Lesson Plan
PBS

Extranjeros and Expansion

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
A three-part lesson gives light to the Unites States expansion from the view of Texans, New Mexicans, and Californians. Through videos and written activities, scholars work collaboratively to research specific individuals and their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Battle of Glorieta Pass: A Shattered Dream

For Teachers 7th - 12th
This lesson can be used in American history, social studies, and geography courses in units on westward expansion and the Civil War.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Establishing Borders: U.S. Expansion

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Pupils interpret historical maps and locate territories annexed by the United States in the 1840. In groups, they research the war with Mexico over Texas from both perspectives and answer on a worksheet about expansion.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hit The Trail

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Young historians research one of the most colorful periods in US History: the cattle drives of the 1800's. They research the three most popular trails, and complete mapping and writing assignments about each one. The lesson has many...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hit the Trail

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students read about the history of cattle trails and complete language arts, math, social studies, and more activities about barbed wire. For this barbed wire lesson plan, students read poetry, research changes over time, draw cattle...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Getting the Point!

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Learners explore the American cattle industry history. In this United States history and reading comprehension cross curriculum activity, students read an article about the history of longhorn cattle, then answer comprehension questions...
Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

Swine Flu and Health Lesson Plans

For Teachers 1st - 8th
With the swine flu on everyone's mind, students can benefit from learning about influenza, epidemics, and public health.
Worksheet
Curated OER

History 1 Word Search Puzzle

For Teachers 6th - 8th
In this social studies worksheet, students look for the words in the puzzle that are related to the theme of the word search. Spelling skills are worked on.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

HIT THE TRAIL

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students draw three cattle trails that passed through Indian Territory, using a written description of the trails and will create a diary of trail life. Students research a historical trail as assigned. Students share their information...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Manifest Destiny

For Students 9th - 12th
In this Westward Expansion worksheet, students read assigned textbook pages which describe  Manifest Destiny and respond to 33 short answer questions.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Manifest Destiny Questions

For Students 8th - 11th
In this Westward Expansion instructional activity, students respond to 7 short answer questions about America's vision of Manifest Destiny and its effects.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Manifest Destiny and Westward Expansion

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Pupils discover how manifest destiny and westward expansion are related. Using the Internet, they research the beginnings of the movement of manifest destiny and how it influenced people moving westward. They discuss the expectations and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Manifest Destiny Lesson Plan

For Teachers 8th
Learners examine how Americans justified Westward Expansion. In this American history instructional activity, your historians will watch a Manifest Destiny Powerpoint presentation and discuss each slide then participate in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How the Great Depression Affected California and C¿¿sar E. Ch¿¿vez

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine the effect of the Great Depression on California. After reading a summary, they discover how the depression and Dust Bowl led to the immigration of great numbers of farm workers into California. They also...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Get the Point!

For Teachers 1st
First graders, after reading about cattle drives, measure the width of the horns on drawings of longhorn cattle and then convert the measurements from inches to centimeters and from inches to feet. Ranching and the American cattle...
Organizer
Curated OER

The Cattle Industry

For Students 4th - 5th
In this cattle industry worksheet, students read about the industry and Joseph McCoy. A series of level 1-4 activities comprises page 2 of the worksheet.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

GET THE POINT!

For Teachers 4th - 5th
The student will measure the width of the horns on drawings of longhorn cattle and then convert the measurements from inches to centimeters and from inches to feet.1. Review with students the steps required to measure an item and to...
Interactive
Curated OER

ESL: States and Their Nicknames

For Students 5th - 7th
In this ESL state nicknames learning exercise, students read an article about states and their nicknames, then complete 6 related questions. A link to audio and additional resources is given.
Website
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Fortune Favors the Brave: The Story of the Texas Navy

For Students 9th - 10th
Explore the Texas Navy, which "provides a unique insight into the early Republic, its politics and personalities and its fight for survival." This online exhibit is organized into various detailed sections including "The First Navy,"...
eBook
OpenStax

Open Stax: u.s. History: Independence for Texas

For Students 9th - 10th
From a chapter on America's expansion westward in a history textbook. This section looks at Texas's struggle for independence from Mexico, and the relations between Mexico and Texas prior to and after independence. Includes review...
Article
Henry J. Sage

Sage American History: Texas From American Settlement to Annexation 1820 1845

For Students 9th - 10th
Article in which the author takes us through the history of Texas from the time Americans arrived and settled in the area to annexation, and finally, war with Mexico over the territory. With photographs and links to related resources.
Primary
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: The Texas Navy: War With Mexico

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about Santa Anna's retaliation after the siege of Bexar, and the battles on sea and on land that followed. This site's strength is its collection of primary texts from this period in Texas' history: "Broadside calling for all men to...
Article
Texas State Historical Association

Texas State Historical Association: Mexican War of Independence

For Students 9th - 10th
Find out about the Mexican War of Independence, which was a series of revolts that grew out of the increasing political turmoil both in Spain and Mexico at the beginning of the nineteenth century.
Article
A&E Television

History.com: History Shorts: When an Undocumented Immigrant Became a War Hero

For Students 9th - 10th
Marcelino Serna came to the U.S. as a undocumented immigrant from Mexico, and within just a few years, became one of the country's bravest heroes. (Video 1:03) He joined the army at the beginning of WWI where he captured 24 German...