Teaching 7th Grade Texas History: Curriculum & Tips!

Are you tired of spending countless hours either creating or searching for high-quality, user-friendly, and affordable seventh grade lesson plans on the history of Texas?

Well, look no further, because you've come to the right place! I firmly believe that the 7th grade Texas history curriculum bundle which I've personally designed and created is the solution you've been searching for. Engaging and well-designed, my proven TEKS-aligned (Texas Essential Knowledge) curriculum will provide you with everything you need to make your Texas history class exciting and informative for your students!

Whether you're wanting to create your own Texas history curriculum, or want to learn more about ours, read on to learn more about how YOU can transform your classroom and enhance your students' learning experience!

Overview of Texas History Curriculum

The state of Texas has a rich cultural heritage, which is why it's important for students (especially in school districts in the state of Texas!) to learn about its history in a comprehensive and engaging way.

These social studies TEKS, which have been developed for every grade level for Texas educators, are somewhat broad in their scope, and while they provide a general outline of the content and subject matter to be covered, they don't provide much, if anything, in terms of actual social studies lessons, lesson plans, resources, or curriculum.

While the current standards have Texas history being taught to both fourth and seventh graders the entire school year, this article focuses on Texas history curriculum for 7th graders

The Texas history curriculum is designed to meet the needs of middle school students in the 7th grade, and it's aligned with the social studies curriculum standards set by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). These standards are known as the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and they are the basis for the social studies curriculum for social studies teachers in Texas public schools to follow.

The Texas history curriculum is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of Texas history, from the time of the Native Americans to the present day. It covers important historical events from the Texas Revolution and the Civil War, to the role of slavery in Texas, the oil boom, and on up to current events and modern-day Texas.

The Texas standards set forth by the TEA have also been designed to help students develop content knowledge about the state of Texas and its place in American history. Students will learn about important historical figures to the history of Texas such as Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston, while gaining a better understanding of the role that Texas played in the exploration and settlement of the American West.

The Texas history curriculum is divided into twelve units, which are designed to be taught over the course of the entire school year

Each unit is designed to cover a specific important era of the state's history, and students are expected to gain a deeper understanding and comprehension of the material as the year progresses and prepare them for higher education.

One of the strengths of the Texas history curriculum is its focus on the role of different cultures in the state's history

The curriculum recognizes the important contributions of a diverse set of groups of people, such as Native Americans, Anglo Americans who settled in Texas, African Americans, as well as several others and provides students with different perspectives of important historical events. Having been provided an an introduction to Texas history in fourth grade, U.S. history from the time of Colonial America to present-day America in fifth grade, and world cultures and societies in sixth grade, by the time students reach seventh grade, they've been provided a foundation for the more in-depth study of Texas history and better able to comprehend the context of Texas and it's place in the U.S., and the world.

Check out my 7th grade Texas history curriculum right here!

7th Grade Texas History Curriculum - FULL YEAR!

Seventh Grade Texas History Curriculum

Unit 1: Thinking Like a Historian 

(suggested duration: 5 days)

Per the TEA: "This unit bundles student expectations that relate to the critical thinking skills associated with historical inquiry."

I like to use this unit to provide them with a thorough introduction (at a deeper level than they've received in prior grades) to important historical documents such as the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. Throughout this unit, students are tasked with:

• Conducting research and analysis through the use of primary and secondary sources of information
• Learning how to effectively organize large sets of data and information
• Factors to consider when examining historical documents and/or events (importance of historical context)

My Unit 1 seventh grade Texas history curriculum covers this unit with:

• 4 sets of incredible lesson plans that have been designed to cover 6 classroom periods
• Highly-curated presentations that come in both PowerPoint and Google Slides formats
• 8 student exercise assignments (including teacher answer keys)
• 5 links to short supplemental videos on YouTube
• As well as a unit review worksheet and unit assessment!

Unit 2: Natural Texas and Its People: 1200s-1800s 

(suggested duration: 10 days)

Per the TEA: "This unit bundles student expectations that address the geography of Texas and history of the American Indian groups living in Texas before European colonization."

