1. 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.

2. 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

3. 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

4. Chihuahua Desert of Texas

5. Palo Duro Canyon

7. Galveston Beach

8. Hill Country

9. Daisetta Swamp

10. Pine Forest

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

13. 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

14. 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).

15. 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