Texas/Cowboys/Rodeo
Texas Books
I'm a Tex
Written by: Jane
Alspaugh & Claire
Copening
Illustrated by Karen
Holdren
Texas Tale
Written by: Jane
Alspaugh & Claire
Copening
Illustrated by Karen
Holdren
Cowboy Books
Cowboy Dan
Written by Margaret
Holcomb
Illustrated by Karen
Holdren
Rodeo Books
Texas Nursery Rhymes
by Sue J. Sheridan, Ed. D., FAAMR
Private Consultant in Special Education
and former Consultant of
Harris County Department of Education
Humpty Dumpty
Humpty Dumpty rode on a horse,
Humpty Dumpty fell off of course.
All the cowgirls and all the cowboys,
Put Humpty Dumpty back with the toys.
Hey Diddle Diddle
Hey diddle diddle the cowboy and the fiddle,
The longhorn jumped over the moon.
The prairie dog laughed to see such a sport,
And the bluebonnets are all in bloom.
This Little Piggy
This little pig went to the rodeo,
This little pig stayed home.
This little pig had barbecue,
This little pig had none.
This little pig said, "Yipee-Yipee-Yi,"
All the way home.
Little Miss Muffet
Little Miss Muffet sat on a saddle,
Eating her cowboy stew.
Along came an armadillo,
And sat down beside her,
Now wouldn't that frighten you?
Old Woman in a Boot
There was an old woman who lived in a boot.
She had so many cowpokes she didn't know what to do.
She gave them some beans without any chili.
She put them to bed because they were silly!
I have each of these nursery rhymes in book form so the
children can leave them in their book boxes for use during
literacy stations.
I also have each nursery rhyme on sentence strips in pocket
charts for read and write the room activities.
Songs and Poems
The Little Cowboy
Sung to: "I'm a Little Teapot"
I'm a little cowboy.
(point to self)
here is my hat.
(point to hat)
Here are my spurs.
(point to your heels)
and here are my chaps.
(pat legs)
As soon as I get up,
(stretch, pretend to wake up)
I work all day.
(pretend to rope a steer)
I get on my horse,
(pretend to get on a horse)
and ride away.
(pretend to gallop on a horse)
Five Little Cowboys
borrowed from The Virtual Vine
http://www.thevirtualvine.com/cowboys.html
5 little cowboys sitting on a gate.
The 1st one said," Gee, rodeos are great!"
The 2nd one said," There are buzzards in the air."
The 3rd one said, "But we don't care."
The 4th one said, "Let's watch the horses run."
The 5th one said, "I'm ready for some fun!"
Ooooooo went the wind and off went their hats,
And the 5 little cowboys fell from where they sat."
T-E-X-A-S
Tune: Bingo
There is a state that I call home and Texas is its name, oh.
T-E-X-A-S, T-E-X-A-S, T-E-X-A-S and Texas is its name, oh.
Music/Reading Connections
by Donna Snell
Die cut five Texas shapes. Place a letter on each. Show the
letters and sing the song. After many repetitions, try adding
claps to replace the letters one at a time. Later ask the children if
they can identify the letters in a mixed-up fashion. Ask the
children to replace them for you in proper sequence.
Good Morning Texas Style
by Tracie Pohlmeyer
Howdy to the cowboy,
Howdy to the prickly pear cactus,
Howdy to the bluebonnet,
Howdy to the rattlesnake too!
Howdy to the cowgirl,
Howdy to the pecan tree,
Howdy to the longhorn,
Howdy to the armadillo too!