In this 2-3 week unit, my curriculum covers each of the following important topics:

Geography for Historians

• How to use geography to help understand and better contextualize geographies role in history
• The Four Earth Systems: Land, Life, Water, & Atmosphere

Geography of Texas

• Significant landforms, bodies of water, and the atmosphere of Texas

Coastal Plains Region of Texas

• Five sub regions: Blackland Prairie, Gulf Coast Plain, Piney Woods, Post Oak Belt, & South Texas Plain
• Climate and geographic features of the Coastal Plains

Great Plains Region of Texas

• Two sub regions: the High Plains and the Edwards Plateau
• The Ogalla Aquifer
• Climate and geographic features of the Great Plains of Texas

Mountains and Basins Region of Texas

• Major landforms of the region, such as the Chisos Mountains, Fort Davis Plateau, and several others
• Traits, characteristics, and climate of the Mountains and Basins

North Central Plains Region of Texas

• Three sub regions: The Cross Timbers, The Grand Prairie, and The Rolling Plains
• Climate and geographic features of the North Central Plains of Texas

Native American Peoples of Texas

• Where and how they lived and settled
• Tribes such as the Apache, Caddo, Comanche, Wichita, and more

My Unit 2 seventh grade Texas history curriculum covers this unit with:

• 8 amazing presentations featuring Exit Ticket questions at the end of each presentation
• 17 student exercise assignments in both digital (Google Slides) and download/print (PDF) formats!
• 22 links to short supplemental videos on YouTube
• Fun & engaging Jeopardy unit review game
• Unit Assessment complete w/teacher answer key and recommended scoring system

Unit 3: Exploration and Early Colonization of Texas: 1519-1821 

(suggested duration: 10 days)

Per the TEA: "This unit bundles student expectations that addresses the exploration of Texas and early efforts by the Spanish to colonize Texas."

In this 2-3 week unit, my curriculum covers each of the following important topics:

The Arrival of the Spanish in Texas

• What brought them to Texas and why their expeditions were historically significant
• Effects of Spanish exploration on Texas
• Spanish explorers and conquistadors such as Panfilo de Narvaez and Hernan Cortes

The Search for Gold in Texas

• The Niza, Coronado, and DeSoto Expeditions

Life in the Spanish Colonies of Texas

• Why missions and presidios were built throughout Texas
• The first Spanish missions and settlements in Texas

The French Challenge the Spanish for Texas

• How the Spanish responded to French incursions
• The La Salle Expedition
• The "Chicken War"
• San Antonio Missions

Changes in Texas

• How the French and Indian War impacted Spanish claims in Texas
• How Spain expanded its North American colonial empire
• The Louisiana Purchas and the Pike Expedition
• Causes and Effects of the Adams-Onis Treaty

"Filibusteros"

• Who they were and why they're historically significant
• Father Hidalgo's Revolt
• Beginnings of Revolution

End of Spanish Rule in Texas

• Causes and Effects of the Mexican War of Independence
• First Republic of Mexico
• The 1824 Constitution and its impacts on Texas and slavery

My Unit 3 seventh grade Texas history curriculum covers this unit with:

• 8 well-crafted presentations in both PowerPoint and Google Slides formats
• 19 student exercise assignments
• 19 links to supplemental videos on YouTube
• Jeopardy unit review game
• Unit Assessment complete with teacher answer key!

Unit 4: Mexican Colonization and the Empresario System: 1821-1836 

(suggested duration: 12 days)

Per the TEA: "This unit bundles student expectations that relate to the newly independent Mexican government's policy of establishing an empresario system in its efforts to control territory in Texas."

In this 2-3 week unit, my curriculum covers each of the following important topics:

How the Mexican War of Independence impacted Texas

• Why Texas experienced a decline in population
• Why the new Mexican government was concerned over the population drop and they did about it

Anglos & Tejanos

• Characteristics and traits of Anglos and Tejanos
• How they were similar and different from one another
• The historical significance in Texas of each group

Settlement in Texas during the 1820s & 1830s

• Motivations of various groups of people to settle Texas
• The unique and numerous problems of settling in Texas during this time

Empresarios

• What was an emprerasio?
• Analysis of the important role empresarios played in Texas during the 1820s and 1830s
• Examination of the various colonies empresarios established in Texas such as San Felipe de Austin, DeWitt, and several others

Important Individuals during the settlement of Mexican Texas (1821-1836):

• Moses and Stephen F. Austin
• Father Miguel Ramos Arizipe
• Baron de Bastrop
• And, MANY more!!

