NEW Printable Texas words for your thematic word wall!

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Books

*see words below*

*see words below*

T-E-X-A-S

(tune: B-I-N-G-O)

There is a state, it's the Lone Star state

And Texas is it's name-o

T-E-X-A-S

T-E-X-A-S

T-E-X-A-S

And Texas is it's name-o!

5 Little Cowboys

Five little cowboys sitting on a gate

The 1st one said, "Gee, Rodeos are great!"

The 2nd one said, "There are buzzards in the air"

The 3rd one said, "Oh, we don't care"

The 4th one said, "Let's watch the horses run"

The 5th one said, "I'm ready for some fun!"

Then "Woooooo" went the wind,

And off blew their hats,

And the 5 little cowboys fell from where they sat.

Video/DVD

 

Cactus

Materials:  green construction paper, toothpicks, glue, pink tissue paper.

Have each student cut the green paper into the shape of a cactus.  You can use a tracer, or Xerox the shape onto the paper.  Next, break the toothpicks in half and have the students glue to the cactus shape.  Give each student a few small squares of pink tissue paper to put on the end of their pencils, twist,  and glue onto the cactus shape to make "cactus flowers". 

  Bluebonnet

Cut the tissue paper into squares.  Next, have students glue the glue the tissue paper squares to the bluebonnet shape to create the flowers. 

    

Armadillo

Cut each paper plate in half to create the armadillo's body.  Cut strips of the gray paper into squares and have the students glue onto the body to create the armadillo's armor.  This could also be done with elbow macaroni spray painted silver if you have the time and energy.  Next, copy the pattern for a head, legs, and tail onto gray construction paper and have the students cut out and glue to the armadillo.  Students can add facial features to the armadillo with crayons. 

Deep in the Heart  of Texas

Dye half the macaroni red and the other half blue using the food coloring and the rubbing alcohol and set out to dry overnight.  When dry, have the students glue the macaroni around the outline of Texas in a red/blue pattern.  Next, glue the red  heart in the middle of the state and add the student's photo to the middle of the heart.  Caption these "Deep in the Heart of Texas".  This makes a great display during open house or Texas Public Schools Week. 

   

Texas Flag

First, cut the paper into squares.  Have the students glue the squares onto the appropriate sections of the flag.  When finished, glue the star in the correct spot.  You could also do this with project with squares of tissue paper.

 

Paper Plate Cowboy

Materials: cheap, white paper plates, red construction paper, brown construction paper, multicultural crayons or paint, regular crayons, glue. 

Copy a pattern for a cowboy hat onto the brown paper.  Have each child color or paint his or her face on the paper plate, add facial features with crayons.  Next, cut out the brown hat and glue onto the top of the plate.  Fold the red construction paper in half diagonally and cut on the fold to create bandanas, glue to the bottom of the paper plate and fold the ends around the back if necessary.   

I Feel Like a Cowboy When... Class Book

Materials: camera, cowboy hat, stick pony, paper bag vest, bandana, cardstock.

Take a picture of each student dressed in the hat, vest, and bandana "riding" the stick pony.  Print or develop the film and glue each one to a piece of cardstock.  Add this caption on the bottom "I feel like a cowboy when ______" .  Ask each student when they feel like a cowboy and fill their responses in the blank for them.  Finally, laminate and bind your class book.   This activity is a companion to the copy and color book "Cowboy Roy".

 

Cowboy/Rodeo Day

Materials:  note to parents, Texas shaped tortilla chips (available at HEB stores or Central Market), queso dip, green Gatorade, extra cowboy hats and bandanas.

Each year we have a Cowboy/Rodeo Day for the grand finale to our Texas unit.  We start by sending a note home to the parents explaining the day and guidelines to follow for making their very own recycled stick pony.  On the day of the Rodeo students bring their creative ponies to school and are allowed to dress like cowboys.  We have stick pony races, drink "cactus juice" (green Gatorade) and have Texas chips and queso.  I have a supply of bandanas and cowboy hats that I ordered from www.oriental.com on hand for those who forget theirs.    We have a sing along around the "campfire" (lights off, use flashlights, sit in a circle).  You could also have a chili cook-off to spice things up!