Natural Texas and its People: Module 1

On the top of page 4… Describe San Antonio in a few words. Climate, soil, landforms, animal life, vegetation, language, religion, population distribution, political/economic systems Think back to 6th grade.

You just named the physical and human characteristics of San Antonio You just named the physical and human characteristics of San Antonio. We learned about this in 6th grade and now we are going to apply what we learned to the Texas regions. BUT FIRST…….

Intro to Texas http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwNLp6lb QRw&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode =1&safe=active

Physical Characteristics Landforms Landforms: features on Earth’s surface. Can you name some landforms? Texas has 4 major landforms: hills, mountains, plains, and plateaus.

Plains Plains are areas of flat land without a sharp rise or fall in elevation.

Plateaus Areas of flat elevated land that drops sharply on one or more sides.

Hills and Mountains

Water Texas has several water features: lakes, rivers and streams Water from all of the rivers and streams in Texas eventually flow into the Gulf of Mexico. Texas has few natural lakes but many man made. Aquifers are formations of natural gravel, rock and sand that trap and hold rainwater underground. Aquifers provide water for farms, homes and industry.

Water pics LBJ Lake (man made) Caddo Lake (natural lake)

Edwards Aquifer

Climate Climate is the weather at a particular place over a period of years. Climate is affected by location: distance from equator, proximity to large bodies of water

Vegetation and Wildlife Climate, landforms and soil all help to determine where a plant will grow. Brush, bushes, grasses, trees, wildflowers Vegetation of Texas provides a habitat to a wide variety of animals. Armadillos, bears, deer, javelinas, prairie hens, raccoons, wildcats, skunks, wild turkey and wolves Alligators, catfish, oysters, redfish, shrimp

Agricultural Energy Natural Resources Crops and animals Timber Oil, coal and natural gas

Geographers used climate, landforms, plant life and soil to divide the United States into geographic regions (think back to 6th grade!). They do the same for Texas…dividing it into 4 natural regions: Coastal Plains - Piney Woods (sub-region) North Central Plains Great Plains Mountains and Basins

Let’s color and label the regions… N. Central Plains Piney Woods (sub-region) Great Plains Mountains & Basins Coastal Plains

The Coastal Plains Region

Location Covers 1/3 of the land of Texas Includes the Piney Woods (sub region)

Geographic Features: Flat and low Wooded land and coastal sands Good soil along rivers Gulf of Mexico is main border

Climate: Hot, humid summers, mild winters Weather Problems: Hurricanes Tornadoes Droughts

Natural Resources: Bodies of water Good soil/climate for farming Oil and gas Factories Ports

Major Cities (southern part): Houston San Antonio Brownsville Galveston This is the most populated region

The Karankawa The Coastal Plains

Look at your IAN and your notes about the Coastal Plains Region. Based on what you know about the region, make at least 2 assumptions about the Karankawa. Shelter, food, clothing, tools….

Location Coastal Plains Settlements near present-day Galveston south to Corpus Christi Bay nomads Fall/Winter- near Gulf Coast Spring/Summer-near rivers and springs on the coastal prairie

Shelter Portable wigwams (circular huts) Made from bent poles Covered with animal skin Floors were covered with reed mats Could house 7-8 people

Food Hunters and gatherers Hunters Gatherers Men Wooden bows and arrows to hunt/fish Fish traps Dugout canoes Gatherers Women Collected plants, birds’ eggs, shellfish Rumored to be cannibals- not true Not for food but for “magic power”

Clothing Deer skin or grass skirts Men and women painted themselves with bright colors Used alligator fat and dirt to repel the insects Is this an example of adapting or modifying? Why?

Culture Unusually tall Kept dogs similar to coyotes or fox Skeleton found of person 6 feet Kept dogs similar to coyotes or fox Name believed to mean dog-lovers Treated children with kindness Given 2 names One was secret which only family members knew Secret name was thought to carry magic and protection from danger

Contact with Europeans 1500s- Cabeza de Vaca Feared by Europeans who wanted their land Why did Europeans want their land? Diseases killed many Fought with other groups Vanished by the mid-1800s Why do you think they vanished? How could they have adapted/modified?