The Old Three Hundred

• Who they were and why they were called that
• The role they played in settling Texas

Population of Texas between the early 1820s and the mid 1830s

• How Anglo, Spanish, & Tejano settlement had an impact
• Where various groups of settlers came from and how they traveled to Texas
• How settlers chose where to settle (the many important factors they considered)

Settlements of Mexican Texas

• Governance in Texas settlements: how each town had an ayunamiento and the role and responsibilities of an ayunamiento
• Common professions people held once settling in Texas
• The important role commerce and trade played in Mexican Texas
• Overview of notable settlements such as San Antonio and Nacogdoches, as well as others

Life in Mexican Texas

• What homes in Mexican Texas were like, and what it was like to live in one
• Clothing of Mexican Texans
• Food in Mexican Texas; different types of crops commonly grown and consumed in Mexican Texas
• Education and Religion in Mexican Texas

My Unit 4 seventh grade Texas history curriculum covers this unit with:

• 8 highly curated presentations featuring built-in Discussion Based Questions (DBQ) in both PowerPoint (PPT) & Google Slides formats
• 18 student exercise assignments complete with teacher answer keys -PLUS- Team Activity!
• 19 links to supplemental videos on YouTube
• Guided Notes Handouts for students for every lesson
• Jeopardy Unit Review Game - Fun, interactive, and EASY-TO-USE!!
• Unit Assessment with teacher answer key

Unit 5: Unrest and Revolt in Texas: 1821-1836

(suggested duration: 15 days)

Per the TEA: "This unit bundles student expectations that relate to the issues and events surrounding the fight in Texas for independence from Mexico."

In this 3 week unit, my curriculum covers each of the following important topics:

The Fredonian Rebellion

• WHO was involved
• WHAT the Fredonian Rebellion was
• WHERE and WHEN it occurred
• HOW it impacted the people of Texas

Important Events and Factors that contributed to the Texas Revolution such as:

• The Mier y Teran Report
• Law of April 6th, 1830
• The Anahuac Disturbances
• Turtle Bay Resolutions
• Battle of Velasco

Battles of Coleto, Gonzalez, and Refugio

• WHO was involved
• WHERE it took place
• WHAT the outcome was

A New Mexican Government

• How it played a role in the Texas Revolution
• Role of Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna in the new government
• Federalism vs. Centralism

Convention of 1832

• The Convention of 1832's causes and effects

Stephen F. Austin & Sam Houston

• Examination and analysis of the numerous contributions and roles each played during the Texas Revolution

Important Individuals of the Texas Revolution such as:

• Juan Davis Bradburn & John Davis Bradburn
• James Fanin
• James Bowie
• General Cos, and NUMEROUS others!!

Battle of the Alamo

• Why the Battle of the Alamo is historically significant
• What role Davy Crockett, Santa Anna, and several others played at the Battle of the Alamo
• The causes and effects of the Battle of the Alamo

Convention of 1836

• Who the delegates of the Convention of 1836 were
• Arguments made in support of an independent Texas
• Examination and analysis of the Republic of Texas Constitution

The Runaway Scrape

• Causes and effects of the Runaway Scrape
• Who was involved in the Runaway Scrape

Battle of San Jacinto

• Sequential timeline of events that led to the outbreak of the Battle of San Jacinto
• How the Texas Army defeated the Mexican forces under the command of Santa Anna
• Surrender of Santa Anna
• The Treaties of Velasco

My Unit 5 seventh grade Texas history curriculum covers this unit with:

• 14 highly curated presentations featuring built-in Discussion Based Questions (DBQ) in both PowerPoint (PPT) & Google Slides formats
• 25 student exercise assignments complete with teacher answer keys -PLUS- Team Activity!
• 35 links to supplemental videos on YouTube
• Guided Notes Handouts for students for every lesson
• Jeopardy Unit Review Game - Fun, interactive, and EASY-TO-USE!!
• Unit Assessment with teacher answer key

Unit 6: Republic of Texas and Early Statehood: 1836-1861

(suggested duration: 12 days)

 Per the TEA: "This unit bundles student expectations that address the issues and events surrounding the Republic of Texas and the process of Texas becoming a state in the United States."

