Introduction

In Texas, the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) set the expectations for what students should know and be able to do across grade levels and content areas. In Strawbees Classroom, you will find lessons and activities aligned with:

1. Science TEKS – Focused on scientific and engineering practices, force and motion, earth and space, organisms and their environments, and the recurring themes that connect these topics.
2. Technology Applications TEKS – Emphasizing computational thinking, creativity and innovation with a design process, data literacy, and digital citizenship.
3. Mathematics TEKS – Incorporating geometric and numerical concepts, problem-solving, and connections to real-world applications.

Below is an overview of how Strawbees Classroom resources support these standards, including specific strands and skills frequently addressed.

Science TEKS

Strawbees Classroom lessons frequently align with science TEKS around Scientific and Engineering Practices and Recurring Themes and Concepts. Most lessons emphasize:

Scientific and engineering practices

• Asking questions and defining problems (e.g., “The student is expected to: ask questions and define problems based on observations…”).
• Planning and safely conducting investigations (e.g., building a model or designing a prototype).
• Analyzing and interpreting data (e.g., collecting measurements and evaluating a design).
• Communicating solutions and explanations (e.g., presenting findings from a prototype, journaling observations).

Force, motion, and energy

Many projects explore how forces act on objects, how energy transfers, and how systems change or stay stable. For example:

• Building a catapult, wind turbine, or roller coaster prototype and analyzing net force, potential/kinetic energy, or speed/velocity.

Organisms and environments

Some lessons focus on adaptation and biodiversity, demonstrating how living systems interact with each other and with abiotic factors. For example:

• Investigating aquatic, desert, or rainforest biomes, coding a phototropic plant model, or building a whale robot that simulates unique behaviors.

Earth and space

Many resources highlight natural resources, conservation, renewable energy, and human impact on ecosystems. For example:

• Designing hydropower or solar power models to illustrate how energy can be harnessed sustainably.

Recurring themes and concepts

This includes patterns, cause and effect, structure and function, and the cycling of energy/matter. Students often create, test, and refine prototypes to observe how these concepts unify science domains.

In short, teachers can use Strawbees as a platform to address key Science TEKS such as:

• Scientific and engineering practices
• Force, motion, and energy
• Earth and space
• Organisms and environments
• Recurring themes and concepts

Technology Applications TEKS

Strawbees Classroom lessons are strongly aligned with Technology Applications TEKS, especially in the domains of Computational Thinking and Creativity and Innovation. Here are the key connections:

Computational Thinking – Foundations and Applications

• Decomposing real-world problems, identifying patterns, designing and debugging algorithms.
• Using micro:bit coding tasks to explore sequences, loops, conditionals, and variables.
• Breaking down tasks into steps for servo movements, sensor-based triggers, or simple data-collection.

Creativity and Innovation – Design Process

• Applying an iterative design cycle: brainstorming, prototyping, testing, refining solutions.
• Engaging in “innovative design” to solve authentic problems or create original products.
• Emphasizing personal behaviors such as persistence, communication, and metacognition.

Data Literacy and Representation

• Collecting, interpreting, and visualizing data through digital tools.
• Classifying data (quantitative or qualitative), using advanced search strategies, or employing Boolean operators to refine digital research.

Digital Citizenship

• Some lessons feature responsible technology usage and respectful peer collaboration in online or classroom settings.

In practice, you’ll see these TEKS often cited under resources:

• Computational thinking—foundations
• Creativity and innovation—innovative design process
• Data literacy—collect, analyze, communicate
• Digital citizenship—social interactions

Mathematics TEKS

Although fewer lessons are formally cross-listed with Math TEKS, several resources naturally address Geometry and Algebraic Reasoning. Common math alignments appear in lessons where students:

Explore 2D and 3D Geometry

• Construct shapes like triangles, squares, or polygons to form 3D solids (tetrahedron, octahedron, cube, etc.).
• Compare attributes of geometric figures (e.g., angles, parallel/perpendicular lines, faces, edges).

Apply Arithmetic or Algebraic Thinking

• Setting variables in code (like servo angles or loops) and adjusting numerical values to fine-tune prototypes.
• Calculating speed, average distance, and analyzing data in real-world contexts such as rolling balls on ramps or catapult launches.

Solve Problems with Place Value and Fluency

• Some lessons incorporate measurement tasks, repeated addition or skip counting for structural patterns, or analyzing results of multiple trials.

Typical TEKS references might include:

• Geometry and measurement
• Number and operations
• Mathematical process standards

Assessment

Strawbees Classroom offers various ways to assess TEKS mastery. Some of these approaches can also help students practice short constructed response items on the STAAR assessment:

• Formative Checkpoints
  Observe teams during build sessions to gauge collaboration, problem-solving, and content understanding.

• Hands-On Projects
  Assign culminating builds or design tasks that integrate science, technology, and math TEKS. Students show mastery in the successful functionality of their prototypes.

• Reflective Journals and Short Constructed Responses
  Encourage students to write short paragraphs or quick writes (approx. 250 characters) summarizing their design choices, data observations, or problem-solving steps. This practice not only deepens content understanding but also prepares them for the short constructed response items on Texas state assessments (STAAR).

Tip: You can structure these short constructed responses by having students address key prompts: “What was the challenge or question? What data did I collect or observe? How does that data support my conclusion?”

How to Use This Article

1. Curriculum Planning: Share this summary with administrators or colleagues to demonstrate how Strawbees aligns with multiple TEKS strands.
2. Lesson Selection: Identify which standards are critical for your grade level, then choose matching Strawbees resources to deepen TEKS-based instruction.
3. Short Constructed Response Practice: Incorporate quick writing prompts into Strawbees lessons for students to summarize their design process, data, or scientific reasoning—helping them master the STAAR short constructed response format.
4. Customization: Adapt the listed TEKS references to your local scope and sequence. Highlight the TEKS standards that each Strawbees lesson addresses, drawing from the detailed usage report.

By integrating these project-based lessons, you empower students to actively engage with Science, Technology Applications, and Mathematics TEKS—leading to hands-on, creative, and meaningful learning experiences.