Students will study the history of the Old Stone Fort as a way to understand the political, economic and social changes in Texas during the last half of the 19th century. Using the Handbook of Texas and information found on the TIDES site, students will view an 1885 photograph of the Stone Fort and write a story describing the life of one of the men in the photo. These stories will include historically accurate information, social studies terminology, and will abide by standard rules of grammar, spelling and structure.
Created by Rhonda Williams, 2004
The student will apply absolute and relative chronology through the sequencing of significant individuals, events, and time periods related to the history of the Stone Fort and the buffalo soldiers in Texas. TEKS §113.23. Social Studies, Grade 7. (b)(1)(B)
The student will identify significant individuals, events, and issues from Reconstruction through the beginning of the 20th century, including the buffalo soldiers. TEKS §113.23. Social Studies, Grade 7. (b)(6)(A)
The student will describe how African Americans attempted to maintain their cultural heritage while adapting to the larger Texas culture. TEKS §113.23. Social Studies, Grade 7. (b)(19)(B)
The student will differentiate between, locate, and use primary and secondary sources, such as biographies from the Handbook of Texas, and visual materials to acquire information about the history of the Stone Fort. TEKS §113.23. Social Studies, Grade 7. (b)(21)(A)
The student will analyze information from these sources by sequencing, categorizing, identifying cause-and-effect relationships, comparing, contrasting, finding the main idea, summarizing, making generalizations, and drawing inferences and conclusions. TEKS §113.23. Social Studies, Grade 7. (b)(21)(B)
The student will identify the elements of frame of reference that influenced the people in the photograph of the Old Stone Fort building using biographies, textbook information, and contemporary photographs. TEKS §113.23. Social Studies, Grade 7. (b)(21)(D)
The student will write a creative story that describes the life of one of the individuals in the 1885 photograph of the Stone Fort, based on research and experiences, incorporating main and supporting ideas, using social studies terminology correctly, and using standard grammar, spelling, sentence structure, and punctuation. TEKS §113.23. Social Studies, Grade 7. (b)(22)(A,D)
Read the Handbook of Texas article about the Old Stone Fort. Use this information to create a timeline on the board/overhead/slide which shows the owners and uses of the Old Stone Fort.
Read the information in the Textbook, and also the information in the Handbook of Texas, about the Buffalo Soldiers. Discuss their role in Texas.
Assign the following to the students:
In your journal, free write everything that you know about the Old Stone Fort or about Buffalo Soldiers.
Lead the class in discussion about their writings.
Put the 1885 Photograph of the Stone Fort on the computer and screen or on the overhead projector. Cover the name and ask students if they can identify the building in the photograph.
Pass out the Photo Analysis Sheet. Enlarge the individual areas of the photograph so that students can see the people clearly. Ask students to complete the questions. For this Analysis Sheet, the students may have different answers.
Hold class discussion to allow students to compare and contrast their answers.
Assign the following to the students:
Look carefully at the 1885 photograph of the Stone Fort. Choose one of the men in the photograph, and write a story describing his life. Consider the following while you are developing his story: Where and when was he born? Is he in uniform? If so, was he a buffalo soldier? When and why did he join the Army? If he is nicely dressed in civilian clothing, what type of job do you think that he has? What can you tell about the way he is standing? Be sure to explain in the story why he is in Nacogdoches, and explain why he is standing beside the Stone Fort. The best stories will contain historical information about the Stone Fort.
