A student expectation is directly related to the knowledge and skills statement, is more specific about how students demonstrate their learning, and always begins with a verb. Student expectations are further broken down into their component parts, often referred to as “breakouts.”
Vertical alignment shows student expectations in the same subject area at different grade levels that are related to or build upon one another.
S.8.6.E
investigate how mass is conserved in chemical reactions and relate conservation of mass to the rearrangement of atoms using chemical equations, including photosynthesis.
interpret, write, and balance chemical equations, including synthesis, decomposition, single replacement, double replacement, and combustion reactions using the law of conservation of mass;
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.
When certain chemicals are mixed (cause), the atoms of each substance are rearranged, new substances are formed, and mass is conserved (effects).
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.
A chemical reaction is a cycling of matter into different forms as the atoms are rearranged from the reactants to the products.
Stability and change
Stability describes a system that does not change at the observed scale. In a stable system, a small disturbance will die out and the system will return to a stable state. Change in the system can come from modifying a factor or condition.
Most chemicals used in a reaction are in a stable (nonreactive) state until mixed, when they undergo a chemical change, rearranging the atoms.
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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Math
Math.8.10.B differentiate between transformations that preserve congruence and those that do not
English Language Arts and Reading
ELAR.8.5.F make inferences and use evidence to support understanding
ELAR.8.5.H synthesize information to create new understanding
ELAR.8.12.A generate student‐selected and teacher‐guided questions for formal and informal inquiry