Cabeza de Vaca

Output Look back at your notes about the Coastal Plains region and the Karankawa Native Americans. Write a diary entry from the view point of a Karankawa teenager. (at least 5 sentences) What was life like for them? Hardships, entertainment, food… ** Complete in your IAN

What are the characteristics of the Coastal Plains Warm Up What are the characteristics of the Coastal Plains

The Piney Woods (Sub-Region)

Location Part of the pine forest that covers the entire southern United States from the Atlantic Ocean to Texas. Located in far east Texas

Geographical Features Most of the land is rolling hills Tall pine trees

Climate Wettest climate in Texas Part of tornado alley

Natural Resources Timber Farming Oil Water sources Gum, hickory, oak, and pine trees Farming Rich soil and wet climate Oil Water sources Creeks, lakes, rivers Big Thicket National Preserve

Major Cities Longview Dallas Texarkana

The Caddo The Piney Woods

Location The Caddo were found in East Texas This is in the Piney Woods region

Shelter They lived in Dome shaped homes Some were very large They were a settled community…non-nomadic

The Caddo were hunters (buffalo), gatherers (seeds, etc), and farmers(Corn, beans, squash)

The Caddo wore buffalo hide They often tattooed their faces

The Caddo were a very peaceful group The men were expert hunters The women made pottery Both men and women tended to the crops The adults often bound children’s heads to make them longer and narrow

European Contact The Caddo had contact with both the Spanish and the French “Caddo” comes from the French word meaning “real chief”

Output Compare and contrast the Karankawa with the Caddo tribes using a Venn Diagram. Give as many similarities and as many differences for each ** Complete in your IAN

Warm Up What Adaptations did the Caddo Native American Tribe make to live in the Piney Woods?

The North Central Plains

Location: Part of the Great Central Plains of the US and Canada

Geographic Features: Rolling grassy lands Thick grasses Limestone rock Higher elevation because limestone doesn't wear down easily

Climate: Dry air Tornadoes

Resources: Fertile lands: watermelons, oats, cattle, angora goats Cedar trees: fenceposts Oil and gas Limestone Minerals Streams

Major Cities: Fort Worth Abilene Wichita Falls

The North Central Plains The Wichita The North Central Plains

Look at your IAN and your notes about the North Central Plains region. Based on what you know about the region, make at least 2 assumptions about the Wichita. Shelter, food, clothing, tools….

Wee-Ta-Ra-Sha-Ro, Head Chief of the Wichita Wee-Ta-Ra-Sha-Ro, Head Chief of the Wichita. Painted by George Catlin in 1834

Location Central Plains Along the Red River Originally from Kansas/Oklahoma moved to Texas in 1700s Lived along creeks and rivers

Shelter Lived in permanent villages Round house Made with cedar poles Covered with dried grass Very durable Large Hole in center for smoke from fire Is this adapting or modifying?

Farmers: Grew beans, corn, melons, and squash Food Hunted buffalo Ate it raw Did NOT eat fish Farmers: Grew beans, corn, melons, and squash

Clothing Made from tanned hide Men Women Shirts, loin cloths, leggings, moccasins Women Dresses that covered chin to ankle decorated with elk teeth, moccasins

Culture Organized into 4 confederacies Tattooed their bodies Waco, Tonkawa, Tawakoni and the Wichita Tattooed their bodies Many and unusual designs Called selves Kitikiti’sh (raccoon eyes)

Contact with Europeans First with Coronado in late 1500s Traded tanned hide disease Later moved to reservation in Oklahoma

Output Using your notes on the Wichita and North Central Plains: Draw a sketch of what a Wichita Village would look like. Make sure you include the homes, food, clothing… ** Complete in your IAN

Great Plains

Location Part of the Great Plains of the US and Canada Most of the Panhandle and Edwards Plateau

Geographic Features Flat Few trees Canyons in North (Palo Duro Canyon) Higher elevation than Central Plains Cap Rock Escarpment Edwards Plateau

Climate Dry air Hot summers Cold winters Dust storms

Resources Farming - cotton, wheat (irrigation from wells) Ranching - cattle, sheep, goat Oil and gas in the Permian Basin

Major Cities Amarillo Lubbock Midland Odessa Kerrville

Comanche Great Plains

Look at your IAN and your notes about the Great Plains region. Based on what you know about the region, make at least 2 assumptions about the Comanche. Shelter, food, clothing, tools….

