In Part 2 of this lesson, students will compare the images of Sam Houston they created in Part 1 to actual photographs of him found on the TIDES website. Students will then use the Sam Houston Memorial Museum website to research signifigant dates in Sam Houson's life and create a timeline of these events. Students will conclude this lesson by illustrating each date card and adjusting their initial collages of Sam Houston as they see fit.

Created by Amy Simmons, August 2007

• Students will compare their portrait of Sam Houston to actual photos and paintings of the man. TEKS §113.23. Social Studies, Grade 7.18(A)
• Students will use the internet to research given dates and find their significance. TEKS §113.23. Social Studies, Grade 7.1(B)
• Students will summarize information gathered and develop topic sentences. TEKS §113.23. Social Studies, Grade 7.22(B, C)       TEKS §110.23. English Language Arts and Reading, Grade 7. 14(A)
• Students will evaluate previously written work and edit accordingly. TEKS §110.23. English Language Arts and Reading, Grade 7.15(F)
• Students will develop and illustrated a timeline of Sam Houston’s life TEKS §113.23. Social Studies, Grade 7.2(B)    TEKS §113.23. Social Studies, Grade 7. 21(C)    TEKS §113.23. Social Studies, Grade 7. 22(C)
• Students will learn about the life of Sam Houston TEKS §113.23. Social Studies,Grade 7. 4(A)

The teacher will begin by showing the students images of Sam Houston found on the TIDES site. The teacher will point out that the accuracy of the students’ Sam Houston portraits is not as important as the character traits they chose to portray. The teacher will inform the students that they are about to learn about Sam Houston and will ultimately compare their portraits of traits to the real man.

1. Before beginning the timeline lesson, the class should read a short picture book biography of Sam Houston.  (Sam Houston: American Hero or Did You Ever… Meet a Texas Hero?)


2. Have students reread their paragraphs from the previous lesson and make any changes they feel are necessary at this point.


3. Hand out the timeline cards and explain to students they will use the Sam Houston Memorial Museum website to research each date and learn why this date is significant in the life of Sam Houston. The teacher may list dates or use the ones provided.


4. Have students complete the assignment.  Allowing the students to work independently lets each of them be actively engaged in the learning process. If the classroom does not have enough computers to accomplish this, go to a computer lab or have the students work in pairs.


5. As a class, go over each date and the corresponding event that the students should have determined to be significant.  This can be done by lecture, PowerPoint, or by using a projector.


6. Once the students’ summarizations have satisfied the requirements, allow them to  illustrate each date card to begin the timeline.

TIMELINE DATES

1793 – Sam Houston is born on March 2.  He was the 5th of 9 children, making him the middle child.
1807 – Moved to Tennessee after father dies.
1809 – Runs Away from home to be with Indians.
1810 – Is adopted by Cherokee chief and given the name “The Raven.”
1813 – At the age of 20 he enlists in army and fights in the War of 1812 -   Wounded at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend.
1816 - The army uses Sam as an Indian liaison.  All the while he is climbing in rank.
1818 – Sam Houston takes some Indians to Washington D.C. to meet with President Monroe.  He is reprimanded for wearing Indian dress in the nation’s capitol.
He is falsely accused of slave trading and resigns from the army.
He goes to college and becomes a lawyer.
1823 – Sam is elected U.S. Representative as a democrat. Serves 2 terms.
1826 – Wounds General William White in a duel.
1827 – Sam is elected governor of Tennessee.
1829 – Marries Eliza Allen in Jan. In April they separate.  They do not divorce for years.
Sam leaves governor’s office to reunites with his Cherokee father and become and official Cherokee citizen.  Goes to Washington D.C. to represent the Cherokee people, defending their views to the government.
1830 – Marries his Cherokee wife Tiana Rodgers.
1832 – Jan. Congressman William Stanbery from Ohio makes remarks to a newspaper about Sam being a fraud.  Sam calls Williams and asked for an explanation of the remarks.  The two meet in Pennsylvanian where Sam beats the congressman with his cane (show Cane off TIDES site).  The case goes to court and Francis Scott Key is Sam’s Attorney.
Dec. of 1832 – Sam comes to Texas!

Images of Sam Houston Sam Houston’s cane Sam Houston Memorial Museum Website Timeline Cards – 8”x11” paper with date at top
Art Supplies
Examples of student work