Students label the six flags that have flown over Texas. Then they learn about the hardships on the Texas home front during the Civil War. Next they examine a map of the battles that took place in the South to infer why there were so few battles on Texas soil. Finally they learn about the end of the war and they create a poster celebrating Juneteenth.
Students read an introduction to the Civil War and Texas’s role in it, review the lesson objectives, and examine an image of the Confederate battle flag. They then complete a drag-and-drop activity to label the six flags that have flown over Texas, recalling major periods in Texas history.
Teacher MovesIntroduce the overall flow of the lesson, review key vocabulary (enlist, shortage, war effort, refugee), and highlight the objectives. Use the six-flags labeling task to briefly review major eras in Texas history. Then organize students into small groups for the next three scenes and ensure all groups are ready before moving on.
Students view an image of Confederate soldiers and read a detailed explanation of Texas’s role in the Civil War, including enlistment, transportation disruptions, economic changes, tax increases, women’s work on the home front, divided loyalties, and the arrival of refugees. Working in small groups, they complete a graphic organizer by selecting three hardships described in the text and briefly summarizing each one.
Teacher MovesOptionally direct students to explore the interactive site American Civil War for broader background. Clarify key points about how the war affected transportation, the economy, and daily life in Texas. Guide groups as they identify and summarize hardships in their organizers, prompting them to use evidence from the text. When groups have finished, check for understanding before unlocking the next scene.
Students examine a map showing Civil War battlefields across the Confederacy. In small groups, they first discuss and describe what they observe about the distribution of battles, then post their observations. Next, they respond to a second prompt explaining why there were so few battles in Texas and why the Texas battles occurred where they did, drawing on what they have learned.
Teacher MovesPrompt students to notice that few battles occurred in Texas, that Texas battles were concentrated along the Gulf Coast, and that relatively few battles took place on Union soil. Facilitate discussion to help students infer that coastal battles aimed to control the Gulf of Mexico, damage the Texas economy, and limit Confederate movement of supplies and soldiers. Encourage students to reason about why the Union Army did not advance farther west before the war ended, then synthesize key ideas before moving on.
Students read about the end of the Civil War, including Robert E. Lee’s surrender, the final battle at Palmito Ranch in Texas, and the arrival of Union forces on June 19, 1865, to announce freedom for enslaved people in Texas and the origins of Juneteenth. In small groups, they create a visual poster celebrating Juneteenth as a national holiday, using drawing and text tools to highlight its significance.
Teacher MovesOptionally introduce or reinforce background on Juneteenth using the video Juneteenth. Emphasize the timeline of the war’s end and why enslaved people in Texas were the last to learn of their freedom. Support groups as they design their posters, prompting them to include historically accurate information and meaningful symbols. Provide time for students to share and appreciate one another’s posters, then prepare them to complete the final scene individually.
Students complete the exit quiz by answering all the questions.
Teacher MovesFacilitate the assessment and use student data to evaluate understanding, address misconceptions, and identify areas for growth.
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