Content Update: Introducing Khan Academy’s new High School science courses aligned to Texas (TEKS) standards!

Calling all Texas high school science teachers!

Khan Academy is delighted to announce the release of our new high school courses in biology, chemistry, and physics just in time for the 2024-25 school year! These courses, thoughtfully aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) science standards, are designed to provide robust, comprehensive support tailored to meet Texas-specific educational goals.

Additionally, we have developed detailed teacher guides to accompany each unit in these courses. These guides offer valuable insights into common student misconceptions, clear lesson objectives, practical implementation strategies, teaching tips, engaging classroom activities, and exciting science phenomena to ignite students' curiosity and draw connections between science and the world around them. These guides will be released late July, 2024.

Biology: Exploring life on every level

Our new high school biology course offers a deep dive into the core principles and complex systems that shape life on Earth, from genetics and biodiversity to ecosystems and evolutionary processes. Through engaging articles and videos, students will explore biological structures and functions across multiple levels—from individual cells to entire organisms and ecosystems. They will also delve into mechanisms of genetic inheritance, analyze energy flow and matter cycling within ecosystems, and apply scientific reasoning to understand how evolutionary processes drive life’s diversity.

This course connects biology to real-world issues such as climate change and biodiversity conservation, making learning relevant and impactful. With over 40 new exercise sets, students can develop a well-rounded mastery of biology through both conceptual and applied problem types. Whether explaining the biology behind medical innovations like gene therapy or exploring the impacts of invasive species, our instructional content ensures students are engaged and ready to apply their knowledge in meaningful contexts.

Chemistry: Understanding the central science

Our chemistry course brings the “central science” to life by exploring matter at its most fundamental level and understanding how atomic theory explains the behavior of matter. Through our new articles and videos, students will learn about the periodic table, predict chemical interactions, and explore the effects of temperature and pressure on gasses and solutions. They will also investigate the relationship between matter and energy, including heat transfer and radioactivity.

With 70 new exercise sets, this course provides ample opportunities for students to check their understanding and apply their knowledge. By engaging with real-world scenarios like the neutralization of acids and bases or the combustion of hydrocarbons, students can see chemistry in action. This practical approach not only builds a strong foundation in chemistry but also helps students appreciate its relevance in everyday life and critical scientific processes.

Physics: Discovering the principles of the universe

Our physics course invites students to explore the fundamental principles that govern the universe, from forces and energy to electromagnetism. Through our new video series, students will learn to explain everyday observations such as the motion of a ball and static electricity, as well as the physics behind engineering feats like space rockets and electricity generation.

With over 50 new exercise sets, students can develop a well-rounded mastery of physics through a variety of item types that challenge them to apply concepts both conceptually and mathematically. By connecting physics to real-world phenomena and engineering achievements, this course ensures that students not only understand theoretical principles but also appreciate their practical applications in making our world function more efficiently and safely.

By integrating Khan Academy’s TEKS-aligned high school courses in biology, chemistry, and physics into your classroom, you can enhance instructional strategies, support differentiated learning, and ensure your students meet the rigorous expectations of the TEKS standards. Explore these new courses to transform your science instruction and boost student achievement in the upcoming school year.

Let’s work together to inspire Texas students with the wonders of science and equip them with the skills and knowledge they need to excel.

Iman

Group Manager, STEM Content 

Khan Academy