12 Day of Rodeo
(In Texas, that is)
by Charlotte Stumpf
sung to: "Twelve Days of Christmas"
On the FIRST day of Rodeo,
My true love gave to me
1 Mockingbird in a pecan tree
On the SECOND day of Rodeo,
My true love gave to me
2 Big Longhorns
On the Third day of Rodeo,
My true love gave to me
3 Cowhands
On the Fourth day of Rodeo,
My true love gave to me
4 Square Dancers
On the Fifth day of Rodeo,
My true love gave to me
5 Bluebonnets
On the Sixth day of Rodeo,
My true love gave to me
6 Flags a-wavin'
On the Seventh day of Rodeo,
My true love gave to me
7 Stetson's dipping
On the Eighth day of Rodeo,
My true love gave to me
8 Boots a-walkin'
On the Ninth day of Rodeo,
My true love gave to me
9 Armadillos
On the Tenth day of Rodeo,
My true love gave to me
10 Red bandanas
On the Eleventh day of Rodeo,
My true love gave to me
11 Cowbells clanging
On the Twelfth day of Rodeo,
My true love gave to me
12 Bowls of chili
The End
This is a big book that we read and each student has
a student book to illustrate.
Opening Activities
I start the Texas unit with a KWL. We list facts we know about Texas, and things we want to know
about Texas, and at the end of the unit, we write the things that we learned about Texas.
This could also be done with cowboys and rodeo.
"See My ..." Wall Cowboy
Borrowed from KinderKorner
www.kinderkorner.com
I bought a cowboy from Carson Dellosa and put him on my bulletin board. On sentence strips, I
write sentences and attach them next to the appropriate part of the cowboy. This activity builds
fluency, sight word vocabulary, and is a fun addition to our Read the Room and Write the Room
literacy stations.
I am a cowboy.
See my lasso.
See my Stetson hat.
See my red bandana.
See my blue shirt.
See my brown chaps.
See my cowboy boots and spurs.
I am a cowboy.
Vocabulary
cowboy
bandana
Texas
rattlesnake
cactus
bluebonnet
cowgirl
vest
lasso
chaps
Lone Star
brand
belt
pecan
bronco
cowpoke
saddle
boots
Austin
corral
cattle
armadillo
rodeo
horse
Texas Vocabulary
Stetson
spurs
Texan
bridle
mockingbird
longhorn
jeans
corral
I use all of my resources to find pictures for my vocabulary pocket chart. Some pictures were in my
files and I found other pictures using Microsoft Clipart. We go over the vocabulary words every
day during the unit. Some of my students just name the pictures and others match the word with the
correct picture. We also use the vocabulary pocket chart during journal writing.
Predictable Books/Language Experience Stories
The Cowpoke Gets Dressed
The hat.
The bandana.
The shirt.
The vest.
The belt.
The jeans.
The chaps.
The boots.
The spurs.
The cowpoke. Me!
I have two copies for the students to illustrate. The boys have a cowboy on their cover and the girls
have cowgirl on their cover.
Rootin', Tootin' Cowboy
Written by Cindy Montgomery
Illustrated by Bobbie Nonenmacher
www.teachersbookbag.com
I am a cowboy.
Here is my hat.
Here is my shirt.
Here is my bandana.
Here are my jeans.
Here are my boots.
Here is my rope.
Here is my horse.
Here is my saddle.
I am a rootin', tootin' cowboy.
This is a must have for your Cowboy unit. Thanks Cindy and Bobbie! The illustrations are
wonderful. I made this book into a pocket chart story so that we can learn the vocabulary before
each student has their copy to color and take home.
Texas, Texas, What Do You See?
This is a shape book that has the same concept as Brown Bear, Brown Bear.
Each page has this frame.
I see a __________ looking at me.
It could be done as a whole group activity or individually. When we do this whole group, I show a
picture and write the word on the white board. For an individual activity, put the frame on a
sentence strip in a pocket chart. Have picture cards with words in the pocket chart so each student
can choose which illustration to use in his/her own book. You could have the entire story in a
pocket chart for read the room activities.
Texas, Texas, What Do You See?
Bluebonnet, bluebonnet, what do you see?
I see a yellow rose looking at me.
Yellow rose, yellow rose, what do you see?
I see a pecan tree looking at me.
Pecan tree, pecan tree, what do you see?
I see a fat armadillo looking at me.
Fat armadillo, fat armadillo, what do you see?
I see a longhorn looking at me.
Longhorn, longhorn, what do you see?
I see a mockingbird looking at me.
Mockingbird, mockingbird, what do you see?
I see the Texas flag looking at me.
