Texas - The Lone Star State

Texas is so big, one Field Trip is just not enough! So at Maps101, we have an entire Field Trip Library collection dedicated to the Lone Star State. Students can learn about the Spanish influence on Texas, details of famous Texans, the cattle and the oil industries, how the state gained independence, the Alamo, and more. Each Field Trip is an interactive tour with visuals, a map, and full text that explains the topic. Project them on the board and go through them as a group, assign them on tablets at desks or in groups, or have students go through them as homework. However you use Field Trips, they will engage student interest and help them identify locations on a map, supporting geography skills while studying multiple topics from different subject areas. This week, encourage students to learn more about Texas as we continue to focus on the #SummerofWhere here at Maps101.

Groundwater is a major source of freshwater. Massive amounts of water exist in the ground. The places where this water is accessible are called aquifers. Precipitation, such as rain or snow, seeps through soil as groundwater. An aquifer contains rock and sediment that the groundwater flows through. Because of the conditions in the aquifer, water collects and can be extracted, using wells. This map shows the major aquifers in Texas. Aquifers are important sources of freshwater for human consumption and for agriculture.

Understanding New Terms Helps students learn more about aquifers using the site from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). After reviewing the site or conducting further research, ask students to write their own definition of aquifer and have them create a graphic that illustrates how they work.

https://www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water-science-school/science/aquifers-and-groundwater?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects

Showing State Pride You and your students may not be Texans, but you all probably take pride in the state you are from as well. Ask students to identify points of pride in your state. What article would they write to show pride in their state? 

Expanding Mapping Skills Draw students’ attention to the Texas Atlas. Divide the class into pairs or groups. Have each group choose a map from the Texas Atlas to study. Then, have groups write a brief explanation of the purpose of the map, what it shows, and what questions it answers. Have groups share their maps and the text about it with the class.