In this 3 week unit, my curriculum covers each of the following important topics:

Early Challenges of the Republic of Texas

• Why Mexico refused to recognize the Republic of Texas
• Economic instability
• A small and weak navy

Annexation of Texas

• Why Texas wanted to be annexed
• Why the U.S. initially declined to annex Texas
• Debate over the annexation of Texas
• The Convention of 1845
• What led to Texas eventually being annexed by the United States

Presidencies of Sam Houston

• Addressing Texas land policy
• Unrest in the Texas Army - Felix Huston
• Unrest in the Texas Navy
• Instability on the Texas Frontier
• Conflicts between Texas Settlers and Native Americans
• The Cordova Rebellion
• Economic policy
• The Tehuacana Creek Treaty
• The Regulator-Moderator War

Presidency of Mirabeau B. Lamar

• Political differences between Sam Houston and Mirabeau Lamar
• Expulsion of the Cherokee from Texas
• Battle of the Neches
• Conflicts between Texas Settlers and the Comanche
• The Council House Fight
• The Battle of Plum Creek
• Education policy

Texas Capitals

• Which Texas cities have served as the former Republic's and state capital
• Why it has moved several times

Texas Republic Foreign Policy

• The Santa Fe Expedition
• The Archive Wars
• The Mier Expedition
• Conflicts involving the Texas Navy
• Undefined international border with Mexico

People of the Republic of Texas

• Factors behind the Republic's rapid population growth
• Immigration and the Republic of Texas
• African-Americans, Native Americans, and Tejanos in the Republic of Texas

Life during the Republic of Texas and Early Statehood

• Role of farms, ranches, and plantations
• Living in settlements and cities of the Republic
• Land Speculation
• Arts, Culture, Education, Religion, and Transportation in the Republic of Texas

Constitution of Texas

• Three branches of the Texas state government: Executive, Legislative, & Judicial
• Duties and responsibilities of each branch of government

Mexican-American War

• Causes of the Mexican-American War
• Role of important individuals in the conflict such as U.S. President James K. Polk, John Slidell, General Winfield Scott, and several others
• The Siege of Fort Texas
• Texans in the U.S. Army
• How the Texas Rangers played a role in the War

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

• Mexican Cession
• How the Compromise of 1850 resolved an existing land disputes between Texas and those of the New Mexico Territory

Early Political Parties in Texas

• Role they played in early Texas politics
• Overview of the Democratic, Whig, and Know-Nothing Parties
• Texas Governors such as Hardin Runnels & Sam Houston

My Unit 6 seventh grade Texas history curriculum covers this unit with:

• 13 highly curated presentations featuring built-in Discussion Based Questions (DBQ) in both PowerPoint (PPT) & Google Slides formats
• 30 student exercise assignments complete with teacher answer keys -PLUS- Team Activity!
• 25 links to supplemental videos on YouTube
• Guided Notes Handouts for students for every lesson
• Jeopardy Unit Review Game - Fun, interactive, and EASY-TO-USE!!
• Unit Assessment with teacher answer key

Unit 7: Texas during the Civil War and Reconstruction: 1861-1876

 (suggested duration: 12 days)

Per the TEA: "This unit bundles student expectations that address Texas' participation in the U.S. Civil War and the Reconstruction of Texas."

In this 3 week unit, my curriculum covers each of the following important topics:

Development of Slavery in the U.S. & Texas

• History of enslavement in the U.S. between 1776 and the Civil War
• Practice of enslavement in the South, including Texas
• Factors that contributed to the rise of slavery in the South
• Why the practice of slavery was expanded in Texas both during and after the 1820s and 1830s

Enslaved Peoples of Texas (slavery in Texas)

• Common forms of labor they were forced to provide
• Conditions they were forced to live and work in
• Living conditions of the enslaved in Texas (shelter, diet, clothing, etc.)
• Important role of family, community, religion, and culture for the enslaved
• Forms of resistance the enslaved implemented

How Growing Division and Sectionalism in the U.S. Led to the Civil War

• Historical significance of the Compromise of 1850 including the Fugitive Slave Bill (Fugitive Slave Act)
• Impact of the Kansas-Nebraska Act and "Bleeding Kansas"
• Effects of the Dred Scott Decision (Dred Scott v. Sanford)
• Raid on Harpers Ferry
• Election of Abraham Lincoln to the presidency in 1860

Texas Secession from the Union

• Debate over secession
• Role of prominent Texans who supported secession, and those who opposed it
• Texas joins the Confederacy (Confederate States of America C.S.A.)

