Science, Social Studies & Digital Literacy IEP goals for Developmental Delay
15 science, social studies & digital literacy templates across 3 skills: social studies skills, science skills, digital literacy & online safety. Each opens in the builder with a matching data sheet.
15 templates · 3 skills · Pre-K, K–2, 3–5 · How we write and review goals
Goals by skill
Numbers are illustrative; set targets from the student's own baseline.
Social Studies Skills Science, Social Studies & Digital Literacy
Sort pictures into needs and wants
Needs and wants
By the annual IEP review date, given 10 photo cards of everyday items (such as food, a coat, a game, a bed) and a two-column needs and wants mat, the student will sort each card into needs or wants independently with at least 90% accuracy on needs and wants cards, in 3 of 4 consecutive weekly probes, as measured by work-sample analysis collected weekly.
Match community helpers to their jobs
Community roles
By the annual IEP review date, given 8 photos of community workers (such as a firefighter, mail carrier, nurse, bus driver) and 8 photos of the work they do, the student will match each worker to the photo of the work they do independently with at least 88% accuracy on community worker matches, in 3 of 4 consecutive weekly probes, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected weekly.
Science Skills Science, Social Studies & Digital Literacy
Tell one observation about a natural object
Recording observations
By the annual IEP review date, during a science table or discovery center activity with a natural object such as a leaf, shell or rock, the student will tell or show one color, size, shape or texture they notice on the object independently in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, across 3 consecutive weeks of data, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected weekly.
Guess sink or float, then test it
Making a prediction
By the annual IEP review date, during a sink-or-float activity at the water table with a tray of everyday objects, the student will choose sink or float for an object before dropping it in, then place it in the matching result bin independently in at least 4 of 6 opportunities, across 3 consecutive sessions, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected twice weekly.
Digital Literacy & Online Safety Science, Social Studies & Digital Literacy
Log out and put the device away
Device routines
By the annual IEP review date, at the end of a tablet or laptop work session when the adult gives the clean-up signal, the student will finish the end-of-session device routine before leaving the station, performing at least 5 of 6 steps independently, across 5 consecutive device sessions, as measured by a task-analysis checklist collected daily, summarized weekly.
Tell an adult about a strange pop-up
Online safety: telling an adult
By the annual IEP review date, during a planned practice on a school device when a staged pop-up, chat request or scary image appears, the student will stop, take hands off the device or turn it face down, and tell or signal an adult about what appeared independently in 5 of 5 opportunities, across 3 consecutive weeks of data, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected weekly.
Access to science and social studies content, lab and map skills, and safe, effective use of digital tools. Developmental Delay is a category states may use for young children, generally ages 3 through 9, when a delay in one or more areas calls for special education. The goals below are preschool and early elementary goals across communication, motor, social, adaptive, and readiness skills.
Matching data sheets
Each goal above links to the blank sheet built for its measure. These are the sheets this set of goals uses:
- Opportunity trackerRecords each opportunity as independent, prompted, or not demonstrated.Used by 5 goals here
- Accuracy trackerNumber correct out of number attempted, with percent accuracy and support level.Used by 8 goals here
- Rubric trackerScores each rubric criterion and totals the score for each sample.Used by 1 goal here
- Task-analysis checklistMarks each step of a routine as independent, with support, or not completed across sessions.Used by 1 goal here
Frequently asked questions
Until what age can a child be eligible under Developmental Delay?
IDEA lets states use the category for children ages 3 through 9, and each state sets its own age range within that. After the state's cutoff the child is reevaluated under another category.
What do preschool IEP goals look like?
They name a skill in a classroom routine, such as following a two-step direction during cleanup or requesting a turn during play, and measure it with opportunities or task-analysis steps. Numbers are small and sessions are short.
Should students with developmental delay have science or social studies goals?
Only when they need specially designed instruction to do a content-area skill, such as following a lab procedure or reading a map. Many students need only accommodations, which go in the accommodations section instead of a goal.
How are content-area goals measured?
With accuracy on a fixed task type, rubrics for written or spoken explanations, and task-analysis steps for procedures. Keep the task type the same across units so progress shows.
IEP Atlas Pro
Turn these goals into progress reports
Pro tracks every goal on your caseload and drafts the report for you. Free for 14 days.
Count trials, prompts, and minutes live in the session; the graph and trend line draw themselves; progress reports are drafted from your data.