Texas, Our Texas: Engage & Explore Engage: Students recall prior knowledge of Texas and Texas environments. Explore: Students use maps and photographs to identify characteristics of the ecoregions of Texas.

Engage: Which of these types of places can be found in Texas? a. Deserts b. Canyons c. Mountains d. Beaches e. Meadows of wildflowers f. Swamps g. Pine forests

All of them! a. Deserts —Chihuahuan Desert b. Canyons—Palo Duro Canyon c. Mountains—Guadalupe Mountains d. Beaches—Galveston Beach e. Meadows of wildflowers—Hill Country/Central Texas f. Swamps—Daisetta Swamp, Liberty County g. Pine forests—Big Thicket National Preserve

Chihuahua Desert of Texas

Palo Duro Canyon

Galveston Beach

Hill Country

Daisetta Swamp

Pine Forest

Explore: Students use maps and photographs to identify characteristics of the ecoregions of Texas.

Eco-regions of Texas • What is the title of this map? What two words are joined together to create the word eco-region? ecological + region = eco-region • What is the root word for ecological? (ecology) What does ecology mean? Ecology is the study of the environment. This includes the study of the interactions of living organisms with their natural environment. • What does region mean? A region is an area of land. • What do you think eco-region means? the study of the environment of a particular area of land • How many eco-regions are shown on this map? 12

We will focus on 5 Eco-regions Find and color the following areas on RM 1 Piney Woods (GREEN) Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes (BLUE) Edwards Plateau/Llano Uplift* (YELLOW) High Plains (RED) Trans Pecos/Chihuahuan Desert (BROWN).

Each group will focus on a different eco-region (modify as needed) Table 2= Piney Woods Table 3= Gulf Coast Table 4= Edwards Plateau Table 5= High Plains Table 6= Trans Pecos Table 8= Piney Woods Table 9= Gulf Coast Table 10= Edwards Plateau