Highsmith, Carol M. A modern-day replica of the "Come and Get It" flag in Gonzales, Texas. 2014. Photograph. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. https://www.loc.gov/item/2014632803/.
Students examine the flag in the image and discuss possible meanings. After a short amount of research and inquiry, learners debate questions such as: Does this flag still represent the same concept from its origin? Do contemporary citizens use the flag to convey an appropriate message?
A group of Texas women made the “Come and Take It” flag after the Battle of Gonzales, the first battle of the Texas Revolution. Basically, the settlers used the flag to revolt against the Mexican government, refusing to give back the cannon originally provided by the Mexican government to defend themselves against Indian raids.
Source: https://bit.ly/48216os, Source: : https://bit.ly/48216os
- Have you seen these flags in the community or news?
- Considering the notes provided with the resource, what did the flag originally mean to Texans?
- Is the modern use of the flag consistent with its original purpose?
- Extension: How are flags and images used to tell important stories?
ELA Standard
E2.10C.Composition. Compose argumentative texts with genre characteristics and craft.
Social Studies Standard
WH.28F. Social studies skills. Formulate and communicate visually, orally, or in writing a claim supported by evidence and reasoning for an intended audience and purpose.
Students conduct research on issues and interests by generating ideas and questions, and by posing problems. They gather, evaluate, and synthesize data from a variety of sources (e.g., print and non-print texts, artifacts, people) to communicate their discoveries in ways that suit their purpose and audience.
- Observe: Display the image of the flag and ask, “Have you seen these flags in the community or news?”
- Show learners how to read and evaluate sources using advice from the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL): https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/conducting_research/evaluating_sources_of_information/general_guidelines.html
- Observe: Consider the Notes section of the Library of Congress information for this image. What did the “Come and Take It” flag mean originally?
- Reflect: Is the image being used in modern times to convey the original message?
- Question: Examine the Newsweek article https://www.newsweek.com/texas-national-guard-come-take-it-flag-border-1865588. Select relevant text evidence to answer the hypothesis question.
- Learners should use the persuasion map tool in Read-Write-Think to prepare for a debate: https://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/student-interactives/persuasion
- Learners share their creations with classmates to survey points of view, claims, and evidence used to present ideas, prioritizing the most compelling points.
- In small groups, learners develop and film a presentation of their major points and perspectives. These will be viewed by other teams, who score their presentations with a class-created rubric.
Highsmith, Carol M. A replica of a most unusual battle flag carried by the Texan army at the Battle of San Jacinto, seen at the annual Battle of San Jacinto Festival and Battle Reenactment, a living-history retelling and demonstration of the historic Battle of San Jacinto, La Porte, Texas. 2014. Photograph. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. https://www.loc.gov/item/2014633202/.