The Confederacy and Union

• Overview of the advantages and disadvantages each side possessed
• Examination & analysis of the Confederate & Union war strategies
• Three Theaters of War: Eastern Theater, Trans-Mississippi Theater, & Western Theater

Major Battles & Events of the Civil War

• Attack on Fort Sumter
• First Battle of Bull Run
• Peninsula Campaign
• Battle of Shiloh
• Union Blockade
• Second Battle of Bull Run
• Battle of Antietam
• Siege of Vicksburg
• Battle of Gettysburg
• Sherman's March to the Sea
• Surrender of General Lee

The Civil War in Texas

• Sibley's Campaign
• Battle of Galveston
• Battle of Sabine Pass
• Red River Campaign
• Unionists in Texas
• The Clareno Massacre & Nueces Massacre
• Great Hanging at Gainesville
• Why Texas faced food, labor, and goods shortages during the Civil War
• Role of women in Texas during the Civil War
• The Clareno Massacre
• Battle at Palmito Ranch (the last battle of the Civil War)
• Aftermath of the Civil War in Texas

Emancipation Proclamation

• Historical significance of the Emancipation Proclamation
• How the Emancipation Proclamation redefined the Civil War
• Why President Lincoln enacted the Emancipation Proclamation
• Role of African Americans in the Union Army

The Reconstruction Era

• Debate over Reconstruction
• "Presidential Reconstruction" & "Congressional Reconstruction"
• Role of President Andrew Johnson
• Influence of "Radical Republicans"
• Impact of the Freedmen's Bureau
• Historical significance of Black Codes
• Civil Rights Act of 1866
• The Reconstruction Acts
• Impeachment of President Johnson
• Compromise of 1877

The Reconstruction Era in Texas

• Historical significance of June 19, 1865 - Juneteenth Day
• How life was impacted for freed African Americans living in Texas during Reconstruction
• Austin Freedmen's Society
• 5th Military District
• New state constitution
• Texas Constitutional Convention (1868-1869)
• Texas' readmittance to the Union

Governor Davis' Administration

• Profile of Governor Edmund J. Davis who guided Texas out of military-enforced Congressional Reconstruction, and back into civilian-led statehood
• Priorities of Governor Davis: restoration of law & order, education, internal improvements to the state, and defense of the Texas frontier

Texas Constitution of 1876

• Convention of 1875-1876
• Changes made to the Constitution of 1869
• Core tenets of the Texas Constitution

Post-Reconstruction Texas

• Reversal of Reconstruction Era policies such as the reduction of government spending and equal rights protections for African Americans
• Rise of Jim Crow Laws
• Causes and effects of African American political power becoming increasingly limited in Texas during the post-Reconstruction Era
• Role of tenant farming/sharecropping

Important Terms & Concepts such as:

• Theater of War
• Martial Law
• Popular Sovereignty
• Republicanism
• Federalism
• Individual Rights
• Separation of Powers
• Checks and Balances

My Unit 7 seventh grade Texas history curriculum covers this unit with:

• 15 highly curated presentations featuring built-in Discussion Based Questions (DBQ) & Exit Tickets in both PowerPoint (PPT) & Google Slides formats
• 30 student exercise assignments complete with teacher answer keys
• 47 links to supplemental videos on YouTube
• Guided Notes Handouts for students for every lesson
• Jeopardy Unit Review Game - Fun, interactive, and EASY-TO-USE!!
• Unit Assessment with teacher answer key

Unit 8: Cotton, Cattle, Railroads, and Closing the Texas Frontier: 1866-1900

(suggested duration: 10 days)

Per the TEA: "This unit bundles student expectations which relate to economic development in Texas following the end of the Civil War."

In this 2-3 week unit, my curriculum covers each of the following important topics:

The Frontier Wars

• What events led to the Frontier Wars
• Role of Quanah Parker in the Frontier Wars
• The Buffalo Soldiers
• First & Second Battle of Adobe Walls, the Red River War, Battle of Palo Duro Canyon, and more
• Effects the Frontier Wars had on Native Americans and the settlement of West Texas
• Texas Native Americans on Reservations
• Role and historical significance of the Dawes Act

The Texas Cattle Boom

• How cattle ranching got its start in Texas
• The cowboy way of life
• Establishment of large, vast ranches
• Why ranchers performed cattle drives
• Famous cattle drive trails
• Factors that led to the end of large cattle drives
• The Longhorn - a new breed of cattle

Closing of the Texas Frontier

• The role of barbed wire
• Causes & effects of the Texas Range Wars
• What changes eventually led to the closing of the Texas frontier

Advances in Agriculture & Farming in Texas

• What new inventions helped farmers to produce more crops
• Changes that helped farmers in Texas to become commercial farmers
• Challenges to farming in Texas
• Tenant farming and sharecropping in Texas

