Texas TEKS 2.1.B
The Standard
use scientific practices to plan and conduct simple descriptive investigations and use engineering practices to design solutions to problems
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Science
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students ask a testable question, plan simple steps, gather observations, and describe what happened. They also identify a problem, build a solution, test it, and make changes.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student can choose suitable materials, follow a clear plan, and record observations with words, numbers, or drawings. The student can explain how test results led to a design change.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may treat an investigation as random exploring instead of following planned steps. They may think the first design must work or confuse an observation with a guess.
How to Assess It
- Give students this prompt: “How could you test which paper towel absorbs the most water, then design a tool to clean a spill?” Ask for three steps and a labeled sketch.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs foil, tape, and craft sticks to build, test, and improve a bridge that holds ten pennies.
Ask students to write how planning an investigation differs from planning a solution to a problem.
Play a sequencing game where teams arrange investigation cards into question, plan, test, record, and explain order.
Have students test classroom materials for soaking up a spill, then design a simple spill-cleaning tool.
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Printable 2.1.B Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 2.1.B, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.
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Related Standards
- 3.1.B
use scientific practices to plan and conduct descriptive investigations and use engineering practices to design solutions to problems;
- 5.1.B
use scientific practices to plan and conduct descriptive and simple experimental investigations and use engineering practices to design solutions to problems;
- K.1.B
use scientific practices to plan and conduct simple descriptive investigations and use engineering practices to design solutions to problems;
- 1.1.B
use scientific practices to plan and conduct simple descriptive investigations and use engineering practices to design solutions to problems;
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