Course Texas History and Geography 7th Grade
Grading
Period
1st
Big Ideas/Enduring Understandings
Austin ISD Yearly Itinerary
2010-2011
Essential Questions
Focus TEKS Student
Expectations
Culture: Each culture is unique and has its own
identifying characteristics.
1. What defines culture?
2. How do symbols convey a culture’s characteristics?
7.19A, 7.21A, 7.21C, 7.21D,
7.21E, 7.22A, 7.22B, 7.22C,
7.22D, 7.23A, 7.23B
Location and Place: Texas Geography and
Native Texans Location and place determine
where people settle and how they develop their
culture.
1. How is a region's environment affected by its geography and
how does it influence settlement?
2. What geographic factors influence the locations and places
where people choose to settle?
3. How does environment influence the way of life for different
groups of people?
4. How do people in a specific location and place adapt to their
environment?
7.2A, 7.8A, 7.9A, 7.9B, 7.9C
7.10A, 7.10B, 7.21A, 7.21B,
7.21C, 7.21H, 7.22A, 7.22B,
7.22C, 7.22D, 7.23A, 7.23B,
7.23C, 7.23D
Civic Engagement-Celebrate Freedom Week:
The heart of a healthy democracy, illustrated by
Celebrate Freedom Week & Constitution Day (
week of Sept. 17), is a citizenry actively engaged
in civic life—taking responsibility for building
communities, solving community problems and
participating in the electoral and political process.
1. What are some of the important ideas expressed in the
Declaration of Independence and the Preamble to the
Constitution?
2. Why are the Declaration of Independence and the Preamble to
the Constitution important to individual citizens?
7.9B, 7.10A,7.14A, 7.14B,
7.16A, 7.16B, 7.17B, 7.17C,
7.21B, 7.21C, 7.22A
Culture-Hispanic Heritage: New cultures
emerge from established cultures through
migration and cultural diffusion.
1. What happens when cultures come in contact with each other?
2. What cultural aspects are transferred from one generation to
the next?
7.19A, 7.19B, 7.22A, 7.22C,
7.22D
© 2010 Austin Independent School District
Course: TX History and Geography 7th Grade Page 1 of 4
updated 5/4/10
Course Texas History and Geography 7th Grade
Grading
Period
1st
Austin ISD Yearly Itinerary
Big Ideas/Enduring Understandings
2010-2011
Essential Questions
Focus TEKS Student
Expectations
Change: Philanthropy in Texas: Philanthropy
and acts of kindness contribute to the common
good of a society and can be used to address
common needs, issues, or problems in school,
the neighborhood and the larger community.
1. What is the definition of philanthropy? How is the term
philanthropy used?
2. Why are philanthropic activities that contribute to the common
good important?
3. What resources such as time, talent and treasure contribute to
the common good?
7.21B, 7.21C, 7.21H, 7.22A,
7.22C, 7.22H, 7.23A, 7.23B
Migration-Explorers and Settlers in Texas:
People migrate in response to political, social,
and economic needs.
1. What key elements stimulate migration?
2. What are some benefits and risks involved with migration?
7.1A, 7.1B, 7.1C, 7.2A, 7.2B,
7.2C, 7.2D, 7.2E, 7.2F, 7.3A,
7.3B, 7.8A, 7.8B, 7.9A, 7.9C,
7.10A, 7.10B, 7.11A, 7.11B,
7.18A, 7.19C, 7.21A, 7.21B,
7.21C, 7.21D, 7.21E, 7.21F,
7.22A, 7.22B, 7.22C, 7.22D,
7.23A, 7.23B
Conflict and Change-The Texas Revolution:
Conflict between groups of people typically
occurs when cultural values differ.
1.
2.
3.
4.
7.1A, 7.1B, 7.1C, 7.2D, 7.2E,
7.2F, 7.3A, 7.8A, 7.9A, 7.9C,
7.10B, 7.21A, 7.22A, 7.22B,
7.22C, 7.22D
2nd
How do political events contribute to cultural conflict?
How do people justify rebellion?
How do perceptions of historical conflicts change over time?
How do conflicts affect all aspects of a society?
