Grade 4
Social Studies
Unit: 05
Lesson: 02
Suggested Duration: 4 days
What was 1 issue Anglo settlers from America faced when moving
to Texas?
If students are able to answer this question, they have a good
grasp of why and how Americans colonized Texas.
EXPLORE – Students explain the economic and geographic characteristics of Austin’s
Colony
Suggested Day 3 – 40 minutes
1. Distribute to each student the Handout: Austin’s Colony: Was Austin’s
Colony a good place to settle?
Materials:
2. Students, working in groups of 2 or 3, gather information about Austin’s
Colony, using notes and information learned in Unit 1 about the geography of
Texas, the textbook, and other classroom resources.
3. Students use the map of the Austin’s Colony to infer geographic, economic,
and social characteristics of the colony.
Map of Austin’s colony
Primary source map of Austin’s colony
Information on Austin’s Colony
Notes and information learned in Unit 1 about
the geography of Texas
Attachments:
Handout: Austin’s Colony: Was Austin’s
Colony a good place to settle? (1 per
student)
EXPLAIN – Students explain the economic and geographic characteristics of Austin’s
Colony.
Suggested Day 3 – 10 minutes
1. On the back of the Handout: Research Notes: American Colonization,
students answer the following question.
Attachments:
How did Mexico’s independence from Spain influence the
settlement of Texas by American colonists?
Handout: Research Notes: American
Colonization
Instructional Note
If students are able to answer this question, they have a good
grasp of why and how Americans colonized Texas.
ELABORATE – Causes and effects of colonization in Texas
Suggested Day 4 – 10 minutes
1. To summarize learning, facilitate a discussion where students use what they
have learned to answer the guiding questions and support the Key
Understanding.
People explore and colonize new geographic regions, often in
response to economic needs and wants.
— What were the causes and effects of colonization in Texas?
— How did Mexico’s independence from Spain influence the settlement of Texas
by American colonists?
— What role did colonization of Texas play in the Mexican War for
Independence?
— What geographic factors influenced colonization in Texas?
— Where were the economic activities of early colonists in Texas?
EVALUATE – Students explain why Texas was settled by Americans.
Grade 04 Social Studies Unit 05 PI 01
Create a poster to recruit new settlers to Texas in the early 1800s and highlight the
economic benefits and possible effects of the relocation.
Suggested Day 4 – 40 minutes
Materials:
unlined paper
Standard(s): 4.2D , 4.10B , 4.21B
ELPS ELPS.c.1C , ELPS.c.2F , ELPS.c.4I
1. Distribute unlined paper for students to use to create their poster.
2. Students create a poster to recruit new settlers to Texas in the early 1800s
and highlight the economic benefits and possible effects of the relocation.
Last Updated 04/30/2013
Print Date 06/20/2013 Printed By Karen Johnson, MIDLAND ISD
page 4 of 8 Grade 4
Social Studies
Unit: 05 Lesson: 02
WHAT WOULD I DO?
I am Dr. James Long from Mississippi. I believed that Texas should be a part of the
United States or at least an independent nation. Texas should not be a part of Spain. I
have organized a group of Americans to help in the fight for independence against Spain.
My brother has already been killed in the fight. We have made Galveston Island our
headquarters, and that is where Jane and my daughter Ann are staying until I come back
from fighting. It is not that safe for them there. Jane insists on being with me and a part of
this fight. I was captured at Goliad. I await trial in Mexico City but I fear for my life. WHAT
WOULD YOU DO?
I am the pirate Jean Lafitte. For most of my life, my brother and I have smuggled slaves
into Louisiana and made our living raiding ships for treasure. I did fight in the Battle of
New Orleans for the United States but only so I would not be put in jail for my crimes as a
pirate. Dr. James Long has asked me to help in the fight for Mexican independence
against Spain. I helped but not for Mexico’s independence from Spain but for my own
fortune. There were many Spanish ships in the Gulf of Mexico full of “loot” (treasures). I
did attack some American ships. The United States Navy did not like that and came after
me. We had to leave our camp at Galveston Island very quickly, and Dr. Long’s wife and
child are still there. WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
I am Jane Long, the wife of Dr. James Long from Mississippi. I followed my husband to
Texas. He is fighting in Mexico’s war for independence from Spain. He hopes to make
Texas independent or at least a part of the United States. I have agreed to live on
Galveston Island while he fights. Some of his soldiers staying with me have left. The
pirates living on the Island have left. I am living here with my daughter Ann and my slave
girl Kian. Winter is coming. Members of the Karankawa tribe are surrounding us, and on
top that, I am pregnant with my second child. WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
©2012, TESCCC
04/30/13
Page 1 of 1
Grade 4
Social Studies
Unit: 05 Lesson: 02
RESEARCH NOTES: American Colonization (pg. 1 of 2)
Directions: Using your textbook and other resources to answer the following research questions.
Why did Stephen F. Austin settle Texas?
What were reasons the Old Three Hundred
moved to Texas?
Shade the region most Americans
colonized.
What would colonists be able to acquire if
they colonized Texas?
Why did Americans agree to become
Mexican citizens?
What were the requirements to being a
Mexican citizen?
From where in the United States did most
American originate?
©2012, TESCCC
What are some important tools colonists
would need to take to settle Texas?
04/30/13
Page 1 of 2
Grade 4
Social Studies
Unit: 05 Lesson: 02
RESEARCH NOTES: American Colonization (pg. 2 of 2)
How did Mexico’s independence from Spain influence the settlement of Texas by American
colonists?
Draw a picture that illustrates the early colonization of Texas.
©2012, TESCCC
04/30/13
Page 2 of 2
Grade 4
Social Studies
Unit: 05 Lesson: 02
Austin’s Colony: Was Austin’s Colony a good place to settle?
DIRECTIONS: Based on your knowledge of Texas History, answer the questions about Austin’s Colony.
Empresario Grants In Texas
ECONOMIC
What types of economic activities did early colonists use to meet
their needs and wants?
GEOGRAPHIC
SOCIAL
What Indian groups might attack them?
What waterways did Austin’s Colony have access to?
What resources would you conclude would be found in this colony
that would support the colonists’ way of life?
What was the climate like in Austin’s Colony?
©2012, TESCCC
05/15/12
page 1 of 1