Native Texas Trail

Texas Natural Regions & Associated Tribes Reference

Southeastern: Caddo (permanent villages, pottery, mounds).

Gulf Coast: Karankawa & Coahuiltecan (coastal & scrub nomads).

Plains: Comanche & Apache (buffalo hunters, horses).

Central / North: Tonkawa & Wichita (scouts & semi-sedentary).

Native Texas Teacher Key • Assessment Resource Page 1 of 2

Native Texas Key • Parts 3, 4 & Accommodations

Answer Key & Implementation Guide

Part 3: Multiple Choice Answers (Q15–Q23) 9 Points Total

15. [A] Protect against mosquito bites (alligator grease).

16. [B] "Friends" or "Allies" (Caddo origin of Texas).

17. [C] The horse (revolutionized Comanche hunting/warfare).

18. [A] Prickly pear cactus & insects (South TX arid diet).

19. [A] Wichita (distinctive eye tattoo markings).

20. [B] Moved often to follow buffalo herds across plains.

21. [B] Dugout canoes (hollowed cypress/pine trunks).

22. [A] Tonkawa (friendly scouts for Texas Rangers).

23. [B] Staying in one permanent village (definition of sedentary agricultural lifestyle).

Part 4: Short Answer Exemplars & Rubric (Q24–Q25) 2 Pts Each (4 Pts Total)

Q24 Exemplar (Shelter & Adaptation):

“The Comanche lived in a portable tepee because they needed to move quickly to follow the buffalo.” OR “The Caddo lived in a permanent grass house because they needed to stay in one place to farm corn.”

Scoring: 2 pts = Tribe named + shelter type + environmental/lifestyle reason. 1 pt = Incomplete rationale.

Q25 Exemplar (Nomad vs. Sedentary Comparison):

“A nomadic tribe moved often to hunt buffalo and gather wild food, but a sedentary tribe stayed in one place to grow crops like corn and build permanent homes.”

Scoring: 2 pts = Clear contrast of moving for food vs. staying for farming. 1 pt = Identifies only one side correctly.

Accommodations Implementation Guide (IEP / 504 / ELL)

Read-Aloud Protocol:

• Read questions and options verbatim at a measured, calm pace.
• Re-read individual options upon student request without vocal inflection or emphasis on correct answers.
• Allow 15–20 seconds processing time between items.

Scribing & Dictation Protocol:

• For Part 4, ask the student to dictate their complete sentence using the starter.
• Write or type the exact words spoken by the student without altering grammar or adding words.
• Read the recorded response back to the student for confirmation.

Chunking & Pacing Recommendation: Present one page per testing session. Allow sensory breaks between matching and multiple-choice sections. For students with tracking difficulties, mask unworked rows using an index card.

Native Texas Teacher Key • Assessment Resource Page 2 of 2

BOTH Shared

• • Lived in Texas prior to European arrival.
• • Relied on surrounding natural resources for survival.
• • Hunted wild game using bows and stone arrows.
• • Highly skilled craftspeople using leather, wood, and bone.
• • Maintained strong community traditions and leadership.

Comanche (Plains)

• • Region: Great Plains / High Plains Panhandle.
• • Shelter: Portable buffalo hide tepees.
• • Lifestyle: Nomadic buffalo hunters; moved with herds.
• • Tools: Buffalo skin shields, lances, leather gear.
• • Fact: Master horse riders known as “Lords of the Plains.”

Exemplar Written Responses:

1. Alike: “Both tribes were similar because they lived in Texas, adapted to their physical environment, and hunted wild game using bows and arrows.”

2. Different: “They were different because the Caddo were sedentary farmers living in permanent grass lodges in East Texas, while the Comanche were nomadic hunters living in portable tepees on the Great Plains.”

Alternative Recommended Tribe Pairings for Differentiation Tiered Options

Karankawa vs. Coahuiltecan: Great for comparing two nomadic groups (coastal barrier islands vs. dry desert scrub).

Wichita vs. Caddo: Great for comparing semi-sedentary farming/hunting vs. fully sedentary agricultural village life.

Tonkawa vs. Apache: Great for examining territorial interactions, Texas Ranger scouts, and defensive warfare.

Accommodated Facilitation Strategies

Pre-Sorting Graphic Supports: Provide struggling writers with pre-printed trait cards from the Idea Bank. Students physically place cards into the three Venn zones before copying words onto lines.

Verbal Rehearsal & Scribing: Allow students to verbally explain one difference and one similarity to a partner or teacher before writing. Accept dictated sentence completions for scribing accommodations.

Native Texas Trail • Tribe Comparison Venn Activity Page 2 of 2 (Teacher Resource)