Rise of Railroads in Texas

• How the building of railroads in Texas affected the cotton, lumber, coal, and cattle industries
• How settlement patterns in Texas changed as the railroads expanded
• Land grants for railroads
• Why the Texas Railroad Commission was created
• Wabash & Great Southwest Railroad strikes

My Unit 8 seventh grade Texas history curriculum covers this unit with:

• 10 highly curated presentations featuring built-in Discussion Based Questions (DBQ) & Exit Tickets in both PowerPoint (PPT) & Google Slides formats
• 23 student exercise assignments complete with teacher answer keys
• 38 links to supplemental videos on YouTube
• Guided Notes Handouts for students for every lesson
• Jeopardy Unit Review Game - Fun, interactive, and EASY-TO-USE!!
• Unit Assessment with teacher answer key

Unit 9: Modernizing Texas in An Age of Oil: 1900-1929

(suggested duration: 10 days)

Per the TEA: "This unit bundles student expectations that address the development of the oil industry in Texas, the advance of reform movements in Texas, and the effects of the First World War on society in Texas."

In this 2-3 week unit, my curriculum covers each of the following important topics:

Texas Oil Industry is Born

• America's transition to oil
• What oil is, where it comes from, and how it's refined into gasoline and other products
• Discovery of oil in Texas
• Oil exploration in Texas
• Oil Field Terminology (oil derrick, wildcatter, etc.)
• Employment in the oil industry

Texas Oil Boom

• Effects of the Oil Boom in Texas
• Texas Boomtowns
• The Spindletop Boom and Bust
• Establishment of the Permanent University Fund (PUF)
• The Oil Industry & Philanthropy in Texas

Age of Reform in Texas

• Educational, labor, workplace, & political reforms in Texas
• Hardships of farming and living in rural Texas (lack of educational opportunities for farmers children, falling crop prices, rising expenses, high interest rates, etc.)
• Creation of the Grange
• The Grange's role in Texas
• Southern Farmers Alliance
• Influence of Big Business on Government
• Role of Trusts and Monopolies
• The Populist Party and its influence in Texas
• Establishment of the Texas Railroad Commission
• Role of the Texas Railroad Commission
• Food and drug safety reforms

Texas Reformer Governors

• Overview of their policies, legislative Efforts, and accomplishments
• Governor Lawrence Sullivan "Sul" Ross (1887-1891)
• Governor James S. Hogg (1891-1895)
• "Hogg Laws"
• Charles Culberson (1895-1899)
• Thomas M. Campbell (1907-1911)
• James E. Ferguson "Farmer Jim" (1915-1917)
• Impeachment of Governor Ferguson

Progressive Movement in Texas

• Election Reforms
• 17th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution
• Emphasis on the efficiency of Local Governments
• 1900 Galveston Hurricane ("The Great Storm of 1900")
• Impact of the 1900 Galveston Hurricane from the death and destruction it caused to how it brought forth a new form of city government
• Workplace reforms and child labor laws
• Temperance Movement in Texas
• Women's Suffrage in Texas
• 19th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution
• Jim Crow Laws in Texas

Urbanization in Texas

• Causes and effects of urbanization in Texas
• Life in Texas cities and rural Texas during the early 1900s
• Where and why some Texas cities flourished and others struggled to develop
• Who moved to Texas and Texas cities during this time period and why
• Challenges Texas cities faced with increased urbanization

Texas & World Events

• Texans involvement in the Spanish-American War, the Mexican Revolution, and World War I (WWI)
• Causes and effects of the Spanish-American War
• Outbreak of the Mexican Revolution and the events that led up to it
• Historical significance of the Mexican Revolution on both Texas and Mexico
• Overview of World War I (WWI) and Texans involvement in the War effort

Texas During the Post-War Years (1918-1929)

• Post-War economy in Texas
• Effects of demobilization
• Increase in discrimination towards African Americans, Mexican Americans, and immigrants
• Resurgence of discriminatory groups in Texas and their political influence
• Civil Rights Activism in Texas
• A renewed oil boom in Texas
• Declining agriculture industry
• Influence of The Jazz Age ("Roaring 20's)

My Unit 9 seventh grade Texas history curriculum covers this unit with:

• 10 highly curated presentations featuring built-in Discussion Based Questions (DBQ) & Exit Tickets in both PowerPoint (PPT) & Google Slides formats
• 20+ student exercise assignments complete with teacher answer keys -PLUS- Team Activity!
• 30+ links to supplemental videos on YouTube
• Guided Notes Handouts for students for every lesson
• Jeopardy Unit Review Game - Fun, interactive, and EASY-TO-USE!!
• Unit Assessment with teacher answer key

Unit 10: Texas during the Great Depression and World War II

(suggested duration: 10 days)

Per the TEA: "This unit bundles student expectations related to the Great Depression and the Second World War."