Location Great Plains Moved to Texas in 1700s after acquiring horses Drove out other tribes for the land Jumanos, Apache

Shelter Tepees Nomadic- covered hundreds of miles a year Items were lightweight and sturdy(leather and woven basket)-Little pottery Women would pack and move the tepees

Food Buffalo Hunters-gatherers Men-hunt Women- gathered plants On a daily basis women gathered most of the foods.

(Preparing for buffalo hunt) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPA64RTf NiI&feature=related&safety_mode=true&persi st_safety_mode=1&safe=active (Preparing for buffalo hunt)

Clothing Well dressed Leaders wore European clothing with many silver conchos Leather boots

Culture Lived in bands headed by a peace chief (older man) When at war one temporary chief and War chief- best rider and fighter Skilled buffalo hunters Made them wealthy Traded for goods Skilled fighters Controlled most of the plains

Horses 1680- from Spanish Called “finest light cavalry in the world” Expert riders and fighters Used horses to have advantage in fights

Contact with Europeans Traded with Spanish Came to trade in organized groups One Comanche who could speak Spanish, French and 4 or 5 languages One Comanche who was skilled trader and diplomat Most of what they sold they had stolen Horses Kidnapped people whose family would come to buy them back (ransom) This later would cause big problems with the American settlers Kept Spanish from moving north- Spanish could not defeat them

http://www. youtube. com/watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbd1trNz9 bY&feature=related&safety_mode=true&persi st_safety_mode=1&safe=active (Speaking the Dakota language)

http://www. youtube. com/watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9ICbZVs 9TU&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode =1&safe=active (Lakota people from the Great Plains were actual natives depicted in the movie)

Output Compare and contrast the Comanche with another Native American tribe using a Venn Diagram. You may chose any that we have studied. Give at least 2 similarities and 2 differences for each ** Complete in your IAN

Mountains and Basins

Location Far west Texas East border is Great Plains South border is the country of Mexico North border is the state of New Mexico

Geographic Features 150 mountains in the mountain ranges Plateaus and basins (think back to 6th grade) Deserts Pecos and Rio Grande Rivers Big Bend National Park

Climate Driest part of state Only 8 inches of rain per year on average Hot days, cool nights

Resources Plants - short grasses, shrubs, desert plants in plateaus and basins; pine forests in mountains Ranching - cattle, sheep, goat Farming - cotton, fruits, vegetables, cantaloupes (irrigation in El Paso and Pecos River Valley) Oil and gas - part of Permian Basin

Major Cities El Paso Pecos Fort Davis Alpine

The Jumano Mountains and Basins

Look at your IAN and your notes about the Mountains and Basins region. Based on what you know about the region, make at least 2 assumptions about the Jumano. Shelter, food, clothing, tools….

Location Mountains and Basins Region Along the Rio Grande

Shelter Permanent houses of adobe brick Large villages Dried clay Cool in summer 30-40 people in house Flat roofs Painted black, red, white and yellow stripes on the inside wall Large villages

Food Grew corn and other crops near river Gathered wild plants River would overflow and water fields Gathered wild plants Hunted buffalo with bow and arrow

Clothing Animal hide Moccasins Softened by beating with stones Moccasins Jewelry made from copper, coral and turquoise Hair Women- long and tied Men- short on sides, long in middle and curled with paint, decorated with feathers

Culture Tattooed and painted their faces Decline began with a drought in 1500s Crops died and buffalo moved Under constant attack by Apache Eventually joined other Native American groups

Contact with Europeans Traded with Spanish

Output List 2 ways the Jumanos did or could have adapted to their Texas environment and 2 ways they did or could havemodified their Texas environment. ** Complete in your IAN