S.4.8.B | TEKS Guide

SCIENCE.4.8.B — Vertical Alignment

Vertical alignment shows student expectations in the same subject area at different grade levels that are related to or build upon one another.

S.4.8.B

identify conductors and insulators of thermal and electrical energy; and

S.4.8.C

demonstrate and describe how electrical energy travels in a closed path that can produce light and thermal energy.

IPC.6.A

design and construct series and parallel circuits that model real-world circuits such as in-home wiring, automobile wiring, and simple electrical devices to evaluate the transfer of electrical energy;

IPC.6.B

design, evaluate, and refine a device that generates electrical energy through the interaction of electric charges and magnetic fields;

PHYS.6.D

analyze, design, and construct series and parallel circuits using schematics and materials such as switches, wires, resistors, lightbulbs, batteries, voltmeters, and ammeters; and

PHYS.6.E

calculate current through, potential difference across, resistance of, and power used by electric circuit elements connected in both series and parallel circuits using Ohm's law.

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Recurring themes and concepts — Connections to the content

Recurring themes and concepts provide a connective structure for scientific ideas across disciplines. The connection(s) below show some ways that teachers can help students understand how the content they are learning fits into the broader understanding of science. These connections do not represent all possible connections that might be made but highlight some that are appropriate for this grade level.

Cause-and-effect relationships

Cause-and-effect relationships are relationships between two or more variables or phenomena whereby one variable or event leads to a predictable response. Events have causes—sometimes simple, sometimes multi-faceted.

If an electrical conductor is placed in an electric circuit (cause), the light bulb will turn on (effect). If a thermal insulator is placed around an ice cube (cause), the ice cube will melt slower (effect).

Flow of energy and cycling of matter through systems

Matter and energy are conserved, changing forms but maintaining quantities. Energy flows within a system or between systems through transfers and transformations. Matter is cycled within systems through physical and chemical processes.

An electric circuit is a system. The energy flows from the battery through the components of the circuit. An insulator will slow or stop the flow of electricity. An example of a thermal energy system is a mug of hot liquid and a person's hand. Heat flows from the liquid through the mug to the hand. The mug could be made of a conductor (like clay) or an insulator (like Styrofoam).

Relationship between structure and function

A structure is an organized arrangement of particles, parts, or elements in a substance, body, or entity. A function is the purpose or reason for something to exist in a system. The function of a structure depends on the shapes of and relationships among its essential parts.

Materials are selected based on physical properties (structure) for conduction or insulation (function).

Cross-curricular Connections

The cross-curricular connections are designed to help educators make content connections between the science TEKS and math, English language arts and reading, social studies, and technology applications. The standards below illustrate alignment between grade level content areas which may help educators develop cross-curricular lessons. These connections do not represent all possible connections that might be made.

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English Language Arts and Reading

Science.4.8.B

SCIENCE.4.8.B — Vertical Alignment

Recurring themes and concepts — Connections to the content

Cross-curricular Connections