LEARNING RESOURCES
The following video clips, narrated by Matthew McConaughey, are available for educational use to connect students to Texas’s unique environments, inspire awe in the natural beauty of our state, and lead to actions that support conservation. Each video includes 4 TEKS and NGSS-aligned lessons for K-12 teachers and students. Lessons include directions for the teacher, student documents in English and Spanish, and English and Spanish PowerPoint files. The lessons are aligned with the 2020/2021 revised Science TEKS. Connections to Social Studies TEKS and the Next Generation Science Standards are also made.
DEEP IN THE HEART FILM
MEXICAN FREE-TAILED BATS

Created in partnership with Bat Conservation International

Regions of Texas: Great Plains and Gulf Coastal Plains*

Ecoregion of Texas: Edwards Plateau*

*Bracken Cave, where these videos are filmed, is located outside San Antonio in these Texas regions and ecoregion. However, Mexican free-tailed bats live in all regions and ecoregions of Texas. 

Lesson Plans & Student Materials
LESSON THEMES
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Grades K-2 Structures & Functions

Science TEKS (Approved by SBOE 2021): K(13)(B), 1(13)(A), 2(13)(B)

Social Studies TEKS (Approved by SBOE 2022): K(4)(A), 1(4)(B), 1(5)(B), 2(3)(A), 2(4)(B)

NGSS: 1-LS1-1

Grades 3-5 Food Chains & Webs

Science TEKS (Approved by SBOE 2021): 3(12)(B), 4(12)(B), 5(12)(B)

Social Studies TEKS (Approved by SBOE 2022): 3(4)(A), 4(20)(A), 5(24)(A)

NGSS: 5-LS2-1

Grades 6-8 Biodiversity & Ecological Relationships

Science TEKS (Approved by SBOE 2021): 6(12)(B), 8(12)(C)

Social Studies TEKS (Approved by SBOE 2022): 6(3)(C), 6(19)(C), 7(8)(A), 7(8)(B), 7(20)(C), 8(29)(C)

NGSS: MS-LS2-4

Grades 9-12 Bats & White-Nose Syndrome: A Closer Look at This Parasitic Relationship

Science TEKS (Approved by SBOE 2020): BIO(13)(A)

NGSS: HS-LS2-6, HS-LS2-7

DEEP IN THE HEART FILM
AMERICAN BISON

Region of Texas: Great Plains

Ecoregions of Texas: High Plains and Rolling Plains

Viewing Tip: We recommend showing this video from 2:39-6:36 for younger students. Preview the clip ahead of time and show the parts of the video that are appropriate for your students. Click here for the Kinder-Grade 5 version of this clip.

Lesson Plans & Student Materials
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Grades K-2 Animals of the Great Plains

Science TEKS (Approved by SBOE 2021): K(12)(B), 1(13)(C), 2(13)(C)

Social Studies TEKS: K(5)(A), 1(3)(B), 1(4)(B), 1(5)(A), 2(3)(A), 2(4)(B)

NGSS: 1-LS1-2

Grades 3-5 Matter & Energy in Ecosystems

Science TEKS (Approved by SBOE 2021): 3(12)(B), 4(12)(B), 5(12)(B)

Social Studies TEKS: 3(3)(C), 4(4)(B), 4(6)(A), 4(8)(A), 4(8)(C), 4(9)(A), 4(9)(B), 5(8)(A), 5(8)(B)

NGSS: 5-LS2-1

Grades 6-8 Abiotic & Biotic Factors in Ecosystems

Science TEKS (Approved by SBOE 2021): 6(12)(A), 7(12)(A), 8(12)(A)

Social Studies TEKS: 6(3)(B), 7(9)(A), 8(11)(B)

NGSS: MS-LS2-3

Grades 9-12 Impact of Environmental Changes

Science TEKS (Approved by SBOE 2021): BIO(13)(D)

Social Studies TEKS: WG(2)(A), WG(9)(A), WG(18)(A), WH(15)(C), US(3)(B)

