Battle of Palo Alto Lesson Plan

Battle of Palo Alto Lesson Plan

Mexican War, 1846-1848

Palo Alto, Battle of (Texas : 1846)

War

Battle

National Park Service

Treaty of Guadalupe

United States. Army

The battle that took place in Palo Alto was the first of many that occurred during the Mexican-American War. It took place on May 8, 1846 in Brownsville, Texas. The battle initiated a series of events that would change the course of history for both nations. The Mexican-American War occurred because America wanted to expand its territory across all of the North American continent as they wanted to fulfill America’s “Manifest Destiny”. Furthermore, the loss of sovereignty in its northern frontier was Mexico’s motive to fight in the war as their people had developed and settled across it since the 16th century. Mexico faced many invading forces including one led by General Zachary Taylor who later became the 12th president of the U.S. The war ended in February 2, 1848 with Mexico signing the Treaty of Guadalupe that awarded the United States an additional 525,000 square miles (land that makes up present day Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming).

Grade 3

Aisha G.

Karina O.

UTRGV College of Education

EDCI3335-32

Spring 2019

University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Special Collections and University Archives

1846

University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

UTRGV College of Education

Stephanie Anckle

G., Aisha, and O., Karina. (2019). Lesson Plan for Battle of Palo Alto Lesson Plan. Retrieved from https://rgvprimarysourceguides.omeka.net/items/show/97

PDF

English

LessonPlan-PaloAlto-Gonzalez

Brownsville, Texas

NC SCOS Essential Standards and Clarifying Objectives
(1) History. The student understands how individuals, events, and ideas have influenced
the history of various communities. The student is expected to:
(A) describe how individuals, events, and ideas have changed communities, past
and present;
(B) identify individuals who have helped to shape communities;

Students will be able to describe how the community of Brownsville has changed.
Students will be able to identify the individuals who helped shape how Brownsville is today.

Paper
Computer
Internet
Presentation software
Pencils

3 days

Essential Questions:
Where did the battle of Palo Alto take place?
What weakened the Mexican army troops?

Rationale: In this lesson the students will make connections on their prior knowledge of Brownsville and the new information of Palo Alto.

Methods: The first step was to get authentic information using articles, maps, and photographs from the UTRGV Special Collections and Archives. After gathering the information we needed, we saw some videos and pictures of the Palo Alto battlefield to experience and make connections on what we had read.

Theoretical framework: This lesson plan will be functional if you are looking for local history.

Keywords: Congress, Territory, Mexican-American, Independence, Draft, Army

Introduction
Summary:
The purpose of this lesson is to help students understand the Battle of Palo Alto which happened in the Rio Grande Valley. The Battle of Palo Alto was the first battle of the Mexican-American War. Palo Alto recalls the scenes described by soldiers in dozen of letters and diaries entries. By the students understanding the history of Palo Alto, they will gain outlook of their local history.

Background:
The battle that took place in Palo Alto was the first of many that occurred during the Mexican-American War. It took place on May 8, 1846 in Brownsville, Texas. The battle initiated a series of events that would change the course of history for both nations. The Mexican-American War occurred because America wanted to expand its territory across all of the North American continent as they wanted to fulfill America’s “Manifest Destiny”. Furthermore, the loss of sovereignty in its northern frontier was Mexico’s motive to fight in the war as their people had developed and settled across it since the 16th century. Mexico faced many invading forces including one led by General Zachary Taylor who later became the 12th president of the U.S. The war ended in February 2, 1848 with Mexico signing the Treaty of Guadalupe that awarded the United States an additional 525,000 square miles (land that makes
up present day Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming).

Place-Pedagogy Education:
Place-Based Education is an approach that connects learning and communities with the primary goals of increasing student engagement, boosting academic outcomes, impacting communities, and promoting understanding of the world around us. It emphasizes hands on and
it is always related to real-world learning experience. The benefits of Place-Based Education are that learning is grounded in local communities and contexts, the students experience student
centered and personalized learning, and it is relevant and engaging. Another benefit is that it boosts students achievement, students connect with a place, and it creates a partnership between
schools and communities. The lessons can be inquiry-based and the students can gain better understanding of the world around them. Research has shown that place-based education has increased student achievement. The students use local as one of the primary resources for
learning. For example, my lesson plan is on the Battle of Palo Alto. I would used place-based education by having a field trip to the battlefield so the students lesson will be more relevant. The students get to make connections with what they learned and what they will see and it broaden their educational experiences. The students will get motivated and engaged in an active learning experience.

Methods
Name of lesson:
The Battle at Palo Alto

Grade level, population, and subject:
This is an elementary school lesson that can be taught to teach students how Texas came to be. This lesson is aligned to the social studies standards that are listed for third grade.

Procedure:
Any artifacts such as pictures, brochures, and newspapers that are used during this lesson are from the UTRGV Special Collections and Archives.

