The Battle of the Alamo


Texas Studies Revolution and Republic of Texas The Battle of the Alamo
Students brainstorm names of defenders at the Alamo. Then they examine details about the battle and summarize its outcome. Next they research one of the defenders and write a short report. Finally they compare how the Alamo looked in 1836 to how it looks today, and they conclude why the Alamo has remained such an important symbol of the Texas Revolution.

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 The Battle of the Alamo:

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Overview

In this experience, students brainstorm names of defenders at the Alamo. Then they examine details about the battle and summarize its outcome. Next they research one of the defenders and write a short report. Finally they compare how the Alamo looked in 1836 to how it looks today, and they conclude why the Alamo has remained such an important symbol of the Texas Revolution.

If you have access to leveled readers about the Battle of the Alamo or biographies of any of the famous defenders, assign them to the students in parallel to this experience.

Estimated duration: 45-90 minutes, depending on how much time you want to give students to research and write their reports

Vocabulary words:

  • rag-tag
  • siege
  • confidence

Objectives

  • Describe the siege of the Alamo.
  • Identify the defenders of the fort who gave their lives there.


Engage


Following the Battle of Gonzales, the Texan Volunteer Army organized and had several victories over the Mexican Army. In most of these battles, the Texans had surprise on their side because Mexico did not yet take the threat seriously. President Santa Anna was unhappy with his army’s losses to this rag-tag army, so he personally took over as commander of the Mexican troops that marched to regain the fort at San Antonio de Béxar. In this experience, you will learn about this Battle of the Alamo and about the men who gave their lives there in the name of Texas independence.

Objectives

  • Describe the siege of the Alamo.
  • Identify the defenders of the fort who gave their lives there.


photograph of the Alamo in San Antonio

The Alamo as it appears today


Name a defender of the Alamo. To list multiple names, separate them with a comma, like this: Dwight Eisenhower, Lyndon Johnson. If you don’t know any, write “unknown.” You will be able to name many of them by the end of the experience.

Post your answer

Students may recognize the names of Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie, and William Travis, although they may not realize that these three men gave their lives defending the Alamo.


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