Texas History Map Activities

Students will complete 16 map activities to review Texas History. The topics covered include a political map, the regions of Texas, early Native Americans, exploration, missions, Mexico's fight for independence/empresarios, the Texas Revolution, Texas as a Republic, the Mexican-American War and the annexation of Texas, the Civil War, Reconstruction, conflicts with Native Americans, cattle ranching, the discovery of oil, Texas at the turn of the century, WW1, The Roaring 20s, the Great Depression, WW2, and Texas state symbols.  In addition to traditional map labeling and shading, there are 39 analytical/opinion/discussion questions for students to answer. This could work for a sub, as chapter reviews, or as an end of year overarching review. An answer key is not included because most of the questions will vary from student to student. 

The first page of each file is teacher information, then there is a page of instructions for each map, and lastly there is the blank map of Texas which can be printed and copied for each student when ready to be used (or laminated and students reuse it each time with a white board marker).

 Sample questions/tasks include:
--In each region, write 3 words and create 1 image that represent something unique about it.
--Could the empresario settlements have happened if the fight for Mexican Independence had not? Why or why not? 
--Discuss the significance of the Turtle Bayou Resolutions.
--Draw the flag for, and explain the meaning of, “Come and Take It.”
--Create a conversation (at least 14 exchanges total) you think Houston, Lamar, the Cherokee Chief Bowles, and one of each of their advisors, could have had to avoid the Cherokee war. Be creative yet historically plausible in your answer.
--Why did Texas have to write and ratify a new constitution to become a state?
--In what ways were immigrants attracted to Texas? Identify and explain 2 successes and 2 challenges they faced upon settling in Texas.
--Design a small poster, one that could have been published in a newspaper, advertising Juneteenth. Make an 1865 version and a present day Juneteenth anniversary version.
--In what ways did the Treaty of Medicine Lodge Creek look better on paper than it worked out in reality?
--Identify 4 causes of the Great Depression, 3 ways it impacted Texans, and 4 ways the New Deal tried to help.
--Compare and contrast the role Texas played in both world wars. How was life on the home front similar and different during the wars? Why were some locations/training camps/bases the same during the wars and why were some different?

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