Texas cattle drives are an innate part of Texas history and look at History of the Texas Cowboy, Cattle Drives, and Chisholm Trail for fun ideas. Besides February 1st is celebrated as National Texas Day and this is a fun craft to add to your study.
Being a native Texan, I’m partial to learning about Texas and want to share some facts to celebrate the day.
However, there is much to love and learn about the great state of Texas.
One of the things we are known for are the Texas Cattle Drives.
The drives started in the 1860’s just after the Civil War and ended in the mid 1890’s.
They were started as a way to get beef to other parts of the country.
During this time over 27 million cattle were driven from Texas to the railheads in Kansas.
They were bound for the stockyards in Louisiana and other points east.
The Texas cattle drives helped shape Texas history as well as pave the way for shaping the beef industry It created economic boon, provided beef to other parts of the country, and fueled railroad expansion.
Texas Cattle Drive Facts
- The two most famous trails out of Texas for moving livestock were the Chisholm Trail and the Goodnight-Loving Trail.
- The Texas Cattle Drives lasted a little over 20 years.
- Calves raised on beef ranches are typically born in the late winter and early spring.
- Beef cattle are now raised in all 50 states.
- The primary product that we get from beef cattle is meat like ground beef, steak, and beef roast. Besides meat, cattle are also used for other important resources like leather, medicine (insulin), sutures, glue, animal feeds, tallow, gelatin, and more.
- The Spanish brought longhorns to Texas with them in the late 1500’s to Texas.
- Beef cattle are classified as ruminants because they have a stomach with 4 chambers.
- It can be hard to tell cows apart so cattle ranchers used a branding iron to put a special mark on each cow called a brand.
- A dozen or less cowboys would move 3,000 head of cattle along the cattle drives.
- At night cowboys would often sing to the cows to calm them, songs like Old Dan Tucker or Texas Lullaby.
You can grab this lapbook below.
Next, look at some definitions.
Cattle Drive Vocabulary
- Texas Longhorn- Long-horned beef cattle formerly common in southwest United States.
- Cattle Drive- Driving a bovine herd such as cows, bulls, or steer.
- Branding-Method of permanent identification and proof of ownership for livestock.
- Notching- A simple and handy method to identify animals individually from a distance.
- Vaqueros- Spanish for a cowboy a cattle driver.
- Herd-A collection of the same kind of animals traveling and/or living together.
Also, watch The History and Legend of the Texas Cattle Drives on YouTube.
Find out what The Cowboys Ate as well a what a cookie (or cook) was on cattle drives in this video.
In addition, look at some more resources below about Texas.
Resources for Learning About Texas
- History of the Texas Cowboy, Cattle Drives, and Chisholm Trail
- Texas Native American History Quick Unit Study (Middle School)
- Free Copywork Cattle A Texas Poem For a Fun Unit Study
- Exploring Edible Cactus
- How to Build the Alamo
- Create your own unique cattle brand with this resource.
- Here is a fantastic math activity that measures longhorns width that is fun to include as well.
Resources for Learning About the Lone Star State & Texas Cattle Drives
Add a few of these resources to learn about the great state of Texas.
The Chisholm Trail was the original "Cowboy Highway" stretching hundreds of miles from the ranches of Texas to the Cattle markets in Kansas. This classic work chronicles in vivid detail the entire journey of the trail and is complete with descriptions of actual incidents and events that occurred along the trail as well as stories of famous and infamous cowboys, outlaws, rustlers, Indians, and lawmen who made the journey.
A guide for teaching Texas History through literature. It is based on a 34-week timeframe and is useful for students in grades K-6/7.
Encapsulating the 500-year saga of the one-of-a-kind state of Texas, this interactive book takes readers from the founding of the Spanish Missions and the victory at San Jacinto to the Great Storm that destroyed Galveston and the establishment of NASA’s Mission Control in Houston while covering everything in between. Texas History for Kids includes 21 informative and fun activities to help readers better understand the state’s culture, politics, and geography. Kids will recreate one of the six national flags that have flown over the state, make castings of local wildlife tracks, design a ranch’s branding iron, celebrate Juneteenth by reciting General Order Number 3, build a miniature Battle of Flowers float, and more. This valuable resource also includes a timeline of significant events, a list of historic sites to visit or explore online, and web resources for further study.
A New Way to Enjoy Texas with Your Family
For hours of excitement, give your kids the Texas Activity Book by Paula Ellis! They'll enjoy learning about the Lone Star State through pictures and puzzles. It's also perfect for keeping kids entertained on the car ride to your next destination.
DETAILED & REALISTIC. Crafted with precision and authentic detail to create a lifelike toy that teaches and inspires toddlers and kids; helps introduce children to animals. From the first sketch to the intricate finishing touches, we see value in every detail.
“Remember the Alamo!” is one of the most familiar battle cries in American history, yet few know about the brave woman who inspired it. Susanna Dickinson’s story reveals the crucial role she played during that turbulent period in Texas-American history.
The classic story of the siege of the Alamo, as told for young readers. Originally published in 1958, thousands of children each year enjoy this story from the unique point of view of twelve-year old Billy Campbell.
A biography of the legendary Comanche leader profiles the son of a white woman, who fiercely defended tribal lands against those who tried to seize them and who, after being moved with his people to a reservation, fought for the recognition and decent treatment of his tribe.
Colorful Sam Houston leaps to life in the pages of this fresh and funny biography, set against the story of Texas's fight for independence from Mexico.
The story of one of Texas's most famous cowboys is filled with cattle drives, stampedes, floods, droughts, freezing desert nights, raiders and bandits, and one man's endurance and love of life on the plains.
Finally, look at this longhorn craft.
How to Make a Longhorn Craft
You will need:
- 3 paper plates
- brown craft paint
- cream cardstock/construction paper
- paper towel
- black sharpie marker
- scissors
First, you want to cut a shape that resembles a cow’s head out of a paper plate,
To do this cut on either side in sort of an hourglass shape but leaving the middle thicker.
Leave the ridges of the plate border one on end but cut just before the ridges leaving it smooth on the other
Cut ears from the remainder of the smooth portion of the plate.
Or if there is not enough left use a second plate.
You can paint your longhorn any color or pattern you like.
Add a little craft paint to another paper plate.
I created a brindle coloring by mixing two shades of brown and crumpling up a paper towel.
Then stamp wherever you like over the steers face.
Then make the ears.
While the paint is drying, cut two longhorns out of the cream paper.
Make sure you give them plenty of length as you will be gluing several inches behind the plate.
Once the paint is dry glue the ears and horns into place on the back of the plate.
Place the ridged end of the plate as the top of the head.
Use a sharpie to finish off the details of the eyes and nostrils.
Make a whole herd of paper plate longhorn cattle to enjoy!
