CPE: Tejano Contributions to the Texas Revolution

Course Title and Overview:

Tejano Contributions to the Texas Revolution: San Antonio's Role in Shaping History through Living History and Material Culture

This 8-hour CPE course provides educators with a dynamic, hands-on exploration of Tejano contributions to the Texas Revolution, emphasizing the significance of San Antonio during the conflict. The course integrates living history elements with a focus on material culture—artifacts, clothing, tools, and weapons—used by Tejanos and other figures involved in the Revolution. Participants will engage in both a Zoom session for the theoretical and historical foundation of the topic, followed by a hands-on field craft session for interactive, real-world applications. This course aligns with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) standards, offering practical strategies for incorporating living history and material culture into history lessons to bring the past to life for students.

Target Audience:

This course is ideal for K-12 educators, particularly those teaching social studies, history, and Texas history, who wish to explore the role of Tejanos in the Texas Revolution and learn to incorporate living history and material culture into their teaching to create an immersive classroom experience.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the significant contributions of Tejanos to the Texas Revolution and their impact on the course of events.
2. Examine the role of San Antonio during the Texas Revolution, focusing on key battles and historical events.
3. Explore material culture from the period, including clothing, weapons, tools, and artifacts used by Tejanos and others involved in the Revolution.
4. Learn how to incorporate living history and material culture into lessons to engage students with Texas history.
5. Gain skills in using primary sources and artifacts to create immersive and interactive classroom experiences.
6. Apply TEKS standards for teaching history while emphasizing cultural inclusivity and diverse perspectives in the classroom.

Course Structure:

• Morning Session (Zoom - 4 hours):
  • Introduction to the Texas Revolution and Tejano Contributions: Overview of the Texas Revolution and Tejano involvement, focusing on key Tejano figures and their impact. Exploration of San Antonio's central role in battles, military strategies, and the political climate of the Revolution. Discussion on the historical context of Tejanos and their crucial influence on the Texas Revolution.
  • Exploring Material Culture: Virtual examination of period-specific artifacts, including Tejano clothing (charro attire, traditional dress), weapons (muskets, knives, sabers), and tools used during the Revolution. Use of digital resources such as images, videos, and 3D models of artifacts to analyze and understand their significance in the context of the Revolution. Discussion on how material culture shapes our understanding of history and the everyday lives of the people who participated in the Revolution.
  • Zoom Discussion on Teaching Methods: Strategies for integrating living history and material culture into K-12 classrooms. How to use artifacts, images, and virtual resources to create an interactive, engaging curriculum. Q&A session and collaborative brainstorming on incorporating these elements into lesson plans aligned with TEKS standards.
• Afternoon Field Craft Session (4 hours):
  • Living History Demonstrations and Hands-On Exploration: Participants will engage in a field craft session where they will handle and explore replicas of period-specific artifacts such as Tejano clothing, weapons, and everyday tools. Demonstrations of living history techniques, including the handling of muskets, knives, and sabers, and discussion on their use in the Revolution. Guided role-playing exercises where participants will adopt historical personas and simulate key moments from the Revolution. Field exploration of historical sites or replica settings where participants can observe and interact with life-size displays and reenactments that demonstrate how Tejanos lived and fought during the Revolution.
  • Material Culture Integration in the Classroom: Teachers will work in groups to develop lesson plans that incorporate field craft experiences and material culture into history lessons. Collaborative creation of activities like artifact analysis, role-playing, and immersive history days that bring the past to life for students. Group presentations on proposed lesson plans and classroom strategies, followed by feedback from peers and facilitators.

Assessment & Evaluation:

• Group Discussions and Lesson Plan Development: Participants will collaboratively develop lesson plans that incorporate living history and material culture, focusing on engaging students with the Texas Revolution.
• Written Reflection: A short reflective essay on how the use of material culture and living history will enhance the educator's classroom practices and teaching of the Texas Revolution.
• Formative Quiz: A quiz covering the historical content, key figures, and material culture related to Tejano participation in the Texas Revolution.

Participant feedback will be collected through an evaluation form to assess the content, delivery, and applicability of the course for classroom use. A certificate of completion and 8 CPE hours will be awarded to all participants.

Takeaways:

• A comprehensive understanding of Tejano contributions to the Texas Revolution and San Antonio's role in shaping the state's history.

Credit Hours: 8
Teacher Course registration: $200.00
Course materials provided.
Nearby Parking and meals are separate.

Schedule:

• Friday, June __, 2025 (Morning on Zoom): Virtual Zoom Meeting and independent work focused on lectures, readings, and discussions. Describe Living History techniques and its use in classrooms.
• Friday, June __, 2025 (Afternoon Field Craft Session): Guided tour of historic sites significant to San Antonio's founding history of its settlements, people and landmarks dating back to the Spanish Colonial Era. The tour visits Main Plaza/Plaza de las Islas Canarias, San Fernando Cathedral, the Spanish Governors Palace. At the Casa Navarro State Historic Site, the tour visit will include a hands-on lesson in making adobe bricks and a flintlock arms demonstration.