Texas TEKS 7.1.A
The Standard
identify the major eras in Texas history, describe their defining characteristics, and explain the purpose of dividing the past into eras, including Natural Texas and its People; Age of Contact; Spanish Colonial; Mexican National; Revolution and Republic; Early Statehood; Texas in the Civil War and Reconstruction; Cotton, Cattle, and Railroads; Age of Oil; Texas in the Great Depression and World War II; Civil Rights; and Contemporary Texas
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Social Studies
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students put the major eras of Texas history in chronological order. They match each era with defining events, groups, economic patterns, and political changes. They explain why historians divide the past into eras.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student can label a Texas history timeline and describe each era with accurate evidence. Given an event or artifact, the student can place it in an era and justify the choice. The student recognizes that era boundaries may overlap.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may treat eras as equal in length or assume change happened on one exact date. They often confuse Spanish Colonial with Mexican National, or Republic with Early Statehood. Some name one event instead of describing a broader pattern.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: Put five provided events in chronological order, label each era, and write one sentence explaining why historians use eras.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs 12 era cards and 24 event cards to sort, then require one evidence note under each era.
Write which change best marks the shift from Spanish Colonial to Mexican National Texas, then defend your choice with two facts.
Play timeline relay, with teams placing event cards under era headings and correcting one misplaced card each round.
Choose a local landmark or historical marker, identify its era, and explain how it reflects one defining characteristic of that period.
Keep exploring
Related Standards
- 7.6
History. The student understands how individuals, events, and issues shaped the history of Texas from Reconstruction through the beginning of the 20th century. ...
- 7.2
History. The student understands how individuals, events, and issues through the Mexican National Era shaped the history of Texas. The student is expected to:
- 8.1.A
identify the major eras in U.S. history through 1877, including colonization, revolution, creation and ratification of the Constitution, early republic, the Age...
- 7.3
History. The student understands how individuals, events, and issues related to the Texas Revolution shaped the history of Texas. The student is expected to:
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