Lesson Links

Chisholm Trail
Online Texas Handbook The Chisholm Trail
Boll Weevil
Online Texas Handbook The Boll Weevil
Online Texas Handbook Leadbelly
Amazon
The Crash
Online Handbook Crash at Crush
Brian Burns Lyrics
Little Joe the Wrangler

Lesson: Cattle Drive (Celebrating Texas: Chapter 17)
Song: The Old Chisholm Trail
Artist: Michael Martin Murphy
CD: Cowboy Songs

TEKS

Social Studies
(7.6). History. The student understands how individuals, events, and issues shaped the history
(B). explain the political, economic, and social impact of the cattle and oil industries and the development of West Texas resulting from the close of the frontier.
(7.10). Geography. The student understands the effects of the interaction between humans and the environment in Texas during the 19th and 20th centuries.
(A). identify ways in which Texans have adapted to and modified the environment and analyze the consequences of the modifications; and
Language Arts
(7.10). Reading/comprehension. The student uses a variety of strategies to comprehend a wide range of texts of increasing levels of difficulty.
(D). describe mental images that text descriptions evoke (4-8);
(7.12). Reading/text structures/literary concepts. The student analyzes the characteristics of various types of texts (genres).
(K). recognize how style, tone, and mood contribute to the effect of the text (6-8).
(7.15). Writing/purposes. The student writes for a variety of audiences and purposes and in a variety of forms.
(D). write to entertain such as to compose humorous poems or short stories (4-8);

Materials:

• The Old Chisholm Trail Song and lyrics
• Linking History page 369 Celebrating Texas
• The Old Chisholm Trail lyric analysis sheet

Procedures:

1. Read and discuss Linking History page 369 of Celebrating Texas.
2. Play The Old Chisholm Trail.
3. Allow students time to read the lyrics.
4. Assign students to work in partners or small groups to respond to the lyric analysis sheet.
5. EXTENSION: Encourage students to write their own ballad about another of the famous Texas cattle trails.

Downloads:

The Old Chisholm Trail lyric analysis sheet

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Lesson: Boll Weevils Attack! (Celebrating Texas: Chapter 18)
Song: Boll Weevil
Artist: Huddie "Leadbelly" Ledbetter
CD Title: The Best of Lead Belly

TEKS

Social Studies
(7.10). Geography.
(A). identify ways in which Texans have adapted to and modified the environment and analyze the consequences of the modifications; and
Language Arts
(7.8) Reading/variety of texts.
(B) select varied sources such as plays, anthologies, novels, textbooks, poetry, newspapers, manuals, and electronic texts when reading for information or pleasure
(7.9) Reading/vocabulary development.
(B) draw on experiences to bring meanings to words in context such as interpreting figurative language idioms, multiple-meaning words, and analogies (6-8);

Materials:

• Boll Weevil song and lyrics (Visit Amazon download for song)
• Lyric Analysis of Boll Weevil.
• Texas Online Handbook article: The Boll Weevil.

Procedures:

1. Discuss the meaning of pest.
2. Read and discuss Texas Tidbits page 393 Celebrating Texas.
3. Share information from Boll Weevil article, Texas Online Handbook.
4. Introduce Huddie "Leadbelly" Ledbetter.
5. Play Boll Weevil. (Check out the free download from Amazon www.amazon.com)
6. Pass out copies of the lyrics and allow students time to read.
7. Have students work as individuals or with partners to respond to the lyric analysis sheet.
8. EXTENSION: Draw a political cartoon about the boll weevil infestation of the late 19th Century in Texas.

Downloads:

Ballad of the Boll Weevil Lyric Analysis sheet

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Lesson: The Crash
Song 1: The Crash at Crush
Artist: Brian Burns
CD Title: The Eagle and the Snake
and
Song 2: The Crush Collision March
Artist: Scott Joplin
CD: The Best of Scott Joplin

TEKS

Social Studies
(7.6). History. The student understands how individuals, events, and issues shaped the history
(A). identify significant individuals, events, and issues from Reconstruction through the beginning of the 20th century, including the factors leading to the expansion of the Texas frontier,...the effects of the growth of railroads,
(7.10). Geography. The student understands the effects of the interaction between humans and the environment in Texas during the 19th and 20th centuries.
(A). identify ways in which Texans have adapted to and modified the environment and analyze the consequences of the modifications; and
Language Arts
(7.10). Reading/comprehension. The student uses a variety of strategies to comprehend a wide range of texts of increasing levels of difficulty.
(D). describe mental images that text descriptions evoke (4-8);
(7.12). Reading/text structures/literary concepts. The student analyzes the characteristics of various types of texts (genres).
(K). recognize how style, tone, and mood contribute to the effect of the text (6-8).
(7.15). Writing/purposes. The student writes for a variety of audiences and purposes and in a variety of forms.
(D). write to entertain such as to compose humorous poems or short stories (4-8);

Materials:

• Songs The Crash at Crush by Brian Burns and The Crush Collision March by Scott Joplin
• Split frame of reference Circle Map
• Lyrics to The Crash at Crush

Procedures:

1. Read and discuss Celebrating Texas Chapter 18, Section 2.
2. Discuss the idea of publicity stunt
3. Read and discuss article from the Texas Online Handbook about the Crush, Texas.
4. Read Brian Burns's The Crash at Crush.
5. Create a Flow Map for the events as told in the song.
6. Pass out the split frame of reference Circle Map.
7. Listen to Mr. Burns's song and take notes using the Circle Map.
8. Introduce Scott Joplin. He was present at the actual crash.
9. Listen to Mr. Joplin's song and take notes using the Circle Map.
10. Create a Double Bubble comparing the two songs.
11. Write a compare and contrast essay.

Extension:

Create an ad campaign and publicity stunt for either the Lummus Cotton Gin or the Blue Kelly Plow. (See page 388 of Celebrating Texas.)

Downloads:

Split frame of reference Circle Map (pdf)

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