Texas TEKS 7.3

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

• 7.3.A

  develop explanations and propose solutions supported by data and models and consistent with scientific ideas, principles, and theories

• 7.3.B

  communicate explanations and solutions individually and collaboratively in a variety of settings and formats

• 7.3.C

  engage respectfully in scientific argumentation using applied scientific explanations and empirical evidence.

01

What Students Need to Do

Students use observations, measurements, graphs, and models to explain results or propose a workable solution. They share their reasoning and respond respectfully to competing claims with evidence.

02

What Mastery Looks Like

Given data or a model, students make a clear claim, cite specific evidence, and connect it to a scientific idea. They compare solutions, address counterclaims, and revise when stronger evidence appears.

03

Common Misconceptions

Students may treat opinions as evidence or list data without explaining how it supports a claim. They may assume models are exact copies of reality or view disagreement as a personal conflict.

04

How to Assess It

Give plant heights of 12, 18, and 14 centimeters for 0, 5, and 10 grams of fertilizer. Ask students to recommend an amount, cite two values, explain their reasoning, and address the claim that more fertilizer is always better.

1. 01

   Test toy-car stopping distances on three surfaces, graph the results, and recommend the safest ramp landing using evidence.

2. 02

   Compare two explanations for unexpected plant growth, then write which is stronger and identify the evidence that supports it.

3. 03

   Run a claim, evidence, and reasoning card sort, then have pairs reject one mismatched evidence card and explain why.

4. 04

   Measure one day of cafeteria waste, graph the categories, and propose a reduction plan supported by the class data.

• 1.3

  The 1st Grade version of this standard.

• K.3

  The Kindergarten version of this standard.

• 3.3

  The 3rd Grade version of this standard.

• 6.3

  The 6th Grade version of this standard.