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K–12 Standards

Area 8: Science

Other Iowa Early Learning Standards sets

Gathers information from discoveries and conducts investigations8.1

  •  

    Birth-12 months

    1. A

      Notices objects and events in their environment8.1.A

    2. B

      Explores toys or other safe objects8.1.B

    3. C

      Reacts to changes in the environment8.1.C

    4. D

      Shows sensory likes and dislikes8.1.D

  •  

    Approximately 12-24 months

    1. E

      Investigates objects to build understanding of the environment through repetitive play8.1.E

    2. F

      Uses five senses to identify and interact with new and familiar objects 8.1.F

  •  

    Approximately 24-36 months

    1. G

      Asks simple questions about observations of their environment using language, behavior and interactions8.1.G

    2. H

      Begins to explore scientific tools8.1.H

    3. I

      Uses sensory experiences to learn about and respond to surroundings8.1.I

  •  

    Approximately 3-4 years

    1. J

      Asks questions about their environment:8.1.J

      1. a

        Begins to identify and look for information that will help answer questions and solve problems8.1.J.a

      2. b

        Uses scientific tools and technology purposefully to conduct investigations8.1.J.b

    2. K

      Uses the five senses as tools to make observations to describe the properties of objects and phenomena8.1.K

  •  

    Approximately 4-5 years

    1. L

      Plans and conducts simple investigations to answer questions or to design solutions to scientific or engineering problems8.1.L

    2. M

      Uses observational tools to extend the five senses8.1.M

    3. N

      Observes, investigates and describes objects, materials and other physical science phenomena in the classroom and outdoor environments8.1.N

    4. O

      Observes, asks questions and begins to recognize patterns and relationships in natural phenomena8.1.O

Uses reasoning to make sense of information from discoveries and investigations8.2

  •  

    Birth-12 months

    1. A

      Uses trusted relationships to gain understanding of the living and non-living world8.2.A

    2. B

      Shows understanding people exist when they cannot be seen and objects exist even when out of sight8.2.B

    3. C

      Notices and reacts to cause and effect8.2.C

  •  

    Approximately 12-24 months

    1. D

      Manipulates unfamiliar items to see how they function8.2.D

    2. E

      Explores cause and effect relationships by engaging in problem solving through trial and error8.2.E

    3. F

      Intentionally repeats actions to produce a desired effect8.2.F

  •  

    Approximately 24-36 months

    1. G

      Makes a choice to reach a desired outcome8.2.G

    2. H

      Begins to make comparisons and categorize non-living things based on observable characteristics8.2.H

  •  

    Approximately 3-4 years

    1. I

      Compares and categorizes living and non-living things based on observable characteristics8.2.I

    2. J

      Observes, predicts and asks questions to understand how things work8.2.J

  •  

    Approximately 4-5 years

    1. K

      Uses observations from investigations to notice similarities and differences in living things and to make guesses about their needs8.2.K

    2. L

      Describes and compares the properties and motions of objects in terms of speed and direction, based on exploration8.2.L

    3. M

      Uses prior experiences and/or data from observations to identify patterns in how living and nonliving things stay the same or change over time and/or when conditions change8.2.M

    4. N

      Analyzes what happened during an investigation to make meaning8.2.N

Shares information and understanding about discoveries and investigations8.3

  •  

    Birth-12 months

    1. A

      Vocalizes and gestures to communicate with others:8.3.A

      1. a

        Gains attention8.3.A.a

      2. b

        Shows preferences and dislikes 8.3.A.b

    2. B

      Uses repetitive actions to demonstrate new learning experiences 8.3.B

  •  

    Approximately 12-24 months

    1. C

      Shares information and questions using gestures and/or facial expressions8.3.C

    2. D

      Responds to questions or statements to engage in learning and exploration8.3.D

  •  

    Approximately 24-36 months

    1. E

      Communicates in a variety of ways to share information:8.3.E

      1. a

        Expresses wonder and curiosity8.3.E.a

      2. b

        Tells about a specific experience or activity8.3.E.b

      3. c

        Draws simple pictures to represent objects8.3.E.c

  •  

    Approximately 3-4 years

    1. F

      Communicates in a variety of ways to share information:8.3.F

      1. a

        Tells about a specific experience, activity or observation8.3.F.a

      2. b

        Answers questions using experiences and observations8.3.F.b

      3. c

        Begins to ask questions to seek more information on a topic of interest8.3.F.c

      4. d

        Draws simple pictures to represent observations of objects8.3.F.d

      5. e

        Uses scientific vocabulary words with modeling and support from an adult8.3.F.e

  •  

    Approximately 4-5 years

    1. G

      Generates explanations and communicates ideas and/or conclusions about investigations:8.3.G

      1. a

        Communicates with others about questions, actions, ideas, observations or results using labels and adjectives8.3.G.a

      2. b

        Draws increasingly complex pictures to represent their observations of objects and/or of changes to objects or the environment8.3.G.b

      3. c

        Uses scientific content words when investigating and describing observable phenomena8.3.G.c

Frequently asked questions

What grade levels do these standards cover?
PRE-K
Where can I read the official document?
IOWA EARLY LEARNING STANDARDS 4th Edition June 2026

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