The Social Studies TEKS Planner

The Social Studies TEKS Planner is designed to help administrators and teachers understand the changes in the Social Studies TEKS when planning a comprehensive social studies program, lessons and delivering instruction. From Kindergarten through Government, the TEKS are organized around eight strands: history; geography; economics; government; citizenship; culture; science, technology and society; and social studies skills. Economics is organized around 3 strands: economics; personal financial literacy; and social studies skills. “While one strand may serve as the logical hub around which curriculum, instruction, and assessment are designed for a given grade level or course (the history strand as the hub at Grade 7 and 8, for example, or the government strand as the hub for the high school U.S. Government course), curriculum developed would be incomplete without careful inclusion of all strands.” (page 8, Texas Social Studies Framework, TEA 1999) Each course begins with its General Requirements and Introduction. Elements that are NEW are bolded. The Introduction provides valuable information regarding the structure of the course; expectations for materials to be used; rationale for expectations regarding students’ understanding of the role of the U.S. free enterprise system, the importance of patriotism, and appreciation for the basic democratic values of our state and nation; and specifics regarding Celebrate Freedom Week (under the TEC, §29.907). This book is organized by the NEW Social Studies TEKS. Where applicable, the OLD Social Studies TEKS were correlated with the new ones.