Texas K-12 Science Curriculum
3rd-5th Grade

Accelerate Science Teaching & Learning With Our Dynamic, Engaging, & Effective Product Suite For All Science Learners

Please choose an image below for more information.

STAAR® Readiness Course

TEKS Videos, Animations, & Simulations

Concept Mastery

Science & Engineering Practices (SEPs)

Science Labs, Virtual Field Investigations, & Kate the Chemist

Dynamic Student Engagement

Accommodations & Accessibility

Science Literacy & Writing

Science Writing & Cognates

Vocabulary Mastery

Newcomer Resources & Graphic Organizers

Scientific Phenomena

3rd-5th Grade Texas Science Curriculum

3rd-5th Grade Science Curriculum Overview

Science Teaching & Learning

STARR® Readiness Course

Rigorous 5-Step Patented STAAR® Review Process

STAAR® Readiness Course Offering

Full-length STAAR Practice Test

  • 40% dual-coded, and at least 25% NEW HB3906 items
  • Includes short constructed response (SCR) items
  • Includes all assessed Readiness and Supporting standards

Personalized Learning Plans for each student

  • Dynamic vertically aligned scaffolds
  • High Quality TEKS Lesson Videos and Academic Vocabulary Mastery Sequence

 

**STAAR® is a federally registered mark owned by the TEA. Neither Summit K12, nor any of its courses or modules which support students with STAAR® Readiness are not sponsored by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Texas Education Agency.

Science Videos & Animations

3rd-5th Grade Science Videos & Animations

High Quality TEKS Lesson Videos and Animations bring Science to Life!

  • 100% of the Science Content TEKS and SEPs include high quality Lesson Videos
  • The course also includes Lab Investigation Videos and Texas Virtual Field Investigations Videos
  • Texas Science Educators and authors, along with a team of Professional Documentary makers created 100% of our Videos
  • Our Film Editors and storytellers created videos specifically for the 2024 K-12 Science TEKS 
  • Videos are all closed-captioned

Science Videos, Animations, & Simulation Examples

The Concept Mastery Approach

What is the Concept Mastery Approach?

The Concept Mastery Approach is a rigorous process teachers follow to help each student master both the Concepts and the Academic Vocabulary.

The Vertically-Aligned scaffolds are built into the Teacher’s Guide and Student Tables to differentiate and accelerate student learning and mastery.

All content is organized by Category and TEKS, making it easy to follow any scope and sequence.

Concept Mastery

Scientific & Engineering Practices

Scientific & Engineering Practices (SEPs)

The Scientific and Engineering Practices (SEPs) section of the course provides a centralized location where teachers can access SEPs resources, lesson videos, and vocabulary. Teachers will also find some of the STEM Careers, Lab Videos, and Virtual Field Investigation Videos included in the program too.

Unique Student Opportunities

  • Efficiently explore most of the major Science Related Museums in Texas
  • Investigate 64 STEM-Careers by Reporting Category and Theme
  • Explore over 70 Texas and National Science, Math, and STEM professional and educational organizations
  • Engage with over 35+ major Texas STEM employers by location of their main offices or facilities
  • Discover a curated list of the major Science and STEM-focused online platforms

3rd-5th Grade Scientific & Engineering Examples

Scientific & Engineering Processes Overview

The SEPs are embedded within every Dynamic Science Lesson and are articulated in the TEKS Lesson Guides.

Highlights

  • Demonstrating Safe Practices
  • SEPs and Science Tools
  • Academic Vocabulary Mastery
  • Contributions of Scientists & Research along with Exploratory Resources for STEM Careers
  • Science Process Skills Development
  • Analyzing and Interpreting Data 
  • Developing Evidence-Based Explanations
  • Recurring Themes & Concepts
  • Lab Investigation Videos & Virtual Field Investigations

Science Lab Investigations

Science Videos & Animations

High Quality TEKS Lesson Videos and Animations bring Science to Life!

  • 100% of the Science Content TEKS and SEPs include High-Quality Lesson Videos
  • The course also includes Lab Investigation Videos and Texas Virtual Field Investigations Videos
  • 100% of the Videos were created by Texas Science Educators & Authors – along with a team of Professional Documentary Creators
  • Our Film Editors& Storytellers Created Content Specifically for the 2024 K-12 Science TEKS 
  • Videos are Closed-Captioned

Science Videos & Animation Examples

Student Engagement

Dynamic Student Engagement

The Dynamic Student Engagement Science Platform includes Dozens of Different Ways to Motivate Students.

Each course includes Hundreds of Opportunities to provide Engaging Content, Videos, Animations, Interactives, Simulations, Virtual Labs, Virtual Field Investigations, and Interactive Flashcards. We also offer Engaging Student Questions, High-Quality STEM Career Exploratory Activities, Interactive Science Literacy eBooks, Interactive Study Guides, Avatars, and Student Top 10 tables.

