In this lesson plan, students will learn the various reasons why people from the United States decided to come to Texas. Students will discuss the pros and cons of various decisions, understanding the nature of “give” and “take.”
Created by Brenda Beaven, December 2007
The student understands traditional historical points of reference in Texas history. The student is expected to:
TEKS §113.23 Social Studies, Grade 7. (b)(1)(A,C)
The student understands how individuals, events, and issues prior to the Texas Revolution shaped the history of Texas. The student is expected to:
TEKS §113.23 Social Studies, Grade 7. (b)(2)(C,F)
Give the students a lecture covering the background of Moses Austin, Stephen F. Austin, and The Old Three Hundred.
Moses Austin came to Spanish Texas to start over, as did many of the colonists who followed him. After an arduous trip of 800 miles, he returned home during a terrible winter to die of pneumonia. He asked his son Stephen to finish his quest of bringing 300 families to Texas. Explain to the class that Stephen was 26 years old, very independent and succeeding on his own as a judge, legislator, and businessman. He was successful on his own and yet he followed his father’s dream.
(Note from Teacher) I do an analogy in class. I talk to the class and say that they went through school and then to Rice University (I explain what a great school Rice is). After that, it is on to law school at Harvard. You just came back to Houston and got a job at Jaworski Law Firm ($300,000), a Lamborghini, and a loft apartment Uptown. Wow, things are going great! Then, your father gets sick and asks you to fulfill his dream of starting an American colony in the jungles of Brazil. Remember anacondas, natives with spears, poison frogs, no roads for the new auto, etc. What to do? Do you give up everything to follow your parent’s dream? Stephen F. Austin gave up what he was doing without any regrets and achieved more than his father ever dreamed possible.
Stephen F. Austin came to Texas in the middle of change. In 1821, after 302 years, the Mexican people overthrew the Spanish government. The contract that Moses had with Spain was no longer valid. In the meantime, advertisements were placed in the southern states in order to attract good families to apply to come to Texas. Stephen had to travel to Mexico City to get a new contract with the Mexican government which was in turmoil. After 18 months Austin returned to a colony hurting from drought, floods, and Indian attacks.
Explain to the students that the advertisement is just like an outline for a paper. The next step of the lesson will be to write a five paragraph letter to a relative or friend. The letter can be funny, serious, or full of personality, as long as it contains the following five sections:
Austin's Colony Austin's Map of Texas Student Instruction Worksheet Teaching notes and background
