Content within the new Science Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) starts in the 2024-25 school year. The new TEKS affects Kindergarten through 12th grade. In our previous blog, we looked at the tools recommended within the new TEKS. Now, let’s examine a few changes within the content portion for some of the grade levels.
Kinder, 1st Grade, and 2nd Grade – An Energy Change
In the TEKS previous to 2024, light, thermal, and sound energy were mentioned in all three grade levels. Now the new TEKS have each grade level focus on one particular energy. Check out the table below to see if you can figure out which grade level has which energy.
Note that Kindergarten now focuses on light energy. First grade studies thermal energy, and second grade focuses on sound energy.
A Fossil Change – 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, and 5th Grade
The student expectations around fossils changed within Reporting Category 4: Organisms and Environments. The new TEKS add fossils to 3rd and 4th grade, and they are no longer covered in 5th grade. See the table below.
A Change in Newton’s Laws – 6th Grade, 7th Grade, and 8th Grade
Within Matter and Energy, Reporting Category 1, the student expectation around atomic structure has been removed from middle school. Now, students are introduced to atomic structure in high school if they take an Integrated Physics and Chemistry or Chemistry course.
Additional changes in middle school science are found within Reporting Category 2: Force, Motion, and Energy. In the past, Newton’s Laws of Motion were first introduced in 8th grade science. Starting in the 2024-25 school year, Newton’s Laws of Motion has been split between the grade levels in middle school.
Biology – A Classification Change
Within Biology, the student expectations around taxonomic systems and hierarchical classification have been moved to 7th-grade science. Students are still introduced to the basic characteristics that are used to place organisms in currently recognized kingdoms in 6th-grade science.
Conclusion
These are just a few examples of content changes within the new TEKS. The Region 13 Science team offers continuing opportunities to take a deeper look at the new Science TEKS.
Visit our E-Campus catalog for the most up-to-date workshops. Bookmark the Region 13 Science webpage. This is a great place to see the latest resources and events. Stay updated with the latest news offerings by subscribing to the monthly Science newsletter. Read more about the changes to the science TEKS on our blog.
Carolyn Beardsley
Carolyn Beardsley is the Elementary Science Instructional Coach at ESC Region 13.
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