Texas TEKS 3.10

3.10 is a TEKS knowledge and skills statement. These are the student expectations under it.

• 3.10.A

  compare and describe day-to-day weather in different locations at the same time, including air temperature, wind direction, and precipitation

• 3.10.B

  investigate and explain how soils such as sand and clay are formed by weathering of rock and by decomposition of plant and animal remains

• 3.10.C

  model and describe rapid changes in Earth's surface such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and landslides.

01

What Students Need to Do

Students compare weather reports from two places at the same time using temperature, wind direction, and precipitation. They explain how rock pieces and decayed remains become soil. They build models showing how earthquakes, volcanoes, and landslides quickly reshape land.

02

What Mastery Looks Like

Students accurately compare all three weather measures and support statements with data. They connect soil materials to their sources and explain what each surface change does. Their models show cause, movement, and the resulting landform change.

03

Common Misconceptions

Students may compare weather from different times or confuse wind direction with where wind is going. They may think soil is only crushed rock or that sand becomes clay. They may also think earthquakes, volcanoes, and landslides change land slowly.

04

How to Assess It

Give students a three-part exit ticket: compare two same-time weather reports, explain soil formation, and label before-and-after sketches of one rapid surface change.

1. 01

   Layer crushed crackers, small pebbles, and dried leaf pieces in a clear cup, then label the mineral and organic soil materials.

2. 02

   Write which event changes land fastest, an earthquake, volcanic eruption, or landslide, and support the choice with two observations.

3. 03

   Play weather report match-up by pairing location cards recorded at the same time, then comparing temperature, wind direction, and precipitation.

4. 04

   Read a recent USGS event report, then mark the location and describe how the event changed the surrounding land.

• 3.9

  Earth and space. The student knows there are recognizable objects and patterns in Earth's solar system. The student is expected to:

• 4.10

  Earth and space. The student knows that there are processes on Earth that create patterns of change. The student is expected to:

• 2.10

  Earth and space. The student knows that the natural world includes earth materials that can be observed in systems and processes. The student is expected to:

• 5.10

  Earth and space. The student knows that there are recognizable patterns and processes on Earth. The student is expected to: