Iowa PBS Education is pleased to announce the official launch of FIND (Fun Investigating New Discoveries) Iowa, a comprehensive, interactive educational initiative now fully developed and ready for classroom use. Targeted toward students in grades 2 through 5, FIND Iowa invites learners to become virtual explorers of the state, guiding them through Iowa’s rich natural, cultural and historical landscapes through immersive, Iowa Core standards-aligned digital content.

“We are thrilled to offer teachers and students an engaging, discovery-driven way to learn about Iowa,” said Iowa PBS Director of Educational Services Ken Harrison. “With FIND Iowa complete, classrooms across the state can dive into virtual field trips, ask big questions and explore our state like never before.”

FIND Iowa is a multi-platform learning project that encourages students to act as investigators. It features:

• Virtual investigations organized by themes — Each theme (Geology, Agriculture, Cultural Contributions, Energy, Urban Outdoors, 99 Counties, Prairies, Transportation, Underground Railroad) includes multiple subtopics. 
• Rich multimedia content — Tools include overview and on-site videos, interactive maps, 360-degree panoramic images and 3D models of artifacts. 
• Teacher support and alignment — Every investigation supports inquiry-based science teaching methods, and newly adopted Iowa History Social Studies standards. Educators receive discussion prompts, suggested activities and supplemental resources. 

Through this digital experience, students are encouraged to ask questions about Iowa’s past, investigate how the state has changed over time, and discover lesser-known stories of their local communities. 

FIND Iowa is now available at iowapbs.org/find. Teachers, schools and parents can freely access the full suite of resources.

Funding for FIND Iowa is provided by Wells Fargo, REAP CEP, The Gilchrist Foundation, The Pella Rolscreen Foundation and The Coons Foundation.