Handout 1:
Handout 1 is for teacher’s use only
Suggested Categories and example notes
After viewing the video segment Town in Transition: 1950-1975 from the Time Tour
section of Austin Past and Present, help students categorize their facts. You may want to
write the following categories on the board, but do not give students the facts. Let students
group the facts. Also, some facts may be in more than one category. Once completed,
review the groupings with students.
Early finishers can number the facts in each category. #1 would be the most important, #2
the second most important, etc.
Town in Transition: 1950-1975 Video Segmentand Categorized Notes
Economic Social/Cultural Government
Environment Technology
Philosophy/Ideas
No spot
zoning
Heritage
Society
Civil
Population
Rights/integration growth
Radio
Pro-Growth
Transmitters
Progrowth
Willie Nelson
Law
School/Supreme
Court Case
Tracor/IBM
Waller
Rebellion
Environmentalism
Controlled Austin City
growth
Limits
LBJ and Overton
Town Lake
Beautification
Civil
Rights/Integration
Tomorrow Integration
Plan
Fair Housing
Ordinance
Parks and
Recreation
Technology
Tracor
and IBM
Mexican
American Union
Buying up of
natural
resources
University growth
Furniture
Strike
Jerry Friedman
A city of
ideas/music
Handout 2
Mandala Prep Handout
Student Directions: Create summaries for each category in verbal and symbolic
form. An example is on the bottom of this page. Use your categorized film notes for
assistance. Use a separate sheet of paper if you do not have room on this page. Have
fun and be creative!
Remember, these symbols and descriptions should represent Austin for the time
period you are currently studying.
1. Economic
Verbal Summary:
Shapes:
Colors:
Other Symbol (s):
**Inner/Outer Comparison. On the outside, Austin is like _________ economically, but
on the inside it is _____________ because ___________________.
2. Social
Shapes:
Colors:
Other Symbols:
**Inner/Outer:
3. Government:
Shapes:
Colors:
Other Symbols:
**Inner/Outer
4. Environment
Shapes:
Colors:
Other Symbols:
**Inner/Outer:
5. Technology
Shapes:
Colors:
Other Symbols:
**Inner/Outer:
6. Ideas
Shapes:
Colors:
Other Symbols:
**Inner/Outer:
Example:
Environment
Verbal: Quality growth
Shape: A Circle because the ‘Circle of Life’ is cultivated. Parallel lines to represent gardening.
Color: Green for nature.
Symbol: Bluebonnet (represents Lady Bird and general efforts at beautification/preservation)
On the oustside, Austin is ripening like other cities, but on the inside, the seed of environmentalism is strong and will
make Austin unique.
Handout 3
Mandala Handout
Steps
1. Use a compass to draw a large circle. The circle should take up most of your page. See
example below.
2. Use a compass to draw a small inner circle in the middle. The inner circle should be
about six times smaller than the larger circle. See example.
3. Between the inner and outer circle, design lines to divide your circle into 6 even parts.
See example.
4. On the outside of the circle, label each section according to your 6 categories
(economics, government, etc). See categorized film notes.
4* If you did the inner/outer activity, draw another circle between the large outer and
small inner circle. This line should evenly divide your categories into inner and outer
sections.
5. Add your colors, shapes, and symbols in each section as neatly and creatively as
possible. See Mandala Prep Handout.
5*If you did the inner/outer activity, each category should have different inner and outer
parts. Use the key (step 7) to explain the differences.
6. In the inner circle, summarize Austin in this time period with colors, symbols, and no
more than one or two words. This is the ‘inner self’ of Austin during that time.
7. Create a key explaining the meaning of each color, shape, symbol, and word. You will
probably need to place this key on a separate sheet of paper.
Extension: Research biographies and add last names where appropriate. Include names in
the key.
Key
Orange represents __________ because ______________
The triangle represents ___________ because ______________.
Delco is in the government section because she helped _______________ Austin.
Handout 4
Mandala Grading Criteria
Neatness/Appearance 40 points
 6 sections are clearly identified.
 Mandala is balanced and visually pleasing.
 Colors, shapes, symbols, and words are proportional.
Content 60 points
 All colors, shapes, symbols, and words are explained
in the key and make sense.
 Each is in the proper section of the mandala.
 Each accurately explains, describes, or judges what
Austin was like for that category.
 Creativity.
Additional
 Inner/Outer activity is accurate, insightful, and/or
creative.
Handout 5
Introduction to the Simulation Activity
Directions: Read the introduction. On the second page, put a one next to the group
that interests you most. Put a two next to your second choice.
Welcome fellow Austinites!
You will be attending an important Austin city council meeting to determine
the future of our great city. The decade is the 1960s. You and your colleagues
have formed a special interest group so that you can persuade the city council
to act according to your interests.
However, there are other competing interest groups who are pursuing the
same goal. Some of those groups do not want you to succeed. But remember,
your goal is to get the city to act according to your interests. This means you
will have to do your research and present a very persuasive case. It may also
mean that you have to compromise with the interests of other groups!
Whatever strategy you choose, keep in mind that your ultimate goal is to
satisfy as many of your interests as possible.
Here is an outline of what will happen over the next two to three days:
1) You will join one of the 5 groups
2) You will talk with the teacher and your group members so that everyone
clearly understands your collective interests and the interests of the
competing groups.
3) You will use the research guide for a day or two of research. These will
help you prepare for your presentation on the last day.
