Museum of the Coastal Bend > Educational Programs

VIP (very important people): PAST AND PRESENT

Objectives (TEKS): 4.20 Culture The student understands the contributions of people of
various racial, ethnic and religious groups to Texas. 4.22 Skills The student applies critical
thinking skills to organize and use information acquired from a variety of sources. 4.23 & 7.22 Skills The student communicates in written, oral and visual forms. 7.2 History The student understands how individuals, events and issues prior to the Texas Revolution shaped the history of Texas. 7.19 Culture The student understands the concept of diversity within unity in Texas. HS US History The student will locate and use primary and secondary sources; analyze and organize information. HS World History The student will describe how citizens and non-citizens affected historical cultures; evaluate how the choices of the past affect decisions today.

Materials: Paper, markers or paints, costumes for actors. Connection to internet for research.

Student Activity: The students will act out a skit or sketch a scene that depicts an event described in the scenarios provided.

Student Product: Skit, presentation or sketch of a person who contributed to history and their
contribution - past or present.

Closure: Sketches or props for presentations will be displayed as a reminder of the importance of individuals to historic happenings.

Assessment/Evaluation: Student will complete the following sentence, “My favorite way to learn about the past is ...”

Extension: Each student will create a symbol for one individual that will help you remember
his or her contribution or impact on Texas history.

Background Information:

People from the PAST
La Salle, French explorer, 1682 <discovered the Mississippi River; later made friends with the Caddo Indians>
Alonso de Leon, Spanish military, 1689 <discovered Fort St. Louis after the French had been massacred; buried the eight French iron cannon>
Domingo Teran, Spanish military, 1691 <found the French children named Talon who survived the massacre>
Henri Joutel, French diarist with La Salle <traveled with La Salle then after his death, went to French settlement in Canada and returned to France>

People in PRESENT who Contributed to the Past
Robert (Bob) Weddle, historian <translated documents to search for Mission Espiritu Santo and Presidio la Bahia>
William (Bill) Foster, historian <traced where the Spanish forces traveled while looking for La Salle>
Kathleen Gilmore, archeologist <identified the location of Fort St. Louis based on French Saintogne pottery>
Jim Bruseth, archeologist <led investigations of the Belle & Presidio La Bahia; found cannon at both locations>

Further Information: www.texasbeyondhistory.net; www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/

• FOUND: A CLUE TO THE PAST (PDF)
• VIP (very important people): PAST AND PRESENT (PDF)
• SETTLEMENTS ALONG THE COASTAL BEND (PDF)
• A LINE ABOUT TIME (PDF)
• SCAVENGER HUNT (PDF)
• ARCHEOLOGISTS UNCOVER STRATA (PDF)
• RESOURCES FOR TEACHING & LEARNING MORE (PDF)