Texas TEKS K.15
TEKS Knowledge Statement (Expectation Cluster)
Social studies skills. The student uses problem-solving and decision-making skills, working independently and with others. The student is expected to: use democratic procedures to collaborate with others when making decisions on issues in the classroom, school, or community; and use problem-solving and decision-making processes to identify a problem, gather information, list and consider options, consider advantages and disadvantages, choose and implement a solution, and evaluate the effectiveness of the solution.
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Social Studies
Cluster contents
Student Expectations in This Statement
K.15 is a TEKS knowledge and skills statement. These are the student expectations under it.
Teacher's field guide
What This Cluster Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students name a shared problem, listen to classmates, and help suggest possible fixes. They compare choices, make a fair group decision, try it, then say whether it worked.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Given a classroom problem, a student can suggest two solutions and name a good point and a drawback for each. The student votes respectfully, follows the group decision, and checks the result.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may think a fair choice means everyone gets what they want or that losing a vote means they do not have to cooperate. They may choose the first idea without comparing options or claim a solution worked simply because they liked it.
How to Assess It
- Ask: “Two groups want the same recess ball. Give two solutions, choose one fairly, and explain how you would check whether it worked.”
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give teams six crayons for eight children; have them name the problem, test two sharing plans, vote, and judge which worked.
Ask, “Should our class read inside or outside?” Have students state a choice and reason, listen to others, then vote.
Teams arrange picture cards showing problem-solving steps, then race to match each step with a classroom example.
Walk through the school to spot a simple problem, such as litter, then plan, test, and review one class solution.
Free download
Printable K.15 Worksheet

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to K.15, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.
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Related Standards
- 1.18
Social studies skills. The student uses problem-solving and decision-making skills, working independently and with others. The student is expected to:
- 6.22
The student uses problem-solving and decision-making skills, working independently and with others
- 2.17
Social studies skills. The student uses problem-solving and decision-making skills, working independently and with others. The student is expected to:
- 3.16
Social studies skills. The student uses problem-solving and decision-making skills, working independently and with others. The student is expected to:
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