Science Techbook for Texas for Elementary Classrooms

The embedded formative assessment prompts throughout the K-5 program are STAAR 2.0 assessment types. Additionally, you will find Concept Summative Assessments in the Evaluate lessons for grades 3-5. The question types in these assessments also mirror the look and feel of STAAR- based item types and include the new STAAR 2.0 question types: text entry, hot spot, drag and drop, multi-part, multi-select, and short constructed response.

Many assessments are automatically graded, and instructors can view student and class performance in the Concept Assessment Results section. Constructed response questions include rubrics for additional feedback.

For more information on assessments, click here.

At the close of each Explore lesson, students complete a formative assessment called “What Did You Figure Out?” Available in print and digital modalities, these assessments provide a quick opportunity for students to demonstrate their understanding.

Phenomenon Check-Ins, found at the end of every hands-on activity, serve as another formative check for understanding that allows students to reflect on their sensemaking. As students generate and analyze data, these artifacts allow teachers to monitor student progress. Many formative assessments are auto-graded with built-in scaffolded supports for instant feedback.

For more information on assessments, click here.

Using the CER framework, students synthesize the evidence gathered while completing hands-on activities, interactives, and literacy lessons during their Explore Lessons. They evaluate the validity of this evidence to answer their original questions from Engage.

In K-2, knowing our youngest learners are still novices to scientific and engineering practices, we include the claim statements for instructors to use as a whole-class discussion and encourage students to talk with one another to share how evidence does or does not support each claim.

In grades 3-5, we scaffold students’ understanding as they begin to construct their own scientific claims and explanations.

Rubrics and the ability to provide personal feedback to their peers help students continue improving the rigor of their explanations over time.

Literacy Cards enhance lessons for students in grades K-2. K-5 literacy lessons, with activities such as Read Togethers, are delivered via slideshows and include strategies for whole and small-group instruction.

Students and instructors can also take advantage of the Immersive Reader located within the Lesson slideshows and the interactive glossaries. Immersive Reader provides personalized access to the curriculum with features such as read-aloud, line focus, translation, and grammar markings, as well as the ability to adjust the size, style, and color of the font.