3rd
© 2010 Austin Independent School District
Course: TX History and Geography 7th Grade Page 2 of 4
updated 5/4/10
Course Texas History and Geography 7th Grade
Grading
Period
Austin ISD Yearly Itinerary
Big Ideas/Enduring Understandings
2010-2011
Essential Questions
Focus TEKS Student
Expectations
Power and Conflict: Emerging groups pursue
expansion of space and ideas, which bring them
into conflict with existing groups.
1. What conflicts and challenges are created by changing
boundaries?
7.1A, 7.1B, 7.1C, 7.3A, 7.3B,
7.4A, 7.4B, 7.6A, 7.8B, 7.10B,
7.21A, 7.21B, 7.21C, 7.21D,
7.21E, 7.21F, 7.22A, 7.22B,
7.22C, 7.22D, 7.23A, 7.23B
Culture-Black History Month:
African-Americans have made numerous
contributions to Texas.
1. How have African-Americans contributed to Texan and
American society?
2. What makes an individual notable?
7.1B, 7.5A, 7.5B, 7.8B, 7.10B,
7.17A, 7.21B, 7.21C, 7.21E,
7.22A, 7.22C, 7.22D
Rules and Rights-Texas Government: A
society’s rules and individual rights are valued
and promoted in a democratic society. In a
democratic, constitutional government, power is
derived from the people and distributed among
three separate branches.
1.
2.
3.
4.
7.1C, 7.6A, 7.7C, 7.14A,
7.14B, 7.15A, 7.15B, 7.15C,
7.16A, 7.16B, 7.17B, 7.21C,
7.21D, 7.22A, 7.22D
Changes and Challenge in the Late 19th
Century:
Advancements in technology lead to expansion
and can often result in conflicts with other
people.
1. How does geography impact a region’s systems of supply and
demand?
2. How does the discovery of new natural resources affect
economic markets?
3. How does a society develop and use technology to adapt to
the environment and exploit resources?
7.1A, 7.1B, 7.6A, 7.6B, 7.7A,
7.7B, 7.8A, 7.8B, 7.9A, 7.9B,
7.9C, 7.10B, 7.13A, 7.13B,
7.13C, 7.17C, 7.19C, 7.20A,
7.20B, 7.20C, 7.21B, 7.21C,
7.21D, 7.21E, 7.21F, 7.22A,
7.22B, 7.22C, 7.22D
Culture-Women’s History Month: Women have
contributed achievements to Texas and the
United States.
1. How have women contributed to Texas and American history?
2. What makes an individual notable?
4th
5th
© 2010 Austin Independent School District
Why do we need a constitution?
What is the purpose of a constitution?
Why are constitutions called “living documents”?
How should we balance the rights of the individual with the
common good?
5. How and why do we provide checks and balances?
7.7C, 7.18B, 7.19B, 7.21A,
7.21B, 7.21C, 7.22A, 7.22B,
7.22C
Course: TX History and Geography 7th Grade Page 3 of 4
updated 5/4/10
Course Texas History and Geography 7th Grade
Grading
Period
6th
Big Ideas/Enduring Understandings
Austin ISD Yearly Itinerary
2010-2011
Essential Questions
Focus TEKS Student
Expectations
Changes in the 20th Century-A Time of
Transition: Texans faced many changes and
challenges as Texas and the United States
became part of a global community.
1. What factors contribute to the transition from a rural to urban
society?
2. How was each decade in the 20th century a time of social,
economic, and political changes?
7.7D, 7.8A, 7.B, 7.10A, 7.10B,
7.11B, 7.11C, 7.18B, 7.19A,
7.19B, 7.21A, 7.21B, 7.21C,
7.21D, 7.21F
Rules and Rights- Local and Municipal
Government: Governments at every level work
best when citizens keep informed and are
involved. Different levels of government are
organized to meet new problems and challenges
in addition to insuring that all citizens receive the
highest level of service.
1. How do governments respond to the challenges that people
face?
2. In what ways does government affect everyday life?
3. What opportunities exist for citizens to participate in
government and politics?
7.15A, 7.15B, 7.15C
© 2010 Austin Independent School District
Course: TX History and Geography 7th Grade Page 4 of 4
updated 5/4/10