Best Free TEKS-Aligned Science Resources for Texas Teachers This Year
Khan Academy’s Texas science curriculum is expanding with new 6th Grade Science, 7th Grade Science, and Integrated Physics and Chemistry coursesTexas science teachers, this one’s for you. You’re helping. . .
Khan Academy’s Texas science curriculum is expanding with new 6th Grade Science, 7th Grade Science, and Integrated Physics and Chemistry coursesTexas science teachers, this one’s for you. You’re helping students do much more than memorize facts. You’re helping them ask questions, spot patterns, analyze evidence, make models, test ideas, and understand the world around them. That takes strong resources, and it takes time. Khan Academy can help. Thanks to support from theExxonMobil Foundation, Khan Academy has launched three new TEKS-aligned Texas science courses:6th Grade Science,7th Grade Science, andIntegrated Physics and Chemistry, also known as IPC. These new courses join Khan Academy’s existing Texas science courses in8th Grade Science,High School Biology,Chemistry, andPhysics, creating a free, connected science sequence from middle school through high school. All free. All TEKS-aligned. All built to help you bring science to life in your classroom. What’s new for Texas science teachers?Three new courses are now available:6th Grade Science7th Grade ScienceHigh School Integrated Physics and Chemistry (IPC)Each course is built around the kind of science learning students need most: real-world phenomena, scientific reasoning, hands-on exploration, and plenty of practice. ng that kind of fits” and more time getting students into practice that is actually tied to your course. Middle school science that connects the dotsThe new6th Grade Scienceand7th Grade Sciencecourses help students connect ideas across chemistry, physics, Earth science, biology, and environmental science. In6th Grade Science, students explore topics like properties of matter, gravity, electricity, magnetism, seasons, tides, ecosystems, and cell biology. In7th Grade Science, students go deeper into chemical properties and changes, plate tectonics, Earth’s changing surface, and how organ systems work together in the human body. A sample question from the 6th grade exercise Apply: TidesA sample question from the 7th grade interactive article, Learn and try: Elements, atoms, and the periodic tableIPC that helps students build confidenceFor many Texas students, IPC is their first experience with high school science. It can set the tone for everything that comes afterward. Our new IPC course is designed to meet students where they are by building their confidence in science before they take stand-alone physics or chemistry. It also covers the full TEKS IPC scope and sequence across nine units, including:Atomic structure and the periodic tableChemical reactionsForce and motionEnergyWavesElectricityEnergy, technology, and the environmentThe course doesn’t shy away from challenging topics. It tackles atomic emission spectra, wave-particle duality, nuclear fission and fusion, and electric generators, with clear, animated videos that make even the trickiest concepts approachable. Our IPC course includes:50+ instructional videoswith engaging animations and clear explanations25+ articles, several with embeddedPhET simulationsfor virtual, hands-on investigation60+ exercise setswith full solution explanationsHands-on activitiesanchored in real phenomena, such as what makes a neon sign glow or how engineers use the conservation of energy to design roller coastersIn Khan Academy’s IPC course, students learn by making connections to their everyday lives. Interactive articles in IPC allow students to learn through guided interactions with PhET simulations. Built for “Wait, can you explain that another way?”Every science teacher knows that moment. A concept makes sense to some students right away. Others need a different explanation, a visual, a model, a simulation, or a chance to try it themselves. That is why these new courses include multiple ways for students to engage:Videos with clear explanationsArticles grounded in real-world phenomenaInteractive “Learn and try”articlesEmbedded PhET simulationsPractice sets with full solution explanationsHands-on activities using easy-to-find materialsStudents can watch, read, try, practice, and revisit concepts when they need more support. rce for a subject that historically hasn’t had enough strong teaching materials. Teacher guides are built-inThe new courses were designed with classroom use in mind. Every unit includes ateacher guidewith the following:Key concepts and standards overviewSuggested phenomena to anchor the unitTips for using videos, articles, and exercisesCommon student misconceptions and ways to address themDifferentiation strategiesAnswer keys and support for hands-on activitiesThat means you do not have to start from scratch. Use Khan Academy for whole-class instruction, small-group work, independent practice, homework, review, intervention, enrichment, or support before and after labs. A connected Texas science sequenceWith these new courses, Khan Academy now offers TEKS-aligned support for the following courses:6th Grade Science7th Grade Science8th Grade ScienceHigh School BiologyHigh School ChemistryHigh School PhysicsHigh School Integrated Physics and ChemistryTogether, these courses help students build science knowledge over time, from middle school foundations to high school science. For teachers, instructional coaches, and administrators, it means a free resource that can support classrooms across grades, campuses, and districts. Free for Texas classroomsThese new TEKS-aligned courses were made possible thanks to support from theExxonMobil Foundation, helping Khan Academy provide free, high-quality science resources for Texas teachers and students. Add these to your toolkit