4th Grade Social Studies Unit 5

Big Idea:

Identify the role that Texas played in the Mexican War of Independence and how it impacted the development of Texas. Explain the accomplishments of significant empresarios, and the political, economic, and social systems of colonists who left Mexico and founded Texas.

Student Expectations:

Priority TEKS

4.2(D) [Supporting] Identify Texas' role in the Mexican War of Independence and the war's impact on the development of Texas.

4.2(E) [Readiness] Identify the accomplishments and explain the economic motivations and impact of significant empresarios, including Stephen F. Austin and Martín de León, on the settlement of Texas.

Focus TEKS

4.8(A) [Readiness] 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.

4.8(B) [Supporting] Describe and explain the location and distribution of various towns and cities in Texas, past and present.

4.10(B) [Supporting] Explain the economic activities early immigrants to Texas used to meet their needs and wants.

4.14(B) [Supporting] Identify and compare characteristics of the Spanish colonial government and the early Mexican governments and their influence on inhabitants of Texas.

4.19(A) [Supporting] Identify the similarities and differences among various racial, ethnic, and religious groups in Texas.

Ongoing TEKS

4.6(A) [Readiness] Apply geographic tools, including grid systems, legends, symbols, scales, and compass roses, to construct and interpret maps.

4.9(A) [Supporting] Describe ways people have adapted to and modified their environment in Texas, past and present, such as timber clearing, agricultural production, wetlands drainage, energy production, and construction of dams.

4.9(B) [Readiness] Identify reasons why people have adapted to and modified their environment in Texas, past and present, such as the use of natural resources to meet basic needs, facilitate transportation, and enhance recreational activities.

4.21(B) [Ways to Show] 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.

4.22(A) [Tools to Know] Use social studies terminology correctly.

4.22(D) [Ways to Show] Create written and visual material such as journal entries, reports, graphic organizers, outlines, and bibliographies.

4.22(E) [Tools to Know] Use standard grammar, spelling, sentence structure, and punctuation.

Student Learning Targets:

• I will identify Texas' role in the Mexican War of Independence.
• I will explain the war's impact on the development of Texas. (writing)
• I will identify the accomplishments and motivations of empresarios.
• I will explain the impact of significant empresarios.

Essential Questions:

• How did the Spanish colonial and Mexican governments influence inhabitants of Texas?
• What were the causes and effects of the colonization of Texas?
• How did the colonization in Texas contribute to the Mexican War of Independence?
• How did the settlement of towns in Texas affect the economic activities in the past and present?

Extra Information:

Adopted Textbook: American Legacy, Studies Weekly

District Grading Policy

Texas Gateway Online Resource Center