Integrating Texas History is a must.
We are all being told to spend more time on reading and writing foundational skills, This means social studies get pushed to the back burner, or off the stove altogether.
Not anymore though! By integrating Texas History with your ELAR block you can make sure you are hitting the TEKS and educating your students on the important history of their state! I mean, what else are they going to talk about at slumber parties?
I don’t know about you, but when I hear integration of curriculum it gives me the chills. Not because I don’t like it, but because it means more work for me. I am not against doing the work to provide a quality lesson for my students, but sometimes it feels like I am spinning my wheels.
Over the last few months, I have been hearing from A LOT of you that are looking for a way to make sure your students are getting Texas History, and oh, can you make it digital as well? I have listened.
Integrating Texas History with ELAR
What this looks like is using informational reading about the Texas History standards to teach reading, writing, and language skills. Sounds easy enough, huh?
The trouble comes when it is time to find the passages with the content. There is a lot of awesome content out there for Texas History, but almost none of it is written for fourth graders.
You know this though, you have been telling me.
I wanted to work on a solution for you, because I know it is important, and I think I finally have one!
Introducing Texas History Passages
The name is a little bit of a misnomer because they aren’t just passages. Each unit pack includes multiple genres of writing plus maps, infographics, graphic organizers, and text features.
These packs with their passages and questions were created to help you integrate Texas History into your ELAR block. I know classrooms are short on time, and this resource will give you twice the learning!
Each passage and set of questions takes up a single page and includes an optional extension activity for further learning. The topic of each passage was chosen to meet the streamlined social studies TEKS for 4th grade. Multiple genres are used including graphic organizers and maps.
For example, I might include a historical fiction piece, an information/nonfiction passage, a photograph analysis, an infographic, and a Venn diagram for students to read and answer questions over. The questions included cover both the content and the process of reading and thinking about the reading.
These passages could be completed together in a small group setting, individually, or used for a station or center activity. The possibilities are endless!
This resource has both printable and digital formats to meet the needs of all classrooms. This also means these passages are perfect for distance learning. They are Google Classroom ready and contain all the information your students need. So, you don’t have to worry about textbooks and other resources.
For our extra motivated students, the optional extension activities provide a way to stretch their thinking and encourage them to research the topic further.
Want to Try Them Out For Yourself?
Check out the box below and sign up to receive three example passages with a Weird Texas theme. Then, once you are hooked on them, find the bundle here!