Texas TEKS 1.1.A

Science1st GradeScientific and engineering practices

The Standard

ask questions and define problems based on observations or information from text, phenomena, models, or investigations

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Science

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students notice details in objects, events, pictures, read-alouds, models, and investigations. They ask relevant questions and name a problem that could be explored or solved.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can point to an observation and ask a connected question. The student can state what needs to be found out or fixed.
Common Misconceptions: Students may share a fact or opinion instead of asking a question. They may name a solution before clearly stating the problem, or ask something unrelated to the observation.
How to Assess It: Show a picture of a wilted plant. Ask students to write or say one observation, one question, and the problem they notice.

Lesson moves

Place a melting ice cube on a tray, then have students record one observation and ask one question about the change.
Read a page about animal shelters, then ask, “What problem do the animals face, and what detail helped you identify it?”
Play Question Sort with cards, sorting statements into observation, question, problem, or solution groups.
Walk around the playground, photograph one problem students notice, and write a question that could help the class investigate it.

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