Texas flag, Texas flag, what do you see?
I see Austin, Texas' capital, looking at me.
Austin, Austin, what do you see?
I see a cowboy looking at me.
Cowboy, cowboy, what do you see?
I see a cactus looking at me.
Cactus, cactus, what do you see?
I see proud Texans looking at me.
Proud Texans, proud Texans, what do you see?
We see...
A bluebonnet, a yellow rose, a pecan tree, a fat armadillo, a longhorn, a mockingbird, a Texas flag,
Austin, the capital, a cowboy, and a cactus looking at me.
That's what I see!
I copy the book for each student and they illustrate each page.
This is a long book that should be completed over several days. The children love doing books like
this because the language is so predictable.
Language Arts Activities
Readiness Roudup-Western-Theme Readiness Activities for Young Learners
Written and Illustrated by Patricia Rex
This is a great book of blackline masters with reproducible worksheets and patterns that include
visual discrimination, colors and shapes, letters and numbers.
Teacher's Helper
April/May/June 1998
Armadillo Rodeo-Literature
Activities include story recall, classification, problem solving, a story starter, and some art activities.
Giddee Up! Round Up!
Lasting Lessons Thematic Literature Based Unit
www.lastinglessons.com
Math Activities
Math Roundup-Western-Theme Math Activities for Young Learners
Written and Illustrated by Patricia Rex
This is another great book of blackline masters with reproducible worksheet and patterns that
include number recognition, number values, number sequence, and simple addition.
Class Books
After reading T is for Texas and L is for Lone Star, I write the letters A-Z on chart paper. We
brainstorm things that could be used in our book. We list all responses and then we go back and
choose the best response for each letter. I ask for volunteers to illustrate the pages. Our book is
titled "Our Texas ABC's." The cover is a Ellison die-cut of Texas glued on a 9 x 12 piece of
construction paper. The students illustrate on a piece of white paper and then I cut it and put it on a
piece of construction paper. Some students will illustrate more than one page. Each page will have
a frame like this, Angel says, " A is for __________."
After reading lots of stories about cowboys, we make a class book called Cowboys are good at ...
We illustrate the Texas Nursery Rhymes.
Art Activities
TLC Cowboy
www.tlclessons.com
The Cowboy is in the More People book.
Tissue Paper Texas Flag
Copy a blackline of the Texas Flag on tagboard. Glue red, white, and blue tissue paper on the
tagboard to make a beautiful Texas Flag.
Cowboy Sunset
Idea From Kinder Net
Made by Mrs. Eckhoff's Kindergarten Class
Prickly Pear Cactus Painting
Need: Starch, water, green tempra paint, salt, green construction paper
Directions: Mix together 2 T. green tempra paint, 1/4 cup concentrated starch, 1/4 cup water, 1 cup
table salt. Paint a piece of green construction paper with this mixture. The following day, use a
tracer and cut out the pad (modified branch or stem). Add toothpicks for the spines (modified
leaves) and trace a yellow blossom to put on top. Each student makes one and I put them together
for a beautiful Prickly Pear Cactus. On some of the pads, leave off the blossom and use a tracer for
the pear. Use purple construction paper for this.
Playdough Cactus
We recognize the state plant (Prickly Pear Cactus) by making playdough Prickly Pear Cactuses.
Have the children make a pad with green playdough. They can look at pictures of Prickly Pear
cactus on the Internet for a reference. Then they can stick small broken pieces of dry spaghetti into
the playdough for spines. We also add yellow blossoms and purple pears with playdough to some of
the pads.
Bluebonnets
We have a large bluebonnet Ellison die-cut at our school. I die-cut the bluebonnet on green
construction paper. Popped popcorn is colored with dry blue tempra paint. Put the popped popcorn
in a Ziploc bag with a small amount of dry paint. The students glue the popcorn on the bluebonnet.
Use can also use blue and white tissue paper.
Texas Windsock
We start with a 9 x12 piece of blue construction paper. Glue a 6 x 4 1/2 piece of white construction
paper on the right top and a 6 x 4 1/2 piece of red construction paper below the white piece. We
glue a white Ellison die-cut star in the middle on the left. Cut 8 inch pieces of red and white crepe
paper to hang from the bottom. Roll the paper and staple.
