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:
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Social studies or history, the primary focus
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English or ELR
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Art
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Character qualities (social-emotional)
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Digital literacy
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Critical thinking and active learning skills
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Rich primary sources
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Adaptable for cross-curricular teaching
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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 or call (915) 533-0048.
GRADE 2
Our History Through the Murals of Tom Lea
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.
grade 3
Mighty Horses on El Camino Real
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
grade 4
Awakening the Giants of our History
TEKS FOCUS
SS: history of Texas from the early beginnings to the present within the context of influences of North America
ART FEATURED
Lea’s Pass of the North mural
grades 4-6 camp
Awakening the Giants of our History
TEKS FOCUS
12-16 hours of interactive lessons teaching art, regional history, ELR and character qualities.
ART FEATURED
Lea’s Pass of the North mural, Mexican revolution art
grade 7
The Mexican Revolution Through the Eyes of Tom Lea,
José Cisneros, & Posada
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.
ART FEATURED
Paintings, drawings and photos of Tom Lea, José Cisneros, & Posada
grades 6-8
WW II Camp
TEKS FOCUS
12 hours SS: Theaters of war, allied and axis, Pacific Theater.
ART FEATURED
Paintings, drawings & photos of Tom Lea for LIFE Magazine
grades 6-8
We Live on a Volcano STEAM Camp
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
grade 11
What’s the Big Deal About the New Deal?
TEKS FOCUS
Six lessons: Concepts of the Depression, New Deal & WPA
ART FEATURED
7 murals painted by Tom Lea as part of the WPA program
grade 11
Uncommon Valor: WWII Through the Eyes of Admiral Chester Nimitz
and Tom Lea
TEKS FOCUS
SS: US History WWII Pacific theater, Pearl Harbor, island hopping, Battle of Midway, atomic bomb, Admiral Nimitz
ART FEATURED
Dramatic films, Lea’s WWII art for LIFE magazine
grades 2-12
WALKING TOURS
Awakening the Giants of Our History: Artistic Legacy of El Paso
A half-day mural tour designed to reinforce the Awakening the Giants of our History curriculum. Appropriate for grades 2-12.
Tom Lea & José Cisneros in the Mexican Revolution
Students walk approximately one square mile around downtown El Paso in a tour designed to reinforce the Intsitute's Mexican Revolution curriculum. Appropriate for grades 5-10.
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