Texas TEKS 5.2.C

Science5th GradeScientific and engineering practices

The Standard

use mathematical calculations to compare patterns and relationships

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Science

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students organize measured data and calculate sums, differences, or averages to compare results. They use the numbers to identify patterns and relationships between variables.
What Mastery Looks Like: Students choose a suitable calculation, show their work, and include correct units. They make an accurate comparison and support it with values from a table or graph.
Common Misconceptions: Students may describe what a graph looks like without using calculations as evidence. They may compare the wrong values, drop units, or assume two variables are related because both increase.
How to Assess It: Exit ticket: One cup cools from 80°C to 62°C, while another cools from 80°C to 71°C. Calculate each change and identify the better insulator.

Lesson moves

Teams measure water temperature every two minutes in wrapped and unwrapped cups, then calculate and compare temperature changes.
Give two data tables and ask, “Which shows a stronger relationship, and which calculated values support your claim?”
Play Data Match by having students pair calculation cards with graph cards and explain each match to a partner.
Compare weekly rainfall totals with school garden growth, then calculate whether weeks with more rain also had more growth.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 5.2.C, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

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