Home | Iowa Science Phenomena

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:

Browse or search the site to find an Iowa-based phenomenon to align to your learning standard.
Grow your phenomena skills and knowledge with our Iowa Science Phenomena Teacher Guide.
Equip your students to engage their own curiosity and be phenomenon-finders for themselves with the Iowa Science Phenomena Student Guide.
Capture and share your phenomena to the project.

Questions? Please contact us at phenomena@iowapbs.org.

Iowa Core Standard

Disciplinary Core Idea

Image of an Iowa fen.

Fens

A fen may appear to be just another wet area, until you walk on it.

Image of large rocks stacked on each other.

Glacial Erratics

Glacial erratics are a remnant from the most recent times when glaciers covered much of the surface of Iowa.

Aerial image of Carter Lake, Iowa.

Carter Lake, Iowa, Located in Nebraska

Carter Lake, Iowa, is unique because it is in Nebraska.

image of a black squirrel

Black Squirrels

Black squirrels are common in Council Bluffs, but not many other locations in Iowa.

Image of a log burning in fire and liquid coming out of it.

Liquid in Burning Tree

As a branch heated up in the campfire, a liquid started dripping out of the bark.

image of a coal mining operation in Iowa

Coal Mining and Land Reclamation

There are efforts to reclaim the land used for a coal mine in Logan, Iowa.

Image of wind turbines in a field.

Shutting Off Wind Turbines

When you drive by a wind farm, you may see many wind turbines spinning. It is also common to see a few wind turbines not spinning.

Image of person spearfishing a fish model.

Science of Spearfishing

When spearfishing, objects appear to bend when inserted into the water.

Image of a pillbug.

Bugs and Breathing Methods

There are various ways bugs can breathe.

Image of orange flower.

Flower Variety: Colors and Shapes

Iowa flowers have many different shapes and colors.

Image of field with broken corn stalks after harvest.

No-Till Agriculture

“No-till” is an agricultural land management practice.

Image of person using light meter on snow.

Snow Cover and Temperature

On a snowy day, snow has melted on sidewalks and streets but remained on grassy areas.