Concept Strands are clusters of TEKS that share a common principle or principles. These clusters can be vertically linked across grade levels to develop innovative curriculum models. These kinds of models focus on "big ideas" of science (i.e., principles) rather than solely on the traditional disciplines of science. Hence, learning is depicted as a complex, reciprocal process. Higher order thinking and inquiry skills develop from an understanding of common principles in the early grades then serve to broaden understanding across concepts as new information and skills are incorporated into common principles.
To navigate through this web site, click on a grade level (kindergarten is the default level when you enter the browser) and a subject matter link in the frame to the left. This (right-hand) frame then displays the processes and principles used to organize essential knowledge and skills defined for that grade level or subject matter area. If you want to see how knowledge and skills change over grades and subject matter areas, click on a Process or Concept Strand and then click through the grades and subject matter areas. The TEKS will appear in this frame. Clicking on the Overview button will place the selected grade or subject introductions into the this frame. These overviews communicate general ideas about grade level and subject matter content and should help teachers form educational goals that can be used to guide teaching. Click on any Process
or Concept Strand and the TEKS specific to that area, along with the TEKS numbers, appear in a table in this frame. To print, highlight the frame and then select the Print Frame command located in the File directory on the browser menu bar. An active frame can be saved by clicking on the Save Frame As command also located in the File directory on the browser menu bar.