Highlights of The Dynamic Student Engagement Offering

  • TEKS Videos and Animations
  • Interactive Digital Flashcards
  • Digital Avatars to track student progress

Student Top 10 Tables & Categories

  • 4 Levels: Class > School > District > State
  • Students at each grade level can strive to be on one of several top 10 tables at the Class, School, District, and State levels
  • Categories include the Following Achievements by Points: Concept Mastery, Vocabulary Mastery, Science Process Skills Points & Science Literacy.

Interactive Learning Activities

  • Engaging Science Literacy Interactive E-books
  • New STAAR 2.0 Item types
  • Interactive Study Guides
  • Interactive Science Cognates Lessons and Practice

Student Engagement Example Activities

Accommodations, Accessibility and Designated Supports

Grades 3rd-5th Accommodations, Accessibility, and Designated Supports

Summit K12’s Dynamic Science Courses align with the 2024 Science TEKS, SEPs, and ELPS. Our STAAR® Resources will mimic the 2025-2026 Blueprints and online test experiences as the TEA releases them.

Our accommodation solutions are built-in to provide equity for all students. Vertically-aligned scaffolds and differentiated learning tools enable you to confidently support 504, Special Education, and Emergent Bilingual students in compliance with State guidelines – representing 36% of Texas K-12 students.

Accommodation Resources

  • Bilingual Dictionaries
  • Reading Assistance for Short-Constructed Response Items
  • Notepad
  • Highlighter
  • Zoom features
  • Bookmark questions
  • Answer Eliminator for MC/MS items

Designated Supports

  • Calculation Aids – Digital Calculator
  • Content and Language Supports
  • Individualized Structured Reminders
  • Spelling Assistance
  • Supplemental Aids & Mnemonic Devices
  • Graphics and State Approved Formulas

Examples of Accommodations & Designated Supports

Science Literacy

Differentiated Science Literacy

K-5 Science Literacy

Highlights of the Program

  • Scientific and Engineering Practices are embedded within ALL Lessons
  • The SEPs are embedded within every Dynamic Science Lesson and articulated in the TEKS Lesson Guides
  • The course also includes a dedicated section where teachers can access SEPs specific lessons, practice, and activities that cross all TEKS lessons

Example Image of Science Literacy

Bringing Science & Literacy Together Simultaneously

Having students learn and reinforce their science content TEKS during their (Reading-Language Arts) RLA block deepens their understanding of the content while developing rich non-literary cross-curricular reading comprehension skills.

Blending the 2024 Science, 2017 ELAR TEKS, SEPs, and ELPS into a single Science-Literacy lesson packs much learning into a compressed period with little additional effort.

Differentiated Science Literacy is one possible answer to how we expand Science Instruction into 2 Blocks by enriching the RLA block with the 2024 Science Content standards. At the same time, better-preparing students for the RLA STAAR 2.0, which will include 2024 Science TEKS content in their Informational Passages.

**STAAR® is a federally registered mark owned by the TEA. Neither Summit K12, nor any of its courses or modules which support students with STAAR® Readiness are not sponsored by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Texas Education Agency.

Differentiated Science Literacy

Science Writing

Dynamic Science Writing Course

  • The Dynamic Science Courses include 48 Differentiated Science Writing Prompts in 3rd-5th grades and 64 in 6th-8th grades to develop student skills in writing Short Constructed Response (SCR) Items with Custom Embedded Rubrics
  • The STAAR Practice Test includes SCR Practice Items
  • We Include Copies of the CER Graphic Organizer and RUBRIC

Dynamic Science Writing Example

Science Cognates

Spanish to English Cognates

Science Cognates

The Spanish-English Science Cognates enable Emergent Bilingual Students and, in particular, 1st and 2nd-Year Beginning level students to build confidence quickly. The Science Cognates module includes context images and sentences – professionally recorded audio in both English and Spanish so students can speak and record themselves while repeating context sentences.

Highlights of the Program

  • Engages multiple senses through the Listening, Speaking, and Reading language Domains
  • Students view context image, and then listen to the word and context sentence in Spanish – followed by English
  • Finally, students record themselves Speaking the sentences

Science Cognates Examples

Vocabulary Mastery

3rd-5th Grade Vocabulary Mastery

Patented Vocabulary Mastery Process

Highlights of the Program

  • Students focus on reading and learning the context of sentences rather than memorizing images
  • Patented Vocabulary Mastery Algorithm
  • Randomized sequence of flashcards and drop-down word lists – all flashcard images dynamically change upon the student’s 2nd attempt
  • 100% of the TEKS and STAAR Academic vocabulary words in K-12 are presented to students in a variety of different lessons, media, and formats
  • Students have an opportunity to complete each school year by mastering all four types of Science Academic Vocabulary Words – Content, Science Tools, SEPs/Process, and Instructional Words in both English & Spanish
  • Newcomers and Emergent Bilinguals have the added benefit of building early confidence with the Science Cognates module

