Texas Cartoon Warm-up Sampler
10
1. Both champagne and caviar are expensive
specialty foods. Why would Santa Anna bring
such foods all the way to Texas by wagon?
2. What attitude does Santa Anna display in the
cartoon?
3. What exactly is champagne?
4. What exactly is caviar?
©Moore and Black, 2008
All Rights Reserved
Austin, Texas
Texas Cartoon Warm-up Sampler
10
1. Find Abilene on a Texas highway map (E13 on
grid). What natural region is Abilene in?
2. Abilene grew because of the railroad. About
how far is Abilene from Buffalo Gap today? (See
highway 89. Small black numbers indicate mileage.)
3. Buffalo herds roamed this area 200 years ago.
Why do you think it would have been a good
place for them?
©Moore and Black, 2008
All Rights Reserved
Austin, Texas
Texas Cartoon Warm-up Sampler
10
1. Locate Galveston on a Texas highway map (M21
on grid). About how far is Galveston from Houston?
Use the scale of miles.
2. If people today had to evacuate (leave) Galveston
before a hurricane, what geographic features might
make that difficult?
3. About 58,000 people live in Galveston today.
Using available roads, waterways, and
transportation, make a plan for their evacuation.
©Moore and Black, 2008
All Rights Reserved
Austin, Texas
Texas Cartoon Warm-up Sampler
10
1. How much land was available to each single
man, and also to a family of four, in Austin’s
colony? Use pg. 167 your textbook to find the
answers.
2. A land title, or deed, proves ownership of the
land. If the house is not built yet, why would it be
important for a colonist to have a title?
©Moore and Black, 2008
All Rights Reserved
Austin, Texas
Texas Cartoon Warm-up Sampler
10
1. The Karankawas lived along the coast.
What large body of water borders the Texas
coast?
2. Karankawas were famous for their tattoos
and piercings. Why would people decorate
themselves in this way?
3. Give an example of modern day body
decoration.
©Moore and Black, 2008
All Rights Reserved
Austin, Texas
Texas Cartoon Warm-up Sampler
10
1. List four things you see in the cartoon that
would make Texas unsuitable for development.
Explain your choices.
©Moore and Black, 2008
All Rights Reserved
Austin, Texas
Texas Cartoon Warm-up Sampler
10
1. March 2 is Texas Independence Day and also
just happens to be Sam Houston’s birthday.
How many years have passed since Sam
Houston was 43?
2. What year will it be when you turn 43?
©Moore and Black, 2008
All Rights Reserved
Austin, Texas
Texas Cartoon Warm-up Sampler
10
1. Locate Goliad on a Texas highway map (O17
on grid). How far is Goliad from Gonzales
(M17)? Use the scale of miles.
2. Covering 30 miles per day, how long would it
take a rider on horseback to take the news of the
skirmish at Goliad to Gonzales?
3. Why is Sam McCullough a “patriot?”
©Moore and Black, 2008
All Rights Reserved
Austin, Texas
Texas Cartoon Warm-up Sampler
10
1. Locate Mason on a Texas highway map (J14
on grid). What river runs through Mason
County?
2. What is a “gem?”
©Moore and Black, 2008
All Rights Reserved
Austin, Texas
Texas Cartoon Warm-up Sampler
10
1. Why are primary source documents such as
written papers important for understanding the past?
2. What would you like to be known for in history?
Create a book title, using your name, telling how you
want to be remembered in history. For example:
“Jesse Lopez: Guitar Hero of All Time.”
©Moore and Black, 2008
All Rights Reserved
Austin, Texas
Texas Cartoon Warm-up Sampler
10
Texas Cartoon Warm-up Sampler
Teacher’s Guide
Start your Texas History classes with a fun way to learn: Texas Cartoon Warm-ups! These short
activities based on engaging cartoons by Roger T. Moore are designed to get students thinking and
working as soon as they enter the classroom. They are designed to reinforce TEKS and TAKS skills for
7th grade Texas History. The Sampler includes 10 warm-ups, a Teacher’s Guide, and Answer Guide.
The following Texas History topics are included in this Sampler:
What is history?
Texas Symbols
Climate
Geography
Native Americans
Spanish Exploration
Colonization
Texas Revolution
Students use multiple skills to answer short questions about each cartoon, such as critical thinking,
writing, defining, vocabulary, math, drawing, geography, maps, textbook use, and interpretation of graphic
material. Extra Credit activities direct students to educational web sites and other sources for deeper
exploration of various topics.
These warm-ups can be used several ways in the classroom. Teachers can project them directly from
the CD, make overhead transparencies, or print out paper copies for individual students or small groups.
