Comparing Design Solutions · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Comparing two designs

Science · Scientific Inquiry · ages 5-8
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. Car A rolls 3 meters. Car B rolls 6 meters. Which car rolled farther?

    Car A3Car B6
    • Car A
    • Car B
    • Same distance

  2. You test two paper planes to find which flies farther. What should you write down after each flight?

    • How far each plane flew
    • Your favourite colour of paper
    • Which plane's name you like most

  3. Testing two designs means you only test one of them.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. The goal is for a model bridge to carry more identical blocks. In the same test, A held 10 blocks before breaking and B held 15. Which does this result support choosing?

    • Bridge A
    • Bridge B
    • Neither bridge

  5. Umbrella A keeps you very dry but is heavy to carry. Umbrella B is light but leaks a little. What is a strength of Umbrella A?

    • It keeps you very dry
    • It is light to carry
    • It leaks water

  6. Plane A flew 4 meters. Plane B flew 7 meters. How many more meters did Plane B fly?

    Plane A4Plane B7

    Answer: ______________

  7. The goal is to carry more identical coins. In the same test, Boat A held 5 before sinking and B held 9. What should you do to investigate an improvement to A?

    • Paint a bright pattern and decide that no more tests are needed.
    • Test again without changing any part and call that a new design.
    • Change one part and test the boat again.

  8. Leo's goal is to keep a kite in the air longer. In the same test conditions, Kite A flew for 20 seconds and B for 12. He chooses B only because it is blue. What did he overlook?

    • The flight times for his goal
    • The need to test either kite first
    • The need to test fewer than two kites
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Comparing two designs W1-mt_nNYo5A-7Bl-s1

  1. Car B · 6 meters is farther than 3 meters, so Car B rolled farther.
  2. How far each plane flew · Flight distances are the data needed to compare how far the planes fly.
  3. False · You test both designs so you get data on each one.
  4. Bridge B · Bridge B held more identical blocks in this test, matching the stated goal.
  5. It keeps you very dry · Staying dry is Umbrella A's strength, even though it is heavy.
  6. 3 · 7 minus 4 is 3, so Plane B flew 3 more meters.
  7. Change one part and test the boat again. · Changing one part and retesting lets you find out whether the change helps A carry more coins.
  8. The flight times for his goal · A stayed in the air longer in this test. Choosing B only for its colour overlooks the flight-time evidence for Leo's goal.
Worksheet · LightMySky