Alonso S. Perales Civil Rights Trailblazer Teacher Guide - A TEKS-Aligned Guide to Introducing the Life and Legacy of Alonso S. Perales to K-12 Classrooms

Sep 28, 2026

Teacher guide for introducing K-12 learners to the life and legacy of Alonso S. Perales, aligned to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). Developed for classroom use alongside Pioneer of Mexican-American Civil Rights: Alonso S. Perales and a companion Mexican American Civil Rights Institute traveling exhibit. Includes background and team bios, a synopsis of Perales’ civil rights leadership, and classroom-ready structure organized from elementary through high school topics, plus references for deeper study.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages52

Reading Time2 h 11 min

AccessFree to download

Table of Contents

Meet the Team

Background

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)

References

ALONSO S. PERALES Civil Rights Trailblazer Teacher Guide A TEKS-Aligned Guide to Introducing the Life and Legacy of Alonso S. Perales to K-12 Classrooms Developed by Dr. Elizabeth Rivas for the Mexican American Civil Rights Institute This guide is designed to be used with the book Pioneer of Mexican-American Civil Rights: Alonso S. Perales by Dr. Cynthia Orozco (Arte Publico Press, 2020) and the Mexican American Civil Rights Institute’s traveling exhibit based on the book. Beginning in Fall 2024, the traveling exhibit will be available for schools, libraries, and community centers to borrow. MACRI thanks the funders who made the Alonso S. Perales traveling exhibit and related teacher resources possible. T his p rog ra m is made possi b le i n pa rt with a grant from Humanities Texas , t he st ate aff i l i ate of t he N at io n a l Endowment for the Humanities TABLE OF CONTENTS P. 0 1 Meet the Team P. 0 2 Background P. 0 5 Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) P. 2 1 Elementary P. 2 9 Middle School P. 3 8 High School P. 4 6 References Notes MEET THE TEAM Elizabeth D. Rivas, Ph.D. Curriculum Design Consultant Dr. Rivas [earned a B.A. in](earned a B.A. in) Political Science at St. Mary’s University and an [M.A. in](M.A. in) Bicultural-Bilingual Studies from the University of Texas at San Antonio. She [earned a Ph.D. in](earned a Ph.D. in) Culture, Literacy, and Language at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Her research focuses on social justice education and culturally responsive pedagogy, ensuring her work promotes equity and inclusivity. Currently, Dr. Rivas serves as a secondary social studies instructional specialist with Harlandale ISD, where she guides curriculum development and supports teachers in implementing best practices. Before her district-level role, she spent over 20 years as a classroom teacher, honing her pedagogical expertise through hands-on experience. She developed this teacher’s guide. Cynthia Orozco, Ph.D. Historian & Author Dr. Orozco is one of the nation’s foremost historians of Mexican American civil rights history. She obtained her B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin and her MA and Ph. D. from UCLA. She has taught at the University of Texas at San Antonio, the University of New Mexico, and Eastern New Mexico UniversityRuidoso. She is the author of No Mexicans, Women or Dogs Allowed: The Rise of the Mexican American Civil Rights Movement; Agent of Change: Ade la SlossVento: Mexican American Civil Rights Activist and Texas Feminist; and Pioneer of Mexican American Civil Rights: Alonso S. Perales. the latter of which is the inspiration for this teacher guide and the traveling exhibit. Sarah Zenaida Gould, Ph.D. Executive Director Mexican American Civil Rights Institute Dr. Gould received a B.A. in American Studies from Smith College and an M.A. and [Ph.D. in](Ph.D. in)[ ](Ph.D. in)[American Culture from the University of Michigan.](American Culture from the University of Michigan.)[ ](American Culture from the University of Michigan.)A longtime public historian, she has curated over a dozen exhibits on history, art, and culture and was formerly the founding director of the Museo del Westside and lead curatorial researcher at the Institute of Texan Cultures. She designed MACRI’s Perales traveling exhibit. SYNOPSIS: THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF ALONSO S. PER ALES Alonso S. Perales was a pioneering civil rights leader and principal founder of the League of United Latin American Citizens ( LULAC), which was established in 1929. A key architect of Latino civil rights, Perales sought to pass legislation banning discrimination against Mexican Americans. He played a crucial role in electing Henry B. Gonzalez to the Texas legislature and fought for school desegregation across Texas. Perales defined "Mexican Americanism" as an emerging identity and political philosophy. He served as Consul General for Nicaragua in the U.S. during the 1940s and 195

FAQs

What is the purpose of this teacher guide?

It supports introducing K-12 students to the life and legacy of Alonso S. Perales, using TEKS-aligned classroom activities and materials alongside the related book and traveling exhibit.

Who developed the guide, and who is included in “Meet the Team”?

The guide was developed by Dr. Elizabeth Rivas, and the “Meet the Team” section includes biographies for Elizabeth D. Rivas, Cynthia Orozco, and Sarah Zenaida Gould.

What topics are covered under the TEKS section?

The TEKS section is organized across grade bands, including Elementary, Middle School, and High School, with references at the end.

Sep 28, 2026

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