Some warm-ups require students to use an official Texas highway map, which can be obtained free
from the Texas Department of Transportation. Call TxDot at 512-486-5875 to order a free class set of
maps. Order by mail at Box 149248, Austin, Tx 78714-9248, or in person at 150 E. Riverside Drive,
Austin, Tx 78704. Laminate the maps for longer wear.
Prepare students for using the maps with the cartoons by pointing out the map grid numbers and
letters along the margins of the map. Have students locate the scale of miles, the legend, and the index
on the map. These activities are designed to supplement students’ previous knowledge about maps.
Involve student readers by assigning one student each day to read the cartoon text out loud to the
class and facilitate grading at the front of the room.
Grading is a snap with the attached Answer Guide. We suggest grading each warm-up daily together
in class for student accountability. Each warm-up might be worth one point, for a total of five points each
week.
Texas Cartoon Warm-up Sampler
Answer Guide
©Moore and Black, 2008
All Rights Reserved
Austin, Texas
Texas Cartoon Warm-up Sampler
10
1. Why documents?
1. Why are documents (written papers) important to history? [answers will vary-Documents tell us
about the past. History is the study of written documents.]
2. What would you like to be known for in history? Create a book title, using your name, and telling
how you want to be remembered in history. For example, “Jesse Lopez: Guitar Hero of All Time.”
[answers will vary]
2. Topaz
1. Locate Mason on a Texas highway map (J14 on grid). What river runs through Mason County?
[Llano River]
2. What is a “gem?” [a jewel]
3. Make as many shorter words as you can from the letters in “topaz.” [top, to, pat, pot, zot, zap,
at, pa, etc.]
3. 1766 Hurricane at Galveston
1. Locate Galveston on a Texas highway map (M21 on grid).
2. If people today had to evacuate (leave) Galveston before a hurricane, what geographic features
might make that difficult? [island, only one major highway in or out, toll bridge, jam up against Houston—
answers may vary]
3. About 58,000 people live in Galveston today. Using available roads, waterways, and
transportation, make a plan for their evacuation. [answers will vary]
4. Buffalo Gap/Abilene
1. Find Abilene on a Texas highway map (E13 on grid).
2. What natural region is Abilene in? (North Central Plains, Rolling Plains)
3. Abilene grew because of the railroad. About how far is Abilene from Buffalo Gap today? (See
highway 89. Small black numbers indicate mileage.) (6)
4. Buffalo herds roamed this area 200 years ago. Why do you think it would have been a good
place for them? (rolling plains, good grassland)
5. Karankawas
1. The Karankawas live along the coast. What large body of water
borders the Texas coast? [Gulf of Mexico]
2. Karankawas were famous for their tattoos and piercings. Why would
people decorate themselves in this way? [answers will vary—to show membership in a group, to
look good, etc.]
3. Give an example of modern day body decoration. [answers will vary]
6. La Quinta
1. List as many things in the cartoon as you can that would make Texas unsuitable for
development. [snakes, cactus, Indian arrow, wolf, insect, vulture]
7. Gated Community
1. How much land was available to each single man, and also to a family of four, in Austin’s
colony? Use your textbook to find the answers. [single man = 640 acres; family of four = 1,280 acres]
2. A land title, or deed, proves ownership of the land. If the house is not built yet, why would it be
important for a colonist to have a title? [answers will vary—basically to protect ownership]
3. List three things some women might love about living in a new colony. Now list three things they
might not like at all. [answers will vary]
©Moore and Black, 2008
All Rights Reserved
Austin, Texas
Texas Cartoon Warm-up Sampler
10
8. Sam McCullough
1. Locate Goliad on a Texas highway map (O17 on grid). How far is Goliad from Gonzales (M17)?
Use the scale of miles. [about 58 miles]
2. Covering 30 miles per day, how long would it take a rider on horseback to take the news of the
skirmish at Goliad to Gonzales? [about 2 days]
3. Why is Sam McCullough a “patriot?” [he fought for his country]
9. Sam Houston birthday
1. March 2 is Texas Independence Day and also just happens to be Sam Houston’s birthday. How
many years have passed since Sam Houston was 43? [172 in 2008—answers will vary accordingly]
2. What year will it be when you turn 43? [answers will vary]
3. Draw a birthday cake for Sam Houston? How would you decorate it?
10. Champagne and caviar
1. Both champagne and caviar are expensive specialty foods. Why would Santa Anna bring such
foods all the way to Texas by wagon? [answers will vary—he was rich, he felt he deserved it, he was
spoiled, he was elite, he felt superior, etc.]
2. What attitude does Santa Anna display in the cartoon? [answers will vary—arrogant, elitist, etc.]
3. What exactly is champagne? [bubbly wine from France]
4. What exactly is caviar? [salty fish eggs used as a dip or spread]
©Moore and Black, 2008
All Rights Reserved
Austin, Texas