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  • Fall
  • 2026
  • » South Texas Plains Ecoregion
  • Fall
  • 2026

South Texas Plains Ecoregion

Texas is home to 10 different Gould’s ecoregions as seen on the map above. Ecoregions are areas of land that share similar climate, topography, and soils. In this series, we will dive into each of Texas’ 10 ecoregions one Critter Connections issue at a time. Next up – the South Texas Plains!
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Lesson Plans

Take your Critter Connections beyond science and reading with additional enrichment resources!

K, 1, 2, 3
Camouflage Creatures
Students will explore physical characteristics, such as camouflage as an adaptation used by animals for protection.

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K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Observations with Leopold
Students will recognize Aldo Leopold as a famous conservationist and discover and distinguish between the methods he used to collect data through observation, including both qualitative and quantitative information. These methods include the use of his senses and standard and non-standard measurement.

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K, 1, 2, 3
Recognizing Camouflage
Students will perform an investigation to recognize the importance of camouflage for the survival of some animals.

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K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Texas Ecoregion Puzzle
Students will identify animals, plants, and habitats that exist among the ecoregions of Texas and identify the basic needs of various animals while emphasizing good stewardship practices. Ecoregion biodiversity will provide reasons for making good choices regarding stewardship practices.

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K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Wildlife Habitats in Texas
Students will identify the characteristics of ecoregions, ecosystems, and their habitats and the parts of an ecosystem as they create drawings of Texas ecoregions. Students will also identify stewardship actions as a way to care for Texas. Emphasis is placed on the components of ecosystems and animal habitats, and their relation to stewardship responsibilities.

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RELATED VIDEO LESSONS

Distance Learning

Bring wildlife into your classroom with on-demand programs designed for K-8 students! Videos are 15-45 minutes long and are available 24/7. All programs include interactive questions and follow-along worksheets that are aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) standards.

More Videos
⏱︎ 12 min.

Incomplete Metamorphosis

Investigate and compare how plants and animals undergo a series of orderly changes during their life cycles and explore the basic needs and physical characteristics that allow dragonflies to survive through each stage of incomplete metamorphosis.

Watch Now
⏱︎ 14 min.

Complete Metamorphosis

Investigate and compare how plants and animals undergo a series of orderly changes during their life cycles and explore the basic needs and physical characteristics that allow ladybugs to survive through each stage of complete metamorphosis.

Watch Now
⏱︎ 13 min.

Food Chain Fun

Discover the basic need of food and explore how energy flows from producers to consumers and decomposers, then identify the components of an ecosystem and witness the effects of a broken food chain.

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External Resources

A Green Jay Survey
  • Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
Answer Key – South Texas Plains Double Puzzle
  • Texas Wildlife Association
Bird Inquiry – Read, Observe, Record
  • Exploring Nature
Birding in the Brushlands
  • Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
Discover Bird Migration
  • The Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Endangered Species of Texas Ecoregions
  • taleofchipilo.com
Gould Ecoregions of Texas
  • Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
How to Recognize a Texas Tortoise
  • Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
Keep Texas Wild: Southern Plains
  • Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
Native Plants of the South Texas Plains Ecoregion
  • Native Plant Society of Texas
Ocelot Coloring Page
  • Exploring Nature
Ocelot Drawing Lesson
  • Exploring Nature
Texas Bird Bingo
  • Audubon Texas, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
Texas Ecoregions Activity
  • taleofchipilo.com
The Ocelot and Its Habitat: Classroom Activities
  • Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
Tracking the Ocelot: Saving an Endangered and Beloved Species
  • The Texas A&M University System
Discover Bird Migration
  • The Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Texas Bird Bingo
  • Audubon Texas, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
Texas Ecoregions Activity
  • taleofchipilo.com
The Ocelot and Its Habitat: Classroom Activities
  • Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
Answer Key – South Texas Plains Double Puzzle
  • Texas Wildlife Association
Bird Inquiry – Read, Observe, Record
  • Exploring Nature
Ocelot Coloring Page
  • Exploring Nature
Ocelot Drawing Lesson
  • Exploring Nature
Endangered Species of Texas Ecoregions
  • taleofchipilo.com
Native Plants of the South Texas Plains Ecoregion
  • Native Plant Society of Texas
Gould Ecoregions of Texas
  • Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
A Green Jay Survey
  • Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
Birding in the Brushlands
  • Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
How to Recognize a Texas Tortoise
  • Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
Keep Texas Wild: Southern Plains
  • Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
Tracking the Ocelot: Saving an Endangered and Beloved Species
  • The Texas A&M University System

Additional Subjects

Word Bank

Biodiversity:

the variety of plant and animal life in an area

Ecotourism:

travel to responsibly visit natural areas

Habitat Fragmentation:

breaking into smaller pieces

Herbivore:

eats only plant materials

Hybrid:

a mixture of two different species

Range:

area where a species occurs

Scutes:

large scales on the outside of a turtle’s shell

Topography:

an area’s physical shape; for example rivers, hills, and valleys
  • Identify how people in different regions of Texas earn their living, past and present.
  • Explain how physical geographic factors such as climate and natural resources have influenced the location of economic activities in Texas.
  • Identify the effects of exploration, immigration, migration, and limited resources on the economic development and growth of Texas.
  • Explain how developments in transportation and communication have influenced economic activities in Texas.
  • Find your county on the Gould Ecoregion map.
    • Which ecoregion do you live in?
  • Identify, locate, describe, and compare the physical regions of Texas.
    • Examples include Mountains and Basins, Great Plains, North Central Plains, and Coastal Plains.
    • Include characteristics such as landforms, climate, vegetation, and economic activities.
  • Identify cities within the South Texas Plains Ecoregion.
    • Explain the geographic factors such as landforms and climate that influence patterns of settlement and the distribution of population in Texas, past and present.
    • Identify and explain patterns of settlement such as the location of towns and cities in Texas at different time periods.
  • Identify ways in which Texans have adapted to and modified the environment, past and present.
    • Examples include timber clearing, agricultural production, wetlands drainage, energy production, and construction of dams.
    • Explain and compare the positive and negative consequences of human modification of the environment in Texas, past and present.
    • Explain why people have adapted to and modified their environment in Texas, past and present, such as the use of natural resources to meet basic needs, facilitate transportation, and enhance recreational activities.
  • Explain ways in which geographic factors have affected the political, economic, and social development of Texas.
    • Examples include the Galveston Hurricane of 1900, the Dust Bowl, limited water resources, and alternative energy sources.
  • Grades 4 and 7

Bring More Wildlife to Your Classroom

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High Plains Ecoregion

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South Texas Plains Ecoregion

Texas is home to 10 different Gould’s ecoregions as seen on the map above. Ecoregions are areas of land that share similar climate, topography, and soils. In this series, we will dive into each of Texas’ 10 ecoregions one Critter Connections issue at a time. Next up – the South Texas Plains!
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