4) On the last day, each group will take 5-10 minutes to present their
proposals, arguments, propaganda posters, and other elements found in your
research guide. The teacher and city council will ask questions and there will
be much dialogue and debate between groups. The city council will then
announce their plan for Austin.
Good luck! Our future depends on you!
Groups and their interests
1. Civil Rights: Integration of schools, universities, and the workplace.
Economic justice. Develop all of Austin. Preserve Clarksville.
Encourage strong unions.
2. Pro-Growth: Increase the tax base of the city by attracting businesses.
Build an efficient highway system. Increase jobs. This may involve
supporting a strongly capitalist point of view.
3. Green: Environmentalists. Beautification. Create recreational areas
like parks and walking/bike trails. Create laws that will prevent the
building of homes and businesses in environmentally sensitive areas.
4. Education/Ideas: Attract more musicians and artists. Support the
university system. Preserve historical sites. Spend more money on
education, museums, and other mentally enriching activities.
5. The Anti-Group: Prepare counter arguments to all 4 of the groups
listed above. Serve with teacher on city council. Decide how to spend
the city’s limited funds. Vote for various ordinances.
Some Central Issues
1. Should money be spent on a highway that loops around Austin?
2. How should Austin create a more integrated school system? How should the
money be spent?
3. Should the city buy private property to preserve natural beauty?
4. Should businesses be allowed to develop in West Austin or along the river? Why
not create a ‘Riverwalk’? Should we allow people to build homes in recharge
zones?
5. Should we set ordinances against spot zoning and commercial stripping?
6. Should we use money to beautify Austin?
7. If we only have one million dollars, where should it be spent?
8. What should Austin’s Tomorrow Plan look like? (Projected map of roads, parks,
businesses, homes, ordinances, etc).
Handout 6
Research Guide and Grading Criteria (for students)
Your job is to represent the interests of your group. Follow these
steps:
1. Read the description of who you are and make sure you
understand your interests. Understand your position on at least the
following three issues: Economic justice, how Austin’s money
should be spent, and whether MOPAC should be built.
2. Use the next page to find your group and identify what parts of
the Geo-Tour and Timeline sections of the Austin: Past and Present
DVD to visit and research.
3. As you research these sections, take notes. Create at least 3
arguments defending your point of view. Your arguments should
include primary source quotes or role-playing. For example, you
could quote Bedicheck or pretend to be him when presenting your
arguments. You must have notes on the required sections (see next
page).
4. Use a search engine to explore your interest group on the
Internet. Take notes. Use that as a resource, but remember it is the
1960’s. Explore the Geo-Tour and Biography sections on your own
to find more data and primary sources to support your point of
view.
5. Create a propaganda poster. The poster should be visually
appealing, include visual and verbal elements, present at least one
argument, and be persuasive. You will hold it up during the
meeting.
6. Rehearse your 5-minute presentation for the city council. Be
ready for counter arguments. Each student must participate in some
way.
Research Guide (page 2) You are required to research the topics
listed under your interest group. You can find them in the GeoTour, timeline, or biography sections of Austin: Past and Present.
Your notes will be graded. Remember, you are using the
information to create arguments in support of your interests.
Civil Rights
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Mopac (West)
Clarksville (Central)
Anderson(East)
Volma Overton (Biography)
Charles Akins (Biography)
Marcellus Anderson (Biography)
E. Garcia (Biography)
Hemann Sweatt (Biography)
Durden (Biography)
View last two films if time permits. Look for Civil Rights Issues.
Find additional sources and arguments by exploring on your own.
Pro-Growth
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Mopac (West)
Emmet Shelton (Biography)
Austin B Airport (East)
Camp Mabry (West)
Highland Lakes (West)
Watch Town in Transition: 1950-1975 again. Look for businesses that
brought Austin more money through taxes.
 Look for privately owned parks/environmental areas in the Geo-Tour
section.
 Use an encyclopedia to research the basics of capitalism.
 Create a compromise position between you and the Green Group.
Green
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Mopac (West)
Roberta Crenshaw (Biography)
Roy Bedicheck (Biography)
Lady Bird Johnson (Biography)
Brother Daniel Lynch (Biography)
Golf protests (West)
Waller Creek Rebellion (Central)
Onion Creek Sanctuary (East)
Roy Guerrero Colorado park (East)
Barton Springs/Zilker Park
Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail
 Lady Bird Wildflower Center (South)
Education/Ideas
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Explore the UT sections of the Geo-Tour Section
Katherine D. Hart (Biography)
Camp Mabry (West)
Moore Hancock (Central)
Austin History Center (Downtown)
Texas State Cemetery (East)
French Legation (East)
Pioneer Farms (North)
Clara Driscoll and the art school (West)
Brackenridge vs Littlefield (Golf and education/West)
 Watch last two films for ideas, music, technology, etc.
The Anti-Group
 Research each group listed above (using at least three sources from
each group).
 Create arguments that they will probably present.
 Create counters to those arguments.
 Prepare 4 Propaganda Posters saying “No” to each group or offering
compromise that makes everyone happy.
Handout 7
Grading criteria for research/presentation
 Each person in the group completes notes on all required
elements of research.
 Propaganda Poster is visually appealing with visual and
verbal elements. It should also contain at least one persuasive
and coherent argument.
 Each group clearly and concisely presents their case. Each
person is participating. Arguments are persuasive.
 Group offers counterarguments and compromises.
 Presentations include primary sources or role-playing.