Subject / grade level: History 3rd grade

Materials: See powerpoint and anchor video
NC SCOS Essential Standards and Clarifying Objectives
(1) History. The student understands how individuals, events, and ideas have influenced
the history of various communities. The student is expected to:
(A) describe how individuals, events, and ideas have changed communities, past
and present;
(B) identify individuals who have helped to shape communities;

Lesson objective(s):
● Students will be able to describe how the community of Brownsville has changed
● Students will be able to identify the individuals who helped shape how Brownsville is today

Differentiation strategies to meet diverse learner needs:
● ELL's modification: The modifications will be available for English
language learners to make sure it is clear to them what it is that the
teacher wants them to demonstrate while approaching the problem in a
nonrestrictive way.For ELL's the teacher will ask the students to verbally
respond and record their responses; this allows them to communication
with the teacher and share their understanding of the material in a way
that does not create a language barrier. The teacher will read the
assignment closely, use sentence stems, and model instructions and
directions.
● Special Education modifications: The modifications will be provided
such as extended time to read, think about, and answer questions. Special education students will be given an outline of the lesson and teacher will read out loud the directions, so the student has a better understanding of what is expected from them. The student will work with fewer items per page, will have more time to work on projects/assignments, and take frequent breaks if needed.
● GT students modifications: The modifications will be provided such as
expanding their learning by asking them open ended and higher order
thinking questions.

ENGAGEMENT
● The teacher will show a short video on the Palo Alto Battlefield.
● The teacher will ask a higher order question and have a class discussion to activate prior knowledge.

EXPLORATION
● The teacher will begin by presenting students with a PowerPoint about the important individuals that had a part in the Palo Alto Battlefield.
● The teacher will ask questions regarding the PowerPoint to keep students engaged, for recall, and build foundation for new knowledge.
● Half of the students in the classroom will be given a card with a name of an important individual that fought in the battle of Palo Alto.
● The other half of the students in the classroom will be given a card with details about an individual who fought in the battle of Palo Alto.
● Students will then be asked to calmly walk around the room to look for their peer holding the card that corresponds to their own.
● After 5 minutes students will then read what is in their cards with their
partners to be evaluated on how much they learned about the individuals who helped changed the community into what it is today.

EXPLANATION
● The lesson will begin by presenting students with a power point that
describes the differences between the past and present day of
Brownsville, Texas.
● They will then be asked to answer the following question as a class:
“what do you think is different between the past and present?”
● Students will then be instructed to work in groups of 4 to make a Venn
diagram that lists the differences between past and present day of
Brownsville
● They will present their Venn diagram to the rest of the class

ELABORATION
● The lesson will begin by asking the students what they remember about the previous two lessons: “What do you remember about the Battle at Palo Alto?”, “Who took part in the battle and what was their role in it?”.
● The students will then construct a three section foldable showcasing what they have learned the past few lessons.
● The foldable should contain information about the battle at Palo Alto on the left fold and information about the individuals who participated in the battle on the right fold.
● In the middle of the fold students will draw what they believe the battle field may have looked like in the past and then draw what it looks like in the present.

EVALUATION
● Summative Assessment:
1) When did the Battle of Palo Alto happen?
a. May 8, 1846
b. May 5, 1845
c. February 2, 1848
d. September 6, 1994

2) Where did the Battle of Palo Alto take place?
a. Weslaco, Texas
b. Austin, Texas
c. Brownsville, Texas
d. San Antonio, Texas

3) How would you describe what is in the picture above?
a. The Mexican side is signing the Treaty of Guadalupe.
b. The Mexican side is welcoming the American side to their land.
c. The Mexican side and the American side are battling with each other for land.
d. The American side is retreating from the battle that is taking place.

4) What summarization best describes the Battle of Palo Alto?
a. The United States wanted to gain Mexico. The Mexican soldiers weren’t prepared, there poor equipment helped the United States win Mexico territory.
b. Mexico refused to recognize Texas or Rio Grande River as an independent nation. Congress declared war and as a result of the war the United States gained three Mexican states.
c. Mexico wanted the United States and declared war. Due to America’s soldiers poor training and equipment Mexico won the battle of Palo Alto.
d. The United States fired a cannon ball towards Mexico by accident and the war began.

5)The battle of Palo Alto was part of which War?
a. The Mexican-American War.
b. The American Civil War.
c. The Spanish-American War.
d. The War of 1812.

6)What event happened in 1848?
a. The Mexican-American war ended.
b. Mexico surrendered.
c. General Taylor passed away.
d. Zachary Taylor became the 12th president of the United States.

7)Why did the battle of Palo Alto occurred?
a. Mexico wanted to expand their land across the North American continent.
b.The American side was afraid of losing land that they had developed since the 16th century.
c. Mexico wanted to combine their land with the U.S.
d. Mexico refused to recognize Texas or Rio Grande River as an independent nation.

8) What did the United States gain from the war?
a. The United States won the Western part of Mexico.
b. The United States gained territory in New Mexico.
c. The United States gained control over three Northeastern Mexican States.
d. The United States gained control over Mexico.

9)What would have happened if General Taylor had not moved a force into
Texas to defend the Rio Grande border?
a. He would had become President sooner.
b. The Rio Grande River would had still been part of Mexico.
c. Mexico and the United States would be partners.
d.

10) What helped the United States from defeating Mexico?
a. The United States had 200 more soldiers than Mexico.
b. Mexico had poor weapons, equipment, and training compared to the United states.
c. Mexico had less soldiers than the United States.
d. The United States had a lot of support for other counties.