Susan Taylor Brown

Reading Level: 4th Grade
Genre: Historical Fiction

Summary: Enrique became very close with all of the Texan soldiers; they taught him songs and games. However, one day, it all changed. Santa Anna and his army were headed back to Texas to fight for the Alamo. Enrique’s family packed up and waited for the wagon to come to take them to a safe place, but it was too late. Santa Anna and his Army had arrived and all of the Texans were preparing for war. Enrique’s father was a part of the Texas army so he had to fight. Soon, the battle began. While Enrique, his mother, and all his brothers and sisters were hiding in the chapel of the Alamo, they could hear all the bombs and gunfire. Before they knew it, it was daylight. The Mexican Army had come in and gathered up all the women and children to take Santa Anna. When it came to Enrique’s families turn to speak to Santa Anna, he learned that his father had died in battle. However, his family got to live because they also had another family member that was fighting in Santa Anna’s Army. Enrique’s mother was given food and blankets and told to leave the room.

Content Area Supported: Reading and Writing
The students would get into groups of four and rewrite the story of Enrique and his family. The students would write either what they would do if they all had to stay at the Alamo during the war, if they all got to leave and avoid the war, or if Enrique’s father was the only one that had to stay. Once they students have rewrote the story they would share it with the entire class. This would allow the students to write their opinion of what they wanted to happen or what they thought should have happened. In addition, it allows the students to work together on their writing and understand the reading.… (mere)