NGSS: HS-LS2-7

DEEP IN THE HEART FILM
BLACK BEAR

Region of Texas: Mountains & Basins

Ecoregion of Texas: Trans-Pecos

Lesson Plans & Student Materials
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Grades K-3 Structures & Functions

Science TEKS (Approved by SBOE 2021): K(13)(B), 1(13)(A), 2(13)(B), 3(13)(A)

Social Studies TEKS: K(3)(C), 1(3)(B), 1(4)(B), 1(4)(A), 2(3)(A), 2(4)(B), 3(4)(C)

NGSS: K-LS1-1

Grades 4-5 Physical Traits & Behaviors

Science TEKS (Approved by SBOE 2021): 4(13)(B), 5(13)(B)

Social Studies TEKS: 4(3)(A), 5(24)(A)
NGSS: 3-LS2-1

Grades 6-8 Where are the black bears?

Science TEKS (Approved by SBOE 2021): 6(12)(A)

Social Studies TEKS: 6(7)(C), 6(18)(C), 6(19)(C), 6(20)(D), 7(8)(A), 7(9)(A), 7(10)(B), 7(20)(C), 7(21)(A), 8(29)(C)

Mathematics TEKS: 6(1)(D), 6(5)(A), 7(1)(D), 8(1)(D)

NGSS: MS-LS2-1

Grades 9-12 Are all black bears black?

Science TEKS (Approved by SBOE 2020): BIO(10)(A)

Social Studies TEKS: US(15)(A)

NGSS: HS-LS3-3

DEEP IN THE HEART FILM
ECOSYSTEMS OF THE TEXAS GULF COAST

Region of Texas: Coastal Plains

Ecoregion of Texas: Gulf Prairies & Marshes

Lesson Plans & Student Materials
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Grades K-3 Investigating Environments

Science TEKS (Approved by SBOE 2021): K(12)(A), K(12)(B), 1(12)(A), 2(12)(A), 3(12)(A)

Social Studies TEKS: K(3)(C), 1(3)(B), 1(4)(A), 1(4)(B), 2(3)(A), 2(4)(B), 3(4)(C)
NGSS: 1-LS1-2

Grades 4-5 Abiotic & Biotic Interactions Investigating a Fish Kill

Science TEKS (Approved by SBOE 2021): 4(12)(A), 5(12)(A)

Social Studies TEKS: 3(4)(C), 4(6)(A), 5(24)(A)

NGSS: 5-ESS2-1

Grades 6-8 Black Drum: Population Changes Over Time

Science TEKS (Approved by SBOE 2021): 6(13)(C), 7(13)(D), 8(13)(C)

Social Studies TEKS: 6(3)(C), 7(8)(B)

NGSS: MS-LS1-5

Grades 9-12 Artificial Reefs

Science TEKS (Approved by SBOE 2020): BIO(13)(D)

Social Studies TEKS: World Geography Studies(8)(A)

NGSS: HS-LS4-5

DEEP IN THE HEART FILM
GUADALUPE BASS

Region of Texas: Great Plains

Ecoregion of Texas: Edwards Plateau

Lesson Plans & Student Materials
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Grades K-2 Investigating Life Cycles

Science TEKS (Approved by SBOE 2021): K(13)(C), 1(13)(B), 2(13)(D)

Social Studies TEKS: 1(4)(B), 2(3)(A), 2(4)(B)

NGSS: 1-LS3-1

Grades 3-5 What is a fish?

Science TEKS (Approved by SBOE 2021): 3(13)(A), 5(13)(A)

Social Studies TEKS: 3(4)(C), 4(3)(A), 5(24)(A)

NGSS: 4-LS1-1

Grades 6-8 What happened to Comanche Springs?

Science TEKS (Approved by SBOE 2021): 6(11)(B), 7(11)(A)

Social Studies TEKS: 6(5)(C), 7(9)(A), 8(11)(B)

NGSS: MS-ESS3-4

Grades 9-12 Do fish drink water?

Science TEKS (Approved by SBOE 2020): BIO(12)(A)

NGSS: HS-LS1-2