From Anahuac to Independence: Readers Theater for Teaching Texas Revolution Causes

Why start the Texas Revolution story at Anahuac? The grades 6-8 script “Anahuac Disturbances” dramatizes the 1832 and 1835 tax-collector conflicts that pushed settlers from protest to outright rebellion. Students voice William Travis, Juan Bradburn, and local Tejanos while practicing oral fluency and critical listening.

Connecting to TEKS

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills 7.3B asks learners to “identify major eras in Texas history.” Performing this script helps students grasp cause-and-effect chains: customs duties → arrests → Turtle Bayou Resolutions → open conflict. The back-and-forth dialogue naturally highlights multiple perspectives—an English-speaking settler, a Mexican commander, and neutral townspeople—making it easier to discuss loyalty and governance.

Classroom Flow (45–50 minutes)

• Warm-up (5 min): Locate Anahuac on a blank coastal map; predict why the site mattered.
• Read-through (25 min): Rotate roles every two scenes so each student practices at least twice.
• Quick-write (10 min): “Which action escalated tensions the most? Defend your answer with a line from the play.”
• Share-out (5 min): Two volunteers read evidence; peers snap or clap for strong claims.

Optional Extension (Teacher-Created)

Not included in the PDF. Stage a mini-debate: one side argues Travis was justified, the other defends Bradburn’s duty to Mexican law. Use the script’s quotations as primary evidence.

Download the script: Anahuac Disturbances Readers Theater