West Orange-Cove C.I.S.D.
Grade 7 – Texas History
First Grading Period
Guiding Principles/Overall Understanding
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Governments are created to provide safety,
order and to serve the people
Governments depend on citizens taking
active, responsible roles.
Texas has several distinct geographic
regions.
Knowledge & Skills with Student
Expectations
7.14 Government. The student
understands the basic principles reflected in
the Texas Constitution. The student is
expected to:
7.14(a) identify how the Texas Constitution
reflects the principles of limited government,
republicanism, checks and balances,
federalism, separation of powers, popular
sovereignty, and individual rights.
Guiding Questions
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What are the rights of Texas citizens? What are the rights of middle school
students?
How are the principles and concepts of the Texas and U.S. Constitutions
similar?
What are the structure, funding, and governance of Texas public
education?
What are the major regions of Texas?
How does the geography of Texas affect the people that live there?
How do the people of Texas affect the places they live in?
Specificity & Examples
How does the Texas Constitution reflect the following
principles?
 Limited government – Principle of government
in which power is limited by a set of laws, such
as those in a constitution.
 Checks and balances – Government
arrangement by which each different branch has
the power to check, or restrict, the power of the
other branches.
 Federalism – System of government that
balances powers by distributing them between
one central and many regional governments.
 Separation of powers – Principle of government
in which power is divided among different
government branches.
 Popular sovereignty – Principle of government
that all political power comes from the people.
 individual rights – freedoms and privileges that
the government cannot take away from the
people
Suggested Resources
Text: Texas & Texans Ch: 28
West Orange-Cove C.I.S.D.
Grade 7 – Texas History
First Grading Period
Knowledge & Skills with Student
Expectations
7.14 Government. The student
understands the basic principles reflected in
the Texas Constitution. The student is
expected to:
7.14(b) compare the principles and
concepts of the Texas Constitution to the
U.S. Constitution, including the Texas and
U.S. Bill of Rights.
7.15 Government. The student
understands the structure and functions of
government created by the Texas
Constitution. The student is expected to:
7.15(a) describe the structure and functions
of government at municipal, county, and
state levels.
Specificity & Examples
How are the principles and concepts of the Texas and U.S.
Constitutions similar?
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The state is divided into 254 counties which are further divided
into precincts.
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Text: Texas & Texans Ch: 28
Similar draft and language
3 branches of government and a bicameral legislature
Bill of Rights
principles of government (checks and balances,
separation of powers, and popular sovereignty,
federalism and limited government)
What is the structure and function of government at municipal,
county, and state levels?
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Suggested Resources
Municipal – Governments that decide policies for
cities and towns. Their responsibilities include police,
fire, utilities, roads, and parks. City officials including
Mayor and City Council
County government- implements state laws and
local services. Regional countywide services include,
courts, jails, voter registration, tax collection, and the
county also maintains parks, the fairgrounds and the
county airport.
State government- States must take responsibility for
areas such as:
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ownership of property
education of inhabitants
implementation of welfare and other benefits
programs and distribution of aid
maintaining a justice system
maintaining state highways and setting up the
means of administrating local roads
regulation of industry
Text: Texas & Texans Ch: 30
West Orange-Cove C.I.S.D.
Grade 7 – Texas History
First Grading Period
Knowledge & Skills with Student
Expectations
7.15 Government. The student
understands the structure and functions of
government created by the Texas
Constitution. The student is expected to:
7.15(b) Identify major sources of revenue
for state and local governments such as
property tax, sales tax, and fees.
7.15 Government. The student
understands the structure and functions of
government created by the Texas
Constitution. The student is expected to:
7.15(c) Describe the structure, funding, and
governance of Texas public education,
including local property taxes, bond issues,
and state and federal funding supported by
state and federal taxpayers.
7.16 Citizenship. The student understands
the rights and responsibilities of Texas
citizens in a democratic society. The student
is expected to:
7.16(a) Identify rights of Texas citizens.
Specificity & Examples
How do governments get the money they need to provide
services?
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Suggested Resources
Text: Texas & Texans Ch: 29
Various taxes in state including sales taxes and
license fees
Local revenue comes from sales and property taxes
What is the structure, funding, and governance of Texas
public education?
Text: Texas & Texans Ch: 29
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Lamar’s role as Father of Public Education
Land set aside for education
Education is paid for by local property taxes and bond
issues
 State and federal funding is supported by state and
federal taxpayers
 School Districts are created to take charge of
education in an area
 The legislature makes laws concerning school
finance, curriculum and what school districts, parents,
and students are allowed to do
What are the rights of Texas citizens?
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Freedom to assemble, freedom to petition, religion,
and press
Right to trial by jury
Right to bear arms
Right to vote
Right to run for political office
Right to petition
What are the rights of middle school students?
As a student, how do I actively participate in ensuring that my
school is safe, respectful and responsible?
Text: Texas & Texans Ch: 30
West Orange-Cove C.I.S.D.
Grade 7 – Texas History
First Grading Period
Knowledge & Skills with Student
Expectations
7.16 Citizenship. The student understands
the rights and responsibilities of Texas
citizens in a democratic society. The student
is expected to:
7.16(b) Explain and analyze civic
responsibilities of Texas citizens and the
importance of civic participation.
