Texas TEKS 6.4

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

• 6.4.A

  relate the impact of past and current research on scientific thought and society, including the process of science, cost-benefit analysis, and contributions of ...

• 6.4.B

  make informed decisions by evaluating evidence from multiple appropriate sources to assess the credibility, accuracy, cost-effectiveness, and methods used

• 6.4.C

  research and explore resources such as museums, libraries, professional organizations, private companies, online platforms, and mentors employed in a science, t...

01

What Students Need to Do

Students explain how scientific research changes ideas and affects people, including benefits, costs, and contributions from scientists of varied backgrounds. They compare suitable sources and judge the evidence, accuracy, methods, credibility, and cost effectiveness. They use career resources and STEM professionals to investigate jobs.

02

What Mastery Looks Like

Given an innovation, a student can explain how evidence changed scientific thinking and identify effects on society. The student can rank sources with specific reasons, make an evidence based decision, and describe a STEM career using reliable information.

03

Common Misconceptions

Students may treat any polished website or expert quote as reliable, or assume the newest source is automatically best. They may list only benefits, confuse price with overall cost effectiveness, or name a scientist without explaining the person’s contribution. They may also think STEM careers exist only in laboratories.

04

How to Assess It

Give students two brief sources about a proposed solar project, one reliable and one weak. Ask them to choose a source, justify its credibility, and state one benefit, one cost, and one related STEM career.

1. 01

   Give groups source cards about a water filter; students sort them by credibility, then rank options using cost and test data.

2. 02

   Ask, “Should our city fund this water filter?” Students cite two sources, weigh benefits and costs, and name evidence that could change their view.

3. 03

   Play Source Detective: teams score articles for author expertise, evidence, methods, date, and conflicts, then defend one rating.

4. 04

   Students use a museum career page and a STEM worker interview to create a job card listing duties, training, tools, and social impact.

• K.4

  The Kindergarten version of this standard.

• 1.4

  Scientific and engineering practices. The student knows the contributions of scientists and recognizes the importance of scientific research and innovation for ...

• 3.4

  Scientific and engineering practices. The student knows the contributions of scientists and recognizes the importance of scientific research and innovation for ...

• 7.4

  The 7th Grade version of this standard.