Welcome to the Iowa Science Phenomena website! The goal of this website and service is to create, curate, collect and share a growing collection of user-generated, media-based, standards aligned, science phenomena resources for use in Iowa classrooms, as well as support Iowa teachers as they continue to implement phenomena-based and place-based teaching practices.

There are several ways you can be involved in this project:

Questions? Please contact us at phenomena@iowapbs.org.
A sunrise over a line of trees and a grassy meadow.

Iowa Sunrises

At sunrise, the sun is coming above the horizon and creates a...
A golden retriever with thick fur. There is snow on the ground behind the dog.

Thicker Fur in Winter

Animals change their bodies and lifestyles with the seasons and other...
A sundog, a ring of light around the sun in the winter time.

Sundogs

Sundogs are colored spots of light that develop due to the refraction...
Two cupcakes side by side. The left cupcake is less risen and captioned as not having baking powder. The right cupcake is noticeably more risen and captioned as having baking powder included.

Baking Powder’s Reaction in Cupcakes

Baking powder is an essential ingredient in many baked goods. To...
A dark gray-brown sky with storm clouds.

Derecho Storm

A derecho is a widespread, long-lived wind storm that is associated...
Two chocolate chip cookies side-by-side. The left cookie is labeled "no baking soda" and is smaller. The right cookie is labeled "with baking soda" and appears fluffier.

Baking Soda in Cookies

This phenomenon examines how baking soda impacts the baking of...
A monarch butterfly resting on a green plant.

Butterfly Characteristics

Butterflies come in all shapes, sizes and colors. Understanding their...
A sunset on a clear night over Lake Okoboji

Summer Sunset Over Okoboji

It was a beautiful August night on Okoboji Lake, Iowa, in the summer...
A tornado funnel behind a few houses.

Severe Weather - Tornadoes

These are multiple photos taken over the course of two hours. They are...
A blue farm pond a clear day.

Dependence of Living Things in a Pond

All living things have basic needs to survive. Even though the needs...
Slushy ice on a pond, piled together with the blade of a hockey stick

Pond Slush

This picture was taken at a ranch in the Des Moines area. Kids were...
A small stream with the bank slow sloping upward on both sides.

Stream Erosion

Behind a fairly new housing development, there is a stream that runs...
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