Specificity & Examples
What is civic responsibility? What is the importance of
civic responsibility and civic participation?
Suggested Resources
Text: Texas & Texans Ch: 30
Civic responsibilities as a school citizen:
 Prompt
 Prepared
 Polite
Civic responsibilities as a Texas citizen:
 Voting
 Serving on jury
 Knowledge and obedience of law
 Paying Taxes
7.17 Citizenship. The student understands
the importance of the expression of different
points of view in a democratic society. The
student is expected to:
7.17(b) Describe the importance of free
speech and press in a democratic society
7.9 Geography. The student understands
the location and characteristics of places and
regions of Texas. The student is expected to:
7.9(a) Locate the Mountains and Basins,
Great Plains, North Central Plains, and
Coastal Plains regions and places of
importance in Texas during the 19th, 20th,
and 21st centuries such as major cities,
rivers, natural and historic landmarks,
political and cultural regions, and local points
of interest.
Why are free speech and press important in a democratic
society?
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Freedom of speech allows citizens to express their
opinions about the government
 Freedom of the press allows citizens to be informed
about what happens in their local, state, and national
governments
What are the regions of Texas and their major landforms?
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Four Physical Regions: Coastal Plains, North Central
Plains, Great Plains, Mountains and Basins
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Edwards Plateau
Big Bend
Llano Estacado
East Texas
Piney woods
Text: Texas & Texans Ch: 2
West Orange-Cove C.I.S.D.
Grade 7 – Texas History
First Grading Period
Knowledge & Skills with Student
Expectations
7.9 Geography. The student understands
the location and characteristics of places and
regions of Texas. The student is expected to:
7.9(b) Compare places and regions of
Texas in terms of physical and human
characteristics.
Specificity & Examples
How are the regions of Texas similar and different in terms of
their physical characteristics? How are the regions of Texas
similar and different in terms of their human characteristics?
Suggested Resources
Text: Texas & Texans Ch: 1
Compare Texas Native characteristics by region
Or
Compare the regions of modern Texas with the major jobs that
are performed there (i.e. Ranchers in West Texas, cotton
farmers in East Texas etc.)
7.10 Geography. The student understands
the effects of the interaction between
humans and the environment in Texas
during the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries.
The student is expected to:
7.10(a) Identify ways in which Texans have
adapted to and modified the environment
and analyze the positive and negative
consequences of the modifications.
7.11 Geography. The student understands
the characteristics, distribution, and
migration of population in Texas in the 19th,
20th, and 21st centuries. The student is
expected to:
7.11(a) Analyze why immigrant groups came
to Texas and where they settled.
How have Texans adapted to and modified their environment?
What are positive and negative consequences of the
modifications?
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Locate Native Americans on a map in relationship to
the geography of Texas
All native tribes of Texas adapted to their environment
in all areas of their lifestyle, including raising food,
creating housing, etc.
Why did different groups come to Texas and where did they
settle?
Why did the Spanish, Anglos, other Europeans, Mexicans,
Asians, and African American, etc. come to Texas and where
did they settle?
Text: Texas & Texans Ch: 1
West Orange-Cove C.I.S.D.
Grade 7 – Texas History
First Grading Period
Knowledge & Skills with Student
Expectations
7.11 Geography. The student understands
the characteristics, distribution, and
migration of population in Texas in the 19th,
20th, and 21st centuries. The student is
expected to:
7.11(b) Analyze how immigration and
migration to Texas in the 19th, 20th, and
21st centuries have influenced Texas.
Specificity & Examples
How did immigrants influence Texas?
Each culture brought unique contributions to the language,
culture, architecture and cuisine.
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Spanish brought architecture, cattle/ranching industry
and language to Texas
American settlers brought ideas about government
and slavery to Texas
Names of counties and cities – Bexar, Zavala, Goliad,
Amarillo, San Antonio, etc.
Rivers – Rio Grande, Guadalupe, Brazos, Sabine,
Nueces, Colorado, Red
Landforms – Llano Estacado
Cultural activities – Cinco de Mayo
Spanish Cattle Industry – Vaquero (a), Lasso, Lariat,
Sombrero, Rancho, Bronco, Rodeo, Mustang, etc.
7.11 Geography. The student understands
the characteristics, distribution, and
migration of population in Texas in the 19th,
20th, and 21st centuries. The student is
expected to:
7.11(d) Describe the structure of the
population of Texas using demographic
concepts such as growth rate and age
distribution.
What is the structure of the population of Texas?
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Rural to urban
Growing populations
Greater diversity
Aging population
Suggested Resources
West Orange-Cove C.I.S.D.
Grade 7 – Texas History
First Grading Period
Knowledge & Skills with Student
Expectations
7.11 Geography. The student understands
the characteristics, distribution, and
migration of population in Texas in the 19th,
20th, and 21st centuries. The student is
expected to:
7.11(c) Analyze the effects of the changing
population distribution and growth in Texas
during the 20th and 21st centuries and the
additional need for education, health care,
and transportation.
Specificity & Examples
How does the changing population distribution and growth in
Texas during the 20th and 21st centuries create an additional
need for education, health care, and transportation?
Suggested Resources