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curricula

Tom Lea Institute Teaching Resources

The Tom Lea Institute is here as a source for educators, with state-of-the-art lessons prepared and ready to use electronically or as printed materials – 
free of charge.
  Resources are provided by the generosity of our donors and grants.

 

The following district partners are using our curricula: 

El Paso ISD, Canutillo ISD, Ysleta ISD, San Elizario ISD, Dell City ISD, Fredericksburg ISD, St. Clements Parish School, Radford School.

Tom Lea Institute curricula have been developed in consultation with district curriculum directors to ensure they target high priority topics and exemplify state-of-the-art pedagogy.  

All blended curricula include:

  • Social studies or history, the primary focus

  • English or ELR

  • Art

  • Character qualities (social-emotional)

  • Digital literacy

  • Critical thinking and active learning skills

  • Rich primary sources 

  • Adaptable for cross-curricular teaching

  • Tours conducted by TLI in the borderland region are available and at the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, TX. 

Typically, there are 6-8 lessons included and activities for project-based learning.

Professional development and all materials are available free of charge to teachers, schools/school districts, private/charter schools, and homeschools. 

 

to Learn more about our education programs and how to implement the curriculum,

please contact the Institute at hcobb@tomlea.net or call (915) 533-0048.  

GRADE 2

Magnificent Murals

2ndgrade.jpg

TEKS FOCUS

SS: study of their local community by examining the impact of significant individuals and events on the history of the community

ART FEATURED

Lea murals: A Franciscan Friar Showing a Book to Indians in the 17th Century,
Las Cruces, NM; 
Pass of the North,
El Paso, TX.

ENGLISH/SPANISH VERSION

grade 3

Mighty Horses on El Camino Real

3rdgrade.jpg

TEKS FOCUS

SS: learn how diverse individuals have changed their communities, specifically the Oñate expedition, map reading.

Three video game modules, class lessons, readers' theater.
>> download PDF information

ART FEATURED

Tom Lea, José Cisneros paintings,
John Houser Equestrian Monument

ENGLISH/SPANISH VERSION

grade 4

Who Passed Through Here?

4thgrade_2.jpg

TEKS FOCUS

SS: history of Texas from the early beginnings to the present within the context of influences of North America

>> download PDF information

ART FEATURED

Lea’s Pass of the North mural

ENGLISH/SPANISH VERSION

grades 4-6 camp

Who Passed Through Here?

4thgrade.jpg

TEKS FOCUS

12-16 hours of interactive lessons teaching art, regional history, ELR and character qualities.

>> download PDF information

ART FEATURED

Lea’s Pass of the North mural, Mexican revolution art

ENGLISH VERSION

grade 7

The Mexican Revolution Through the Eyes of Tom Lea,
José Cisneros, & Posada

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TEKS FOCUS

SS: synthesize how the events of the Mexican Revolution impacted El Paso in the larger context of the Progressive movement leading up to WWI, Women’s Suffrage and Prohibition. 

>> download PDF information 

ART FEATURED

Paintings, drawings and photos of Tom Lea, José Cisneros, & Posada

ENGLISH/SPANISH VERSION

grades 6-8

Uncommon Valor WW II Camp

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TEKS FOCUS

12 hours SS:  Theaters of war, allied and axis, Pacific Theater.

ART FEATURED

Paintings, drawings & photos of Tom Lea for LIFE Magazine

ENGLISH VERSION

grades 6-8

We Live on a Volcano STEAM Camp

68grade.jpg

TEKS FOCUS

12 hours:  geography, chemistry, natural history experiential lessons present within the context of influences of North America

ART FEATURED

Tom Lea’s landscapes

ENGLISH VERSION

grade 11

What’s the Big Deal About the New Deal?

11thgrade.jpg

TEKS FOCUS

Six lessons: Concepts of the Depression, New Deal & WPA 

>> download PDF information

ART FEATURED

7 murals painted by Tom Lea as part of the WPA program

ENGLISH VERSION

grade 11

Uncommon Valor:  WWII Through the Eyes of Admiral Chester Nimitz
and Tom Lea

11thgrade_2.jpg

TEKS FOCUS

SS:  US History WWII Pacific theater, Pearl Harbor, island hopping, Battle of Midway, atomic bomb, Admiral Nimitz

>> download PDF information 

ART FEATURED

Dramatic films, Lea’s WWII art for LIFE magazine

ENGLISH VERSION

Uncommon Valor
What’s the Big Deal About the New Deal?
Magnificent Murals
Mighty Horse on El Camino Real
Who passed through here
Who passed through here? Camp
The Mexican Revolution
We Live on a Volcano Camp
Uncommon Valor WWII

grades 2-12

STUDENT WALKING TOURS

Student Walking Tours are approximately sixty to ninety minutes long around downtown El Paso. All tours reinforce knowledge of local artists, muralists, architects, life in the borderland region, history, and more! 

Awakening the Giants of Our History: Artistic Legacy of El Paso

Appropriate for grades 2-12.

>> download flyer pdf

Fossils in Our Walls, Cisneros in our Halls

Appropriate for grades 2-10.

 >> download flyer pdf

Plaza & Plaza Theatre 

Appropriate for grades 2-12.

>> download flyer pdf 

Alligators,Bats and Owls...

Oh My!

Appropriate for grades 2-10.

 >> download flyer pdf

Tom Lea & José Cisneros in the Mexican Revolution

Appropriate for grades 5-10.

>> download flyer pdf 

Los Murales de Segundo Barrio

Appropriate for grades 5-10.

>> download flyer pdf 

Four Views of El Paso

Appropriate for grades 2-10.

>> download flyer pdf 

Travel the World in Architecture

Appropriate for grades 5-10.

>> download flyer pdf 

The curricula are made possible by the generosity of:

MCAD

Humanities Texas

Texas Comission on the Arts

Hoblitzelle Foundation

Summerlee Foundation

The Brown Foundation

The Pruett Foundation

Moleen Foundation

El Paso Electric

Wells Fargo

Sarah Farms

The Chiu Family

Jack Lewis

Sherril Winter

David R. Schmidt

Jim Harris

Harlen Hill

Lyn Linka

Jan Dwyer

Jamey Clement

Gary Crozier

James Kemp

Ron Woellhof

Melanie Brown

Ed Hart

The Admiral Nimitz Foundation

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