In this 2-3 week unit, my curriculum covers each of the following important topics:

The Great Depression

• Causes of the Great Depression
• How Americans were affected by the Great Depression
• "Hoovervilles"
• Election of Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR)
• How the Great Depression affected Texas and Texans

The Dust Bowl

• What the Dust Bowl was and why it's historically significant
• How the Dust Bowl played a role in the Great Depression
• Causes of the Dust Bowl
• How the Dust Bowl affected Americans, and in particular, Texans

The New Deal

• Effects of the New Deal
• In-Depth overview of the New Deal's major programs and initiatives
• Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)
• Repeal of Prohibition (21st Amendment)
• Social Security Act
• Works Progress Administration (WPA)
• Civilian Works Administration (CWA)
• Farm Security Administration (FSA)
• Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
• Impacts of the New Deal on Texas and Texans
• Texans who aided in the creation and implementation of New Deal programs (Lyndon Baines Johnson "LBJ", John "Cactus Jack" Garner Nance, Jesse Jones, and others!)

World War II (WWII)

• Causes of WWII
• Rise of European dictatorships
• Allied & Axis Powers
• German invasions of Poland and Soviet Union
• Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor
• Overview of U.S. involvement in the European and Pacific Theatres of War
• Major Battles of the War (Battle of the Bulge, Midway, & Iwo Jima)
• Concentration Camps
• The Holocaust
• The Nuremberg Trials
• Role of the Atomic Bomb
• Japanese Surrender

World War II (WWII) in Texas

• Texans' involvement in WWII
• Texas military bases & training programs
• POW & Internment Camps in Texas
• Texans who served (Chester Nimitz, Doris "Dorie" Miller, & others)
• Texas women who served
• Texans on the Homefront in WWII

Post-WWII Era in Texas (1945-1950s)

• Increasing urbanization in Texas
• Growing industry in Texas
• Changes and advances in transportation
• Culture during the Post-War Era (rise of rock 'n roll, television, professional sports, etc.)
• Beginnings of the Civil Rights Movement
• Increased opportunity for women

My Unit 10 seventh grade Texas history curriculum covers this unit with:

• 9 highly curated presentations featuring built-in Discussion Based Questions (DBQ) & Exit Tickets in both PowerPoint (PPT) & Google Slides formats
• 19 student exercise assignments complete with teacher answer keys -PLUS- Team Activity!
• 37 links to supplemental videos on YouTube
• Guided Notes Handouts for students for every lesson
• Jeopardy Unit Review Game - Fun, interactive, and EASY-TO-USE!!
• Unit Assessment with teacher answer key

Unit 11: Civil Rights and Conservatism Bring Changes: 1950-Present

(suggested duration: 10 days)

Per the TEA: "This unit bundles student expectations that relate to the Civil Rights Movement and shift to political conservatism in Texas following the Second World War."

In this 2-3 week unit, my curriculum covers each of the following important topics:

The Cold War

• Rise of communism
• Meaning of the Iron Curtain
• The Marshall Plan & NATO
• The Space Race
• Role of historical figures such as President John F. Kennedy (JFK) and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin
• Terms such as "Red Scare" and "McCarthyism"
• Effects of the Cold War: House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), fallout shelters, Executive Order 9835 ("Loyalty Order"), and more!

