Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells
Students will categorize cells as prokaryotic or eukaryotic by identifying the presence or lack of a nucleus.
Lights, Camera, Action!
Students compare and contrast potential and kinetic energy by creating a real-world model through a movie.
Does it have Potential?
Students will work with partners to investigate how mass, potential energy, and kinetic energy act on objects dropped from varying heights.
Motion Pictures
In this lesson, students will be introduced to the concept of motion representation using distance vs. time graphs. Students will recognize labeling of axes, steepness related to speed, horizontal lines as non-motion, and downward slope as return to origin.
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills Related to the Unit
Click below to learn about the TEKS related to this unit.
Earth: A Tilted Affair
After a brief review of direct and indirect sunlight, students will arrange heat maps and globes around a drawing of the Sun based on the tilt of Earth and how it affects Earth’s temperature.
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) Related to the Unit
Click below to learn about the TEKS related to this unit.
Biotic and Abiotic Factors of an Ecosystem
Students will explore abiotic and biotic factors in various ecosystems by working through stations. Students will be able to identify and describe abiotic and biotic factors within an ecosystem.
Introduction to Plate Tectonics
This resource is intended to use for Tier I classroom instruction.
Classification of Organisms
This resource provides flexible alternate or additional learning opportunities for students to identify the characteristics of organisms that classify them into currently recognized Kingdoms, Sixth Grade Science TEKS (6)(12)(D).
Gravity in Space
Students will participate in stations that reinforce their understanding of gravity, especially gravity in space.
Elements and Compounds
This resource provides flexible alternative or additional learning opportunities for students to differentiate between elements and compounds on the most basic level, Science TEKS (6)(5)(C).
Introduction to TEA Science Safety Training for Middle School
This section is the introductory text for the course.
Science Academies for Grades 5–8, Part 2 for Participants
This resource is available to participants of the Science Academies for Grades 5–8, Part 2. The purpose of the resource is to provide participants with the training materials and documents associated with the training.
Interactive Science Glossary
The Interactive Science Glossary is a resource that supports students who are learning the language of science. This resource includes written and spoken definitions and sentences in both Spanish and English. Students can even create, download, and print their own vocabulary cards.
What's going on with our plates?
The students will work collaboratively in small, ability-based groups in stations that will require them to use their academic vocabulary, academic language, and self-assessment to generate a product showing what they have learned.
Let's FIND Speed!
This research lesson requires students to distinguish between speed, distance, and time. Students will use formulas to calculate the three using a checklist. Students will also create their own speed, distance, or time word problem using the knowledge gained in this lesson.
Potential and Kinetic Energy
This resource provides Tier I instruction ideas for Grade 6+ science teachers in the area of potential and kinetic energy.
Matter and Energy—Chemical Reactions
Given descriptions or illustrations, students will investigate how evidence of chemical reactions indicates that new substances with different properties are formed.
Science Academies for Grades 5–8, Part 2 for Trainers
This resource contains the files needed for trainers responsible for training science teachers in grades 5–8 across Texas.