Cowboys and Cowgirls
Each students paints a small paper plate their skin tone. I have tracers for the rest of the body parts
and the cowboy clothing.
Stick Horses
During the first week of our unit, each student brings in a mop handle or dowel stick. The horse
heads are cut from large brown grocery sacks. The mane of the horse is the color (yellow) of our
bandanas. Each student draws a face on his/her horse. Then we stuff the heads with newspaper. I
use duck tape to attach the head to the stick. Baling twine is used for the reins.
Armadillos
I copy an armadillo onto white tagboard. The students color the armadillo gray and then add gray
painted elbow macaroni for armor.
These are some other armadillo activities that I found while writing my unit.
http://www.janbrett.com/armadillo_carton_project_page.htm
http://www.janbrett.com/learn_to_draw_an_armadillo.htm
http://www.janbrett.com/make_a_pie_plate_armadillo.htm
Rattlesnakes
I copy a rattlesnake on brown construction paper. Each student has one to cut out. Then they glue
orange die-cut diamonds on the back of the rattlesnake.
Pecan Leaf
I copy a leaf pattern on green colored paper. Each student has one to cut out. Then your students
will glue tissue paper squares on the leaf. One year I was out of green tissue paper, and couldn't
find any in bulk quantity on a short notice, so I used green crepe paper rolls and cut them into
squares. It makes a stiffer leaf. After they are dry, I hot glue a pecan on each leaf and add them to
my tree on the bulletin board (instant Pecan Tree). If you don't have any pecans, just use brown
bulletin board paper.
Texas Pasta
I have a Texas with a stem and leaves of a bluebonnet on it that I copy on tagboard. The students
cut it out and color the stem and leaves of the bluebonnet. Then I fingerprint bluebonnet flowers on
it. I dye Texas shaped pasta red and they glue around the outside of the Texas. I glue them to a
blue piece of paper and we make our Texas quilt.
Social Studies Activity
Regional Map
We recognize the shape of Texas with a regional map. I have a copy of Texas and we glue in the
seven regions. This is done as a whole group activity. Each region is a different color. After we
glue in each piece, the students glue on the regional names.
History
Texas Symbols
http://www.dot.state.tx.us/kidsonly/TexasPg/pdfs/texassymbols.pdf
Science Activities
Pan for Gold
Paint small rocks with gold paint. Put these in sand and let your children "Pan for Gold!" We have
used this activity as a side show for our Kindergarten Rodeo for the past three years. The buckaroos
love to keep several pieces of gold to show their parents.
Western Sorting With Tongs
made by Vicki Bates and Elizabeth Pennartz
PO Box 260333
Plano, TX 75026-0333
Using tongs, sort alike items onto the corresponding labeled circle.
Journal Writing
Cowboys can ...
Texas is ...
If I was a cowboy/cowgirl, I would ...
I like Texas because ....
Texas is a great state because ...
Home Project
I send home a cowboy hat on tagboard to be decorated for our Texas quilt.
Cooking Ideas
S'Mores
While sitting around the campfire, your cowpokes will surely love this treat.
Ingredients:
Bag of Marshmallows
Hershey's Chocolate Bars
Graham Crackers
Instructions:
Split a Graham Cracker in half. Place half of the Graham Cracker on a paper plate, then put a small
piece of Hershey's Chocolate Bar on top of that, next add a large marshmallow, top with the other
half of the Graham Cracker. Place in microwave for 20 seconds. After you take the S'Mores out of
the microwave, press the Graham Crackers together. Enjoy!
Corn Fritters
1 cup all purpose flour
1 T. granulated sugar
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup milk
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 T. margarine or butter, melted
1/2 can whole kernel corn, drained
shortening or cooking oil for deep frying
powered sugared
Combine the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt in a medium mixing bowl. Add milk,
egg, margarine or butter, and corn. Stir just till moistened. Drop batter by tablespoons, about 4 at a
time, into deep hot fat(365 degrees). Cook for 4-5 minutes or until golden brown, turning once.
