NGSS and TEKS Standards Alignment

Do you teach science in Texas and use the TEKS standards, but find resources written for the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)? Many teachers run into this situation when looking for science lessons, stations, or full units.

Understanding how NGSS and TEKS connect can make it much easier to decide whether a resource will work in your classroom. Even though Texas does not officially adopt NGSS, many of the science ideas and practices overlap.

To help teachers quickly see those connections, we created an NGSS and TEKS standards alignment for grades 2–4. This document shows how NGSS performance expectations relate to Texas science standards and helps you determine which NGSS-based lessons may still fit within your TEKS instruction.

Over the years, we received many questions from Texas teachers asking which of our science stations and 5E units align with their state standards. Creating this alignment allowed us to answer those questions in one place and make planning science instruction much easier.

What is Included in the NGSS & TEKS Alignment Document?

The NGSS and TEKS alignment document includes three main sections that help teachers understand how the standards relate to each other.

1. NGSS Standards for Grades 2–4

The first section lists all NGSS performance expectations for second through fourth grade. Each standard includes links to related science stations and 5E science units so teachers can quickly find lessons that address those science ideas.

2. TEKS and NGSS Alignment by Grade Level

The second section shows how Texas science TEKS connect to NGSS standards. This comparison allows teachers to see which NGSS concepts relate most closely to the expectations in the Texas standards.

This alignment helps teachers determine whether NGSS-based science resources can support their TEKS instruction.

3. NGSS Science Blog Posts and Resources

The final section includes links to blog posts and science teaching resources that support NGSS-style instruction. These articles can help teachers plan investigations, introduce science concepts, and guide students through the science practices.

A Note About the Alignment

This alignment represents our interpretation of how NGSS and TEKS standards connect.

Our science stations and 5E units were originally designed using the Next Generation Science Standards. Even if your state uses different standards, many of the science ideas and investigations can still support your instruction.

Teachers in Texas often use NGSS-based lessons alongside TEKS instruction since the underlying science concepts frequently overlap.

NGSS and Texas TEKS

Texas does not officially adopt the Next Generation Science Standards. Instead, Texas uses its own set of standards called the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).

While the wording and structure of the standards differ, both sets of standards focus on helping students:

• investigate scientific questions
• analyze evidence
• explain patterns and relationships in the natural world
• apply science ideas to real-world situations

Because of these shared goals, many NGSS-aligned science lessons can still support TEKS-based instruction when teachers adapt them to their classroom needs.

Can NGSS Lessons Be Used in Texas Classrooms?

Many teachers in Texas use NGSS-aligned science resources even though the state follows TEKS standards. NGSS focuses on scientific practices, investigations, and real-world science concepts that often overlap with TEKS expectations.

When teachers review both standards together, it becomes easier to see how NGSS lessons can support TEKS learning goals.

The alignment document above helps identify those connections so teachers can confidently adapt NGSS resources for Texas classrooms.

How to Get the NGSS & TEKS Alignment Document

If you teach science in Texas and want a quick reference showing how NGSS ideas relate to TEKS standards, this document can help simplify your planning.

The NGSS & TEKS Alignment Document is a Google Doc that you can copy directly to your own Google Drive.

Once you receive the document, you can use it to:

• identify NGSS concepts connected to TEKS standards
• find science stations and 5E units related to each topic
• plan science lessons more easily

Even if you do not use our science stations or 5E units, many teachers find the alignment helpful when comparing science standards and planning instruction.