Vocabulary Mastery Examples

3rd-5th Grade Graphic Organizers

3rd-5th Grade Graphic Organizers Highlights

Includes over 40 Graphic Organizers

  • Some are lesson, theme, or category specific
  • 16 Generic templates
  • Several pre-packaged and referenced in Lesson Guides
  • All 16 Different Blank Templates are also available

Graphic Organizer Examples

Newcomer Resources

Newcomer Resources Highlights

  • 2023: 1.25 million Emergent Bilingual Students in Texas
  • 8% or ~96,000 are classified a Newcomers
  • The Multilingual Newcomer Science Foundation lesson modules provide support for these students and their families.
  • Includes 60 Newcomer Science Foundational Lessons across 12 themes in Elementary and 15 themes in Secondary in all four Reporting Categories.

Parents/Guardians engage with students to learn the foundational content in their home or first language. Classroom teachers transition students to English.

Newcomer Resources Example

Teaching and Learning Framework

Scientific Phenomena

Accelerated Teaching & Learning Framework for Science

Accelerating Teaching & Learning: Three Premises

  • Premise #1: Every aspect of this Framework accelerates learning for students while simultaneously reducing work for teachers and administrators
  • Premise #2: The Framework keeps Teachers at the center of the Teaching and Learning process
  • Premise #3: The Framework is organically developed for Texas and designed to achieve Equity in every Science Classroom

The Accelerated Teaching & Learning Framework

  • Organically built for the TEKS, ELPS, and STAAR & TEKS Concept Mastery Lesson Videos
  • Science Academic Vocabulary Mastery
  • Content, SEPs, Science Tools, and Instructional Vocabulary Words
  • VB Dynamic Images & Context Sentences vs. Memorization
  • STAAR Review Optimization Plan
  • Scientific and Engineering Practices (SEPs)
  • Virtual Science Field Investigations & Science Lab Investigation Videos
  • Interactive Animations of Abstract Science Concepts
  • Differentiated Science Literacy
  • Science Cognates
  • Accessibility and Accommodations & HB 4545
  • Science Processes and Dual Coded Focus
  • DOK Scale for Higher-Level Thinking

How We Achieve Equity

  • Evidence-based Instructional Best Practices
  • Master Teacher Lesson Modeling and Micro-PD
  • Personalized, Adaptive Learning Plans
  • Formative Assessments and Vertically Aligned Scaffolds
  • Content-based Language Instruction (CBLI)
  • Cross-curricular Science Literacy Instruction
  • 3-Dimensional Differentiated Instruction
  • Optimized Dual Language Delivery Models

Texas Rubric Information to go here.

Texas Resource Rubric Alignment

Who We Support

district

400+ School Districts in Texas

4,000+ Schools in Texas

teacher

40,000+ Teachers in Texas

students

500,000+ Students in Texas

Check Out Our Texas Science K12 Podcast

Check out our New Accelerating Texas K12 Science Podcast Below

New! Listen to Our Accelerating Texas K12 Science Podcast Now!

Join us each week as we talk to Science Thought Leaders across the state of Texas. Hear their stories, listen to their incredible innovations in Science, and be part of the initiative to help make Texas the #1 state for innovation, discovery, and hands-on learning in Science. We look forward to sharing our stories with you.

To visit our K12 Science Podcast, please click the button below.

Contact Us for More Information

clientlogo1
clientlogo2
One Roster

Easy Set Up. Exceptional Support.

With our streamlined on-boarding process, teachers and students can begin using our programs quickly. Once our implementation team receives your class rosters, they can have your classes completely set up within 24 hours. Our professional development team is also available year-round for web-based and on-site teacher training.

Summit K12 integrates with Clever, Classlink, Rapid Identity, Enboard, Microsoft Azure, and many other platforms for Single Sign-on (SSO). We support rostering for all platforms.

What Educators are Saying about Summit K12

Your customer support is the best and fastest. Program Director, Aldine ISD (TX)
Best ESL curriculum in Texas
Best ESL curriculum in Texas
After only a few weeks working with Summit K12, I have seen a wonderful change in my students' disposition towards reading. They are more eager to become independent learners. They are using the skills, not only in their ELA classes, but also in their other core classes. The information we gathered from the pretest allowed students to have a better picture of their growth. ~ ESL Specialist, McAdams/Kranz Junior High, Dickinson ISD (TX)
Best ESL curriculum in Texas
Best ESL curriculum in Texas

Explore Summit K12 Solutions