The science standards for Pre-Kindergarten consist of six (6) Performance Expectations based on Science Exploration.

1. (1) Performance Expectation 1. Engage in play to explore patterns in the natural and designed worlds. Clarification Statement: Exploration-based play should include playing inside the classroom (e.g., building towers with blocks, interacting with a balloon, mixing watercolors, placing different objects in water) and outside the classroom (e.g., swinging at different speeds, kicking a ball in different ways, rolling round objects down a hill, digging in the dirt). Emphasis is on basic play as a means of gathering information, such as noticing objects fall/roll down and some objects float/sink.
2. (2) Performance Expectation 2. Make observations to describe objects in the natural and designed worlds. Clarification Statement: Property observations should focus on what things look, feel, hear, or smell like and the similarities and differences of the environment inside the classroom (e.g., desks, tables, lights, flooring, students, classrooms, plants, animals) and outside the classroom (e.g., soil, plants, animals, insects, students, sunlight, clouds). Explanations for why things inside and outside the classroom look, feel, or smell the way they do are not expected.
3. (3) Performance Expectation 3. Notice and describe similarities and differences among plants, animals, and objects. Clarification Statement: Similarities and differences might include grouping like plants, animals, or objects based on observations. Descriptions of groupings might be based on how plants, animals, or objects look, feel, or smell.
4. (4) Performance Expectation 4. Share noticings and wonderings of the natural and designed worlds. Clarification Statement: Observations could be shared through drawings, writings, building models, or other creative expressions, such as drama or creative movement. Sharing could also be done through retelling, verbal descriptions, or talking with others. Wonderings might include “why,” “how,” and “what if” statements. Respect for the sharing and wondering of others should be emphasized, but explanations for their observations are not expected.
5. (5) Performance Expectation 5. Ask questions based on curiosity about the natural and designed worlds. Clarification Statement: Questions may arise through observations, play, interests, events in the classroom, text, media, or other experiences of the natural and designed worlds.
6. (6) Performance Expectation 6. Engage in investigations based on curiosity and wondering about the natural and designed worlds. Clarification Statement: Opportunities for investigation or further investigation could arise from opportunities to engage in play inside and outside the classroom, curiosities and wonderings of the student from school or out of school experiences. Emphasis is on providing opportunities for investigations to arise from student curiosities, wonderings, or questions.

Added at 38 Ok Reg 1754, eff 9-11-21

Amended at 42 Ok Reg, Number 21, effective 7-26-25