TEKS-Aligned Music Units: Your Texas Classroom Partner

We know how much goes into planning a school year. That's why we've done the heavy lifting for you. TEKS-Aligned Units give Grade 5 and Middle School music teachers a complete, standards-ready curriculum — lesson plans, student activities, and assessment tools — all built directly into Flat for Education!

Already teaching in a Texas school? Your units are waiting in your account right now. No downloads, no setup. Jump to how to find them ↓

What's included

Each grade level comes with a full 36-week plan organized into four clear quarters. Here's what you'll find inside:

• A complete year-at-a-glance roadmap so you always know what's coming next
• Real, familiar repertoire — songs like The Star-Spangled Banner and When the Saints Go Marchin' In
• Step-by-step composition activities that grow with your students, from simple rhythm writing all the way to full class quartets
• Ready-to-assign worksheets — no prep needed, just open and go
• Rubrics for every type of assessment — performances, self-reflections, peer feedback, and short written responses
• Vocabulary lists tied to each grade level's TEKS expectations
• Six flexible pacing options to fit any school schedule — whether you see students daily, every other day, on a rotating block, or anything in between

Grade levels at a glance

• Grade 5 builds foundational music literacy: form, compound meter, expressive vocabulary, score annotation, and composition within structured constraints.
  
• Music I (Grade 6) introduces sight-reading, historical research, self and peer evaluation, and solo composition through repertoire like When the Saints Go Marchin' In and Oh! Susanna.
  
• Music II (Grade 7) and Music III (Grade 8) build toward ensemble independence, advanced expressive vocabulary, and more sophisticated compositional and analytical work.

How to find your units

If your school is registered in Texas, your TEKS units are already in your account. Here's where to look:

1. Sign in to your Flat for Education teacher account
2. Go to My assignments page
3. Select TEKS Assignments from the left-hand menu
4. Choose your grade level: Grade 5, Music I, II, or III

Your full scope and sequence, lesson materials, and student scores will be right there waiting for you.

New to Flat for Education? You can explore the full TEKS units before committing by starting a free trial. We want you to feel confident before your first lesson.

Getting started: 3 steps before your first lesson

Step 1 — Read the year overview (20–30 minutes)

Each grade comes with a clear, readable overview that explains the order of units and how each one builds on the last. Spending a little time here before you begin will help you teach with confidence and make meaningful connections across the year.

Step 2 — Match your pacing model

We've included six ready-made pacing guides so you can match the curriculum to your school's specific calendar — no adjusting needed. Just find the one that fits and you're set.

• Standard (3 meetings/week)
• Rotational (4-, 5-, or 6-day rotation)
• A/B alternating days
• High-frequency (4–5 meetings/week)
• Low-frequency (1–2 meetings/week)
• Calendars with extended breaks or heavy performance schedules

Step 3 — Don't skip Orientation Week

Don't skip Week 1! It is dedicated to helping your students get comfortable in Flat for Education — opening scores, using the tools, and submitting their first piece of work. It's a small investment that makes the rest of the year go much more smoothly for everyone.

What your students see

Once you assign a lesson, students access it through their own Flat for Education student account. They can open scores, annotate directly in the score, record performances, and submit, all within the same workspace.

How a lesson is structured

Every lesson follows the same clear, predictable flow — so your students always know what to expect and you can focus on teaching, not managing transitions.

Interactive learning for every student

Each TEKS unit is packed with various activities designed to keep students engaged and moving forward. Here is a breakdown of the specific tasks your students will dive into:

• Annotation Tasks: These ask students to label, highlight, or add markings directly to their digital scores. We recommend modeling the first annotation for the whole class—since accurate placement is key, seeing you do it first helps them succeed!
• Recording Tasks: Students can record themselves performing a specific passage and submit it directly through Flat. You can then listen to and assess their performances right from your teacher dashboard.
• Composition Tasks: These grow in complexity as your students' skills develop. Grade 5 students start by composing within simple constraints (like a 4-measure phrase), while Middle Schoolers progress from solo pieces to creating duos, quartets, and even full class compositions.
• Pre-made Worksheets: No prep required! We’ve included worksheets for all the key concepts in each unit. They are ready to assign directly in Flat whenever you need them.
• Reflection & Writing: These activities are built right into the lesson flow. Students are encouraged to use their new musical vocabulary to respond to their own work and give thoughtful feedback to their peers.

Assessment — already built for you

You won't need to spend a single evening building rubrics from scratch. Everything is included and ready to use:

• Performance rubrics aligned to TEKS standards, covering tone, rhythm, and accuracy
• Self-evaluation tools that guide students through listening back to their own recordings
• Peer feedback checklists that help students learn to give feedback that is kind, specific, and useful
• Short written response tasks using grade-level musical vocabulary

Rubrics are available in your teacher dashboard alongside each unit. Student work — recordings, annotated scores, written responses — is all stored in Flat and accessible at any time.

Tips for a strong year

• Follow the lesson sequence: The units are designed like building blocks — each one prepares students for the next. Even if you need to trim an activity to fit your class period, try to keep the lessons in order.
• Make the vocabulary part of every class: The TEKS Vocabulary Lists are included because consistent, everyday use is how students truly learn these terms. When they hear the words in context again and again, they stick.
• Start recording early — and often: Don't wait for a polished performance. Getting students comfortable with the record button early in the year takes the pressure off later submissions and builds healthy musical confidence.

We're here if you need us

Whether you have a question about the curriculum or need a little technical help, our team is always happy to support you. Reach out any time at edu@flat.io.

We can't wait to see what you and your students create together!