Major Cold War Conflicts

• The Korean War
• Cuban Revolution & the Cuban Missile Crisis
• Vietnam War

Texas and the Cold War

• Notable Texans who served during major Cold War conflicts
• Role Texas military bases played during the Cold War
• Texas economy during the Cold War

The Civil Rights Movement

• Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka
• Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott
• Contributions and historical significance of Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK)
• Role of the NAACP
• "Freedom Rides" & "Bloody Sunday"
• Civil Rights Act of 1964
• Voting Rights Act of 1965
• Role of civil rights leaders such as John Lewis, Dorothy I. Height, and numerous others

Texas and the Civil Rights Movement

• Treatment of African Americans in pre & post-WWII Texas
• NAACP in Texas
• Sweatt v. Painter
• School desegregation in Texas

Chicano Movement & Texas

• Discrimination against Mexican Americans in Texas
• Chicano labor movement
• Causes and effects of the Longoria Affair
• PASO (Political Association of Spanish Speaking Organizations)
• Student activism during the Chicano Movement
• La Raza Unida Party (RUP)
• Legacy of the Chicano Movement

Evolution of Texas Politics between the 1940s and into the 2000s

• Rise and influence of conservatism
• Re-emergence of a two-party system
• Historical significance of Texas politicians like El Paso mayor Raymond L. Telles (first Hispanic American elected as mayor of a major American city), and Henry B. Gonzales (first Mexican American to be elected to the Texas Senate during the 1900s)
• Growth of the Republican Party during the 1970s and beyond
• Texas governors and their accomplishments between the 1950s into the 2020s (up to Greg Abbott)

Texans in the White House

• Presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ)
• Overview of Johnson's rise in politics
• Johnson's role in President Kennedy's administration as Vice President
• Assassination of President Kennedy
• The "Great Society" and its effects
• The Vietnam War
• Presidency of George H.W. Bush
• End of the Cold War
• Operation Desert Storm
• American with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Role of Ross Perot as a third party candidate during Bush's re-election bid
• Presidency of George W. Bush
• Election of 2000
• Effects of September 11, 2001 (9/11)
• Roles of Al Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden
• Operation Iraqi Freedom

My Unit 11 seventh grade Texas history curriculum covers this unit with:

• 9 highly curated presentations featuring built-in Discussion Based Questions (DBQ) & Exit Tickets in both PowerPoint (PPT) & Google Slides formats
• 21 student exercise assignments complete with teacher answer keys
• 35+ links to supplemental videos on YouTube
• Guided Notes Handouts for students for every lesson
• Jeopardy Unit Review Game - Fun, interactive, and EASY-TO-USE!!
• Unit Assessment with teacher answer key

Unit 12: Contemporary Texas: 1950-Present

(suggested duration: 10 days)

 Per the TEA: "This unit bundles student expectations that relate to contemporary issues in Texas."

In this 2 week unit, my curriculum covers each of the following important topics:

Urbanization of Texas

• Patterns of migration and immigration in Texas from the 1940s & 50s to the present day
• Urban population shift in Texas
• Growth of industry in Texas
• How urbanization has impacted the major Texas cities of Austin, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, Houston, & San Antonio
• Characteristics & challenges of urbanization in Texas

The Modern Texas Economy

• The Cold War and its impact to the Texas economy
• How the oil and gas industry has played a role in the Texas economy
• The 1970s oil boom in Texas
• The 1980s oil bust in Texas and its effects
• The Savings and Loan Crisis
• Trade and diversification of the Texas economy

Growing Population of Texas

• Factors contributing to Texas' population growth
• Diversity of Texas' population
• Changing composition of the population of Texas
• Challenges of population growth

Texas and the Future

• Impact of economic and population growth on infrastructure, education, health care, and the environment
• The future of water and Texas: depletion of Texas' sources of water, effects of fracking, drought, and potential solutions
• The future of energy and Texas: role of the oil and gas industry and transition to alternative, renewable sources of energy
• Texas and globalization

My Unit 12 seventh grade Texas history curriculum covers this unit with:

• 6 highly curated presentations featuring built-in Discussion Based Questions (DBQ) & Exit Tickets in both PowerPoint (PPT) & Google Slides formats
• 14 student exercise assignments complete with teacher answer keys
• 3 team activities
• 20 links to supplemental videos on YouTube
• Guided Notes Handouts for students for every lesson
• Jeopardy Unit Review Game - Fun, interactive, and EASY-TO-USE!!
• Unit Assessment with teacher answer key

There you have it, the COMPLETE overview of Texas history curriculum for seventh grade!

As you can see, there's a LOT to cover. There's also a LOT of preparation. On top of that, you NEED to ensure that the curriculum you're using, whether you're creating it yourself or not, is aligned to the TEKS, well-designed, flows seamlessly from one lesson to the next, and will keep your students engaged and LEARNING!

I've been in your shoes, and that's why I've dedicated more hours than I care to admit to designing and creating lesson plans and resources specifically for seventh grade Texas history teachers!