Today, I’m sharing a few links for a Texas Native American history unit study. Also, look at my page Homeschool Middle School for more fun tips. Also, look at my Native American Unit Study to learn about other Native Americans.
Since the time my kids were little we’ve always incorporated some of our Texas heritage and history.
Studying Texas history has so many topics to choose from.
However, studying about Native Americans will help to keep Texas history in a manageable chunk.
First, look at ten of the tribes native to Texas.
I’ve tried to hone in on these in this roundup so this topic doesn’t become overwhelming.
10 Tribes Native to Texas.
- Apache
- Atakapa
- Caddo
- Coahuiltecan Region
- Comanche
- Jumano
- Karankawa
- Kiowa
- Tonkawa
- Wichita
Glancing at the geography of Texas will help your kids to understand how each group adjusted to their surroundings.
Geography of Texas
The Geography of Texas.
Learn about the plant and animal life.
Texas Native American History Lesson Plans/Guides/Resources/
Download these lesson plans for activities and background information.
Download this 17 page free guide for background information about Texas Native Americans: The Texas Revolution: Exactly Who Where the Texans.
Brief overview of the major tribes that existed at the time of the first European exploration.
Fascinating background information about the Karankawa. A free 10 page download.
Heads up: You’ll want to look this over and glean the points you want to teach your child because it addresses all issues the Karankawa faced including very intimate ones.
And no, there are no pictures, just text. But I’ve listed it because it is so comprehensive in helping us to understand their every day life and one of the better resources I found.
Even though it’s says it’s a fourth grade lesson plan, it really is helpful for comparing tribes.
Understand the importance of the buffalo to the Comanche. Grab this free curriculum guide.
Learn about smoke signals like the Karankawa used.
Free Native Tribes of Texas 26 page download with facts and pictures.
Texas Indians: Southeastern and Gulf Cultures.
Background information on Jumano, Caddo, Karankawa, and Comanche.
Texas Native American Hands-on Ideas
| Make a grinding tool from a flat rock. Cook corn soup like the Caddo. Make teepee cupcakes like the Comanche and Apache (okay maybe not cupcakes) If you’re real adventurous make this wiki-up like the semi-permanent homes of the Coahuiltecans and Karankawa. | Paint on pebbles. Make a Caddo circle book. Make a pipecleaner wigwam. Eat prickly pear like the Coahuiltecans. The Comanche dominated the Plains of Texas and were great warriors and horsemen. Grab this free horse lapbook. |
Also, grab my free Plains Indians unit study and lapbook.
Karankawa YouTube
Comanche YouTube
Apache YouTube
Texas Beyond History – Virtual Museum of Texas’ Cultural Heritage. From an interactive map, to games to lesson plans to history, this site is one of the ones we have enjoyed most and spent hours on. Prepare to stay here on this site for days.
From the website: Texas Beyond History covers not only the prehistory and history of Texas’ true native peoples, but also much of the early history of the Spanish, French, Mexican, and Anglo explorers, missionaries, soldiers, miners, traders, and settlers who lived and often died in Texas. And later history, too—that of German farmers, Black freedmen, and Mexican-American laborers among many others.
Caddo. Be sure to click through to learn their history and how they live today. Also, click on the games page and download this printable free board game.
Language Arts
Plains Indians Free Writing Prompts. For Elementary, Middle and High School Homeschooled Kids
Books
- Indians Who Lived in Texas – A beautiful story of the 10 native tribes of Texas.
- A History of Texas and the Texans – An outstanding history of Texas for a serious budding Texas history buff.
- Legend of the Bluebonnet.
Texas Field Trips
The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum.
San Jacinto Museum. Also grab the HUGE 449 page free Educator’s Guide with lesson plans, pictures, and activity ideas.
Washington on the Brazos Historic Site. We’ve been many times because it’s a great place to visit. It is the final home of the last president of the Republic of Texas along with a hands on history room and museum. Be sure to download the educator’s guides at the bottom of the page.
Also, you may love to use my 10 Westward Expansion History Fun Coloring Pages! You know the quality of my work here and I don’t use baby-ish clip art. The coloring pages are suitable for middle school even in high school.
Here is what the 10 page download contains. I put a few key words to explain each picture on the page. This way you can use the coloring pages as title pages too.
Page 3: Native American on horseback,
4: Lewis and Clark Trek,
5: Lewis and Clark and The Piegan,
6: Lewis and Clark Exploring Rivers,
7: The Plains Indians,
8: Pioneer Life,
9: Moving West,
10: Westward Ho,
11: Settlers, and
12: Fur Trappers and Mountainmen
You can grab them below!
You may also love these hands-on ideas that can bring this unit study alive!
- How to Build the Alamo: Day 5 Hands-on Learning (Free Texas Unit Study)
- Exploring Edible Cactus: Day 4 Hands-on Learning (The Desert) – Eat cactus like the Coahuiltecan
- Pioneer Living and Cloth Dyeing (Hands-on History)
This is suppose to be a quick unit study but we love studying about Texas history. So I hope you’ll find a few of these resources inspiring and helpful.
Hugs and love ya,
This is the perfect start to the Texas history study I’m putting together! These are some awesome resources I can’t wait to dig in! Thank you!