Iowa Core Curriculum - ..Physical Science

Please select a Grade Span

Thanks for visiting the Iowa Department of Education's Iowa Core Curriculum website! Here are a few tips about the site and how to make your visit easier.

Left-hand Side: Navigation
One way users can navigate the site is by using the menu on the left side of the page. This menu includes the five content areas (literacy, mathematics, science, social studies and 21st century skills) included in the Iowa Core Curriculum.

Select a content area from the menu on the left side of the page.
Select a choice from the second level of navigation, which will automatically appear.
Choose a "grade " or "grade span" to see the specific results for that "grade" or "grade span."

The essential concepts and skills of the Iowa Core Curriculum are presented in grade spans, while the content standards and performance standards are listed for selected individual grades. Only the "grades" or "grade spans" where information is available will be listed in the dropdown menu on the left side of the page. Once a "grade" or grade span" is selected the results of the request will be listed in the center of the page.

If the resulting items have additional details available an icon will appear next to the items in the list. Click on the icon to reveal the details for individual items listed or select "View All" to see all of the details for the whole list. It is also possible to "Collapse All" the list items.

The site also provides breadcrumb navigation at the top of the central area of each page. The purpose of the breadcrumb is to show how pages are categorized on the site allowing users to retrace their steps.

Right-hand Side: Search
The right side of the page is devoted to searching the site content in a way the user determines. The content of the site can be searched in one of two ways

a combination of content areas, disciplines, and grades or
keyword(s).

The content filter and the keyword search functions work independent of each other. Users cannot use the two ways of searching the site at the same time. If a user enters any information into the keyword search box it will disable the content filter fields. To re-enable the user needs to delete the content in the keyword text field.

Printing

To print individual pages of the site, select the print button located in the upper right side of the page.
For the content areas of literacy, mathematics, and science, a complete document containing all of the information is available by clicking the download button in the upper right side of the page. Documents for social studies and 21st century skills will be added as they become available.

Questions about the Iowa Core Curriculum
Use the Contact Us link at the bottom of the page for a listing of Department and AEA contacts working with the Iowa Core Curriculum.

Website Feedback
Use the Website Feedback link at the bottom of the page to provide feedback or report problems experienced fining information on the Iowa Core Curriculum website.

Still need help?
Email Lisa Albers at lisa.albers@iowa.gov for additional help.

Search:

Content Areas:

Discipline:

Grade:

Keyword(s):

Home

Science

Physical Science

Physical science is the term for the study of non-living systems, and includes physics and chemistry. The foundations of physical science rest upon key concepts and theories, each of which explains and/or models a particular aspect of the behavior of nature.

Physics includes describing and measuring motion; the theory of gravity; energy, work, and power; energy forms; kinetic molecular theory; the principles of waves and sound; the principles of electricity, magnetism, and electromagnetism; and the principles, sources, and properties of light.

Chemistry is the science of matter. Its studies include atomic theory; water and its properties; chemical elements, chemical reactions, and energy transformations; nuclear chemistry; and organic chemistry. In all areas of physical science the focus is on the application of the knowledge to solve real life problems. It is the use of the conceptual knowledge and not simply the knowledge itself that should form the core of this discipline. Physical science instruction must include the inquiry knowledge and skills described in the inquiry section of the Science Core Curriculum. Instruction should be engaging and relevant and strong connections must be made to students' lives.

Select a grade span from the dropdown located on the left side of the page.