Texas TEKS 4.15.D
The Standard
identify the importance of historical figures and important individuals who modeled active participation in the democratic process such as Sam Houston, Barbara Jordan, Lorenzo de Zavala, Ann Richards, Henry B. González, Wallace Jefferson, and other local individuals
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Social Studies
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students connect each person to a specific civic action, such as holding office, writing laws, serving as a judge, or speaking for voters. They explain how that action supported democratic government in Texas.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Students accurately match several leaders with their actions and roles. They use a clear example to explain why one person’s participation mattered to Texas democracy.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may think democratic participation means only voting or running for office. They may confuse leaders’ roles, time periods, or achievements, and assume every person listed was a governor.
How to Assess It
- Give an exit ticket: Choose Barbara Jordan, Lorenzo de Zavala, or Wallace Jefferson. Name one civic action and explain how it supported democracy.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs leader cards and action cards to match, then place each matched pair on a Texas history timeline.
Ask students to write: Which leader made the strongest contribution to Texas democracy, and what evidence supports your choice?
Play a clue game where teams identify a leader from three facts, then name the democratic role shown.
Invite a local official or activist to class, then have students compare that person’s work with one historical Texas leader.
Keep exploring
Related Standards
- 4.16.A
identify leaders in state, local, and national governments, including the governor, local members of the Texas Legislature, the local mayor, U.S. senators, loca...
- 4.15.A
identify important individuals who have participated voluntarily in civic affairs at state and local levels such as Adina de Zavala and Clara Driscoll;
- 7.17.B
identify the contributions of Texas leaders such as Lawrence Sullivan "Sul" Ross, John Nance Garner ("Cactus Jack"), James A. Baker III, Henry B. González, Kay ...
- 1.2.A
identify contributions of historical figures, including Sam Houston, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Martin Luther King Jr., who have influenced the sta...
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