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In Tune, In Texas		 IT,IT Forming the Republic and Early Statehood
 The Texas Rangers | Motherless Child

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 Celebrating Texas Chapters 11-13, 27, and 28
The government should be integrated to coincide with both the formation of the new Texas Republic and Texas as the 28th state. Examine the Texas Constitution with an emphasis on the three branches of government and the Bill of Rights. After examining Texas government continue to deal with Texas history from the early days as a republic through the early days of statehood. Problems of the new republic are analyzed, with a special focus on the leadership of Houston and Lamar. The causes and results of the conflicts with Mexico are studied. (Community of Learners, CFB-ISD)

Lesson: The Texas Rangers (Celebrating Texas: Chapter 11)
Song: The Texas Rangers
Artist: Michael Martin Murphy
CD Title: Cowboy Songs

TEKS

Social Studies
(7.4). History. The student understands how individuals, events, and issues shaped the history of the Republic of Texas and early Texas statehood.
(A). identify individuals, events, and issues during the Republic of Texas and early Texas statehood, including annexation, Sam Houston, Anson Jones, Mirabeau B. Lamar, problems of the Republic of Texas, the Texas Rangers, the Mexican War, and the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo; and
Language Arts
(7.12). Reading/text structures/literary concepts. The student analyzes the characteristics of various types of texts (genres).
(F). analyze characters, including their traits, motivations, conflicts, points of view, relationships, and changes they undergo (4-8);
(7.15). Writing/purposes. The student writes for a variety of audiences and purposes and in a variety of forms.
(C.) write to inform such as to explain, describe, report, and narrate (4-8);

Materials:

  • The Texas Rangers song and lyrics
  • Want ads from a local newspaper

Procedures:

  1. Listen to The Texas Rangers by Michael Martin Murphy.
  2. Pass out lyrics and allow students time to read the lyrics with a partner.
  3. Have partners work together to create Bubble Maps (or graphic organizers) describing the characteristics and qualities of a Texas Ranger.
  4. Discuss what it would take to be a 19th Century Texas Ranger.
  5. Read some want ads from a local paper.
  6. Write want ads for Texas Rangers that might have appeared in an old Texas newspaper.

Extension: Write news stories about the events of the song.

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Lesson: Motherless Child (Celebrating Texas: Chapter 13)
Song: Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child
Artist: Pete Seeger
CD Title: American Favorite Ballads Volume 3

TEKS

Social Studies
(7.5) History. The student understands how events and issues shaped the history of Texas during the Civil War and Reconstruction.
(A) explain reasons for the involvement of Texas in the Civil War
(7.17) Citizenship. The student understands the importance of the expression of different points of view in a democratic society.
(A) identify different points of view of political parties and interest groups on important Texas issues;

Language Arts
(7.8.) Reading/variety of texts. The student reads widely for different purposes in varied sources.
(C). read for varied purposes such as to be informed, to be entertained, to appreciate the writer's craft, and to discover models for his/her own writing (4-8)
(7.12.) Reading/text structures/literary concepts. The student analyzes the characteristics of various types of texts
(F). analyze characters, including their traits, motivations, conflicts, points of view, relationships, and changes they undergo

Materials:

  • Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child song and lyrics

Procedures:

  1. Listen to Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child.
  2. Pass out lyrics and allow students time to read the lyrics with a partner.
  3. Have partners work together to identify the three ways the singer sometimes feels. (motherless child, almost gone, and feather in the air)
  4. Discuss why a slave might experience those feelings.
  5. Make three lists, headed: Motherless Child, Almost Gone, and Feather in the Air. Then under each heading list specific things that would contribute to a slave feeling that way.

Extension: Add lyrics to the song showing how else a slave might feel by completing the following: Sometimes I feel like ...

 

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