This being a book about the life of Sam Houston is great because this also shares Texas history inside of the book. This is a great way to share the life of someone important to our state and include social studies curriculum with literacy. ( )

This book is a biography of Sam Houston and the events that happened in his lifetime. This book take a journey through the history of Houston along with history of Texas. This book would be great for 3rd graders in history class to also research information about people that have come along in Houston's life to broaden their knowledge on him. ( )

This biography is about Sam Houston and all of the events that happened throughout his life. This book takes the reader through all of the events that Sam Houston went through including his life in the army. This book would be great for the middle elementary grades. An activity that could be paired with this book is to research key facts about Sam Houston and present the findings to the class. ( )

This book is about Sam Houston and his life. Throughout the book, it tells many different aspects of his life such as his family as well as events that happened while he was in the army. This book is good for all ages because it tells the life of one of the founding fathers of Texas. This book can be used across the curriculum such as in social studies, writing, and reading. With this book they can do a simulated journal and pretend to be Sam Houston. I really like this book. ( )

Reading Level: 4th Grade
Genre: Biography

Summary: Sam Houston was born in Virginia on March 2, 1793. When his father died, his mother moved the family to Tennessee. Sam loved to read, however, in school they would never teach anything that Sam wanted to learn, so he quit. He then ran away to love with the Cherokee Indians where he was allowed to anything that he wanted. Three years later, he moved back home and became a teacher, but that only lasted so long before he joined Andrew Jackson’s Army. During war, he was shot in the leg with an arrow and then in the shoulder with two bullets. Sam was told that he would die, but he did not. He then decided that he wanted to become a lawyer. Finishing school very quickly he became congressman of Tennessee and then was elected governor. Once Sam’s wife had left him, he went back to live with the Cherokee Indians. Three years later Jackson sent Houston to Texas and he liked it so much that he decided to stay. When Texas decided that they no longer wanted to be part of Mexico territory, a battle broke out at the Alamo. Houston did not take his troops there because he knew that they were not ready but when they were ready, they surprised Santa Anna and the Mexican army at San Jacinto. After a short battle, Texas had finally gained their independence. Houston was Texas’ first president and after his term, he married Margaret Lea. He was president one more time and then Texas joined the United States where Sam became governor. When Texas tried to become its own country again, Sam Houston refused to let that happen and he was governor no more. In 1863, Houston died at the age of seventy, leaving his family behind.

Content Area Supported: Art
The students would choose something important from this story and draw that. Once they have drawn and colored their picture, they will choose some part of the picture to make 3-D. For instance, if they made a picture of Sam Houston they could make the hair with cotton balls.