In addition to visiting the museum exhibits, students can extend their learning through Curious classroom experiences. In all of these classroom experiences, students use hands-on scientific investigations, vocabulary, and reasoning, in addition to art thinking and art making to better understand and learn grade-level science TEKS.

Each classroom experience is directly related to exhibits on the museum floor, which also are TEKS-based. Teachers are given post-visit follow up activities to reinforce this learning in their classrooms.                             

1st – 2nd grades

Physical Properties and Picasso: Students learn the connections between physical properties and art making by famous artists such as Picasso. Grade-level TEKS focus include:1st grade - size, mass, color, texture, shapes; 2nd grade, previously mentioned physical properties, in addition to position, sliding, rolling, spinning

TEKS: 1.2A, B, C, D, E; 1.4A, B; 1.5A; 2.2A, B, C, D, E; 2.5A, 2.6C, D

3rd grade:

Adaptation, Structure, and Function: Students learn the connections between environment, adaptation, structure, and function. They use art-making materials to design their own animal that would survive in a chosen environment.

TEKS: 3.2 B, D; 3.10A

 3rd - 5th grades:

Light Energy and Adaptation: Students learn the connections between light energy and its effect on animal adaptation. They use art-making materials to better understand light energy and then apply that knowledge to animals’ structure and function in their camouflage traits.

TEKS: 3.2A, C, D, F; 3.3D; 3.6A, 3.10A; 4.2A, C, D, F; 4.3D; 4.6A; 4.10A; 5.2A, C, D, F; 5.3D; 5.6A; 5.10A

6th grade:

Gravity, and Solar System Bodies: Students learn the connections between gravity and solar system bodies such as the Sun, planets, meteors, asteroids, and comets. They also learn the differences in physical properties, locations, and movements of these solar system components through design activities.  

TEKS: 6.2A, C, E; 6.11A, B, C

7th grade:

Forces/Motion and Life Science: Students learn the connections between forces/motion, phototropism, and geotropism. Students take their understanding of forces and motion that they have gained in the museum’s Marble Run exhibit into creating 3D sculptures that demonstrate how organisms respond to stimuli through phototropism and geotropism.

TEKS: 7.1A, B; 7.7A, B, C; 7.13A

8th grade:

Forces/Motion and Electromagnetic Spectrum: In the exhibit area, students conduct hands-on investigations of Newton’s laws and topographical maps. In the classroom, they investigate connections between the electromagnetic spectrum, light waves, star classification, and visual phenomena. Their art making tests the impact of various light waves on the human eye. They tie this phenomena to their investigation of topographical maps.

TEKS: 8.1A, B; 8.2A, B, C; D; E; 8.3B, C 8.6A, B, C; 8.7A, B; 8.8A, B, C; 8.9C; 8.11A

High School Physics:

Waves: Students learn the characteristics of longitudinal and transverse waves and apply this knowledge to the electromagnetic spectrum and sound, to how various waves travel through different types of matter and to how different species react to these waves. Students also apply this knowledge to their art- and music-making.

TEKS: 2E, F, J, K; 7A, B, C, D, E

For more information, contact Operations Director Tracy Niedecken at: tracy.curious.imagine@gmail

Be Curious!