Cattle in Texas

Students brainstorm their associations with the word cow. Then they read about the history of cattle in Texas. Next they learn about barbed wire and windmills, and they analyze how ranching affected the environment. Finally they read the lyrics to the song “The Farmer and the Cowman,” and they explain the conflict between these two populations.

This learning experience is designed for device-enabled classrooms. The teacher guides the lesson, and students use embedded resources, social media skills, and critical thinking skills to actively participate. To get access to a free version of the complete lesson, sign up for an exploros account.

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Here are the teacher pack items for Cattle in Texas:

Attributions

Overview

In this experience, students brainstorm their associations with the word cow. Then they read about the history of cattle in Texas. Next they learn about barbed wire and windmills, and they analyze how ranching affected the environment. Finally they read the lyrics to the song “The Farmer and the Cowman,” and they explain the conflict between these two populations.

If you have access to leveled readers about ranchers or longhorns, assign them to the students in parallel to this experience.

Estimated duration: 35-45 minutes

Vocabulary words:

associate
herd
squatter
brand
hedge
breeding
merchant

Objective

Identify important events and people surrounding the history of cattle ranching.

Engage

Many people across the United States and around the world associate Texas with cowboys and ranches. In this lesson, you will learn about the history of cattle in Texas.

Objective