Mystery Minerals · Grades 5–8 · Science, 19 TAC Ch. 112
These alignments are a good‑faith, paraphrased mapping to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills — they are aligned to, not reproduced from the TEKS. Verify current Student Expectation numbers against the official TAC before adoption; strands are stable but codes are periodically renumbered.
The activity also supports the English Language Proficiency Standards (19 TAC Ch. 89, ELPS) through its seven‑language design and paired visual + text supports for multilingual learners.
| TEKS | Student Expectation (paraphrased) | How this activity aligns |
|---|---|---|
| §112.x — Matter & its properties | Students classify matter based on observable physical properties. | Each specimen is identified by properties like hardness, luster, streak, magnetism, and reaction to acid. |
| §112.x — Earth materials | Students identify and describe minerals and how they are used as natural resources. | Every reveal names where a mineral is found and how people use it. |
| §112.x — Scientific investigation & reasoning | Students use evidence to identify and classify. | Students reason from clues to a mineral's identity, property, and use. |
| §112.x — Natural resources & society | Students explain how mineral resources are used by people. | Question 3 connects each mineral to real-world uses (glass, steel, cement, electronics). |