Drain on paper towels. Makes about 12 fritters.
Texas Cow Chips
2 c. butter
2 c. each of white and brown sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
2 c. each of oats and bran flakes
1 12 oz. package of chocolate chips
1 6 oz. peanut butter chips
1 c. raisins
4 eggs
2 Tbs. vanilla
4 c. flour
2 tsp. each of baking powder and baking soda
1 c. each of pecans and coconuts
Beat butter and sugars together until blended. Add eggs and vanilla and beat until smooth. In a
separate bowl, combine flour, salt baking powder and soda. Gradually add to sugar mixture and stir
well. Stir in remaining ingredients. Drop cookies with a quarter cup measure onto lightly greased
cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Store in an airtight
container between sheets of wax paper.
Texas Biscuits
2 cups self-rising flour
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp. baking soda
Mix all these ingredients together then roll out dough. Cut and bake at 350 degrees for about 7-9
minutes.
Texas Tumbleweeds
1 can (12 oz.) salted peanuts
1 can (7 oz.) potato sticks
3 cups butterscotch chips
3 T. peanut butter
Combine peanuts and potato sticks in a bowl: set aside. In a microwave, heat butterscotch chips and
peanut butter at 70% power for 1-2 minutes or until melted, stirring every 30 seconds. Add to
peanut mixture; stir to coat evenly. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto waxed paper-lined baking
sheets. Refrigerate until set, about 5 minutes. Store in an airtight container. Yields about 4 1/2
dozen.
Just for Fun
Each year, I turn my home center (this year it was the library center) into a Cowboy Corral complete
with wooden horse, saddle, campfire, bean pot, hats, bandanas, vests, boots, and spurs. This is part
of the center rotation for the unit.
After reading Armadillo Rodeo by Jan Brett go to her website and color this page.
http://www.janbrett.com/armadillo_coloring_page.htm
Western Bingo
made by Vicki Bates and Elizabeth Pennartz
PO Box 260333
Plano, TX 75026-0333
Kindergarten Stick Horse Rodeo
Trail Ride
Grand Entry
Rodeo
Bucking Bronco
Barrel Racing
Buddy Pick-Up
Flag Relay
Cattle Branding
Wild Bull Riding
Hay Hauling
Side Shows
Pan for Gold
Steer Roping
Hayride
Dipper Relay
Horseshoe Pitching
Western Dancing
Cowboy Photos
Dress the Cowboy
Face Painting
Bean Bag Toss
This is one of the biggest events that we do in Kindergarten. Each classroom has a ranch name. We
carry our ranch signs in the trail ride and grand entry. Our name is Pohlmeyer's Prancing "P"
Ranch. We each have a designated ranch color and we wear the same color bandanas.
Field Trip
Each year, we go to Matagorda County Fairgrounds as a culminating activity for this unit. We do
this unit during the Matagorda County Fair and Rodeo. When we get to the fairgrounds, we have
parent volunteers help each class by walking with 2-4 students. They have an opportunity to visit
the petting zoo, watch judging of animals, and see the livestock used in the rodeo.
Bulletin Board Ideas
Rodeo Roundup
T is for Texas
Cowpokes From Texas
It's Rodeo Time
Do you know who this cowpoke is?
I took each student's picture on my classroom "horse." The bandana was pulled up over each
cowpoke's nose so it would be hard to tell who it was.
Wanted
I've wanted to do this bulletin board for several years. I used the same photos from the Do you
know who this cowpoke is? bulletin board. We came up with a name for each child. I found a
wanted font on my eMac for the print. My instructional assistant did a little cut and paste. Then she
Xeroxed originals to manila construction paper. She took the posters home to burn the edges and
then glued the pictures to the posters.
Other Links
http://www.texas.gov/
http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/
http://www.senate.state.tx.us/kids/Trivia.htm
http://www.netstate.com/states/intro/tx_intro.htm
http://www.janbrett.com/piggybacks/piggybacks_armadillo_rodeo.htm
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