Texas TEKS 4.3.A

Science4th GradeScientific and engineering practices

The Standard

develop explanations and propose solutions supported by data and models

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Science

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students use observations, measurements, tables, graphs, or models to explain why something happened. They propose a solution and identify specific evidence showing why it should work.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student makes a clear claim, supports it with relevant data, and uses a model when helpful. The student can explain how the evidence supports the claim or solution.
Common Misconceptions: Students may give an opinion without citing measurements or observations. They may describe a model without using it to explain the event, or choose data that does not support their solution.
How to Assess It: Give students a plant growth table and a diagram of light placement. Ask, “Which light placement worked best, and what data supports your explanation?”

Lesson moves

Build paper bridges, measure how many washers each holds, then sketch and explain why the strongest design worked.
Write a claim about which soil holds the most water, then support it with two measurements from a class data table.
Play an evidence match game where students pair claims with supporting data cards and reject unrelated evidence.
Measure temperatures in sunny and shaded playground areas, then propose where to place a new bench and justify the choice.

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