Grade 4 · Science · Engineering

4th Grade Design and Test a Solution worksheets

6 printable versionsOn LevelAbout 4 minutes eachFree · no account

When it’s done, scan the sheet with your phone and PencilGo marks it and picks the next one. Create a free account

★

Tired of searching for worksheets?

We’ll email one free Grade 4 worksheet every school day. Your child does it on paper. No account needed.

Version

Design and Test a Solution

Grade 4 Science Worksheet

NameDate

Circle the answer.

1.
A lunch box must keep a yogurt cold until noon. Which is the criterion?
- the box has a picture on the lid
- the box has a carrying handle
- the box is painted green
- the yogurt is still cold at noon
2.
A team has 30 minutes, 8 index cards and tape to build a bridge that spans 20 cm. Which is a criterion?
- the bridge spans 20 cm
- the team has 30 minutes
- the team uses 8 index cards
- the team uses only tape
3.
A team tests a paper cup phone. They cannot hear each other when the string is loose. What should they change?
- pull the string tight
- use a longer loose string
- whisper more quietly
- use smaller cups only
4.
Problem: a school's hallway gets muddy on rainy days. Which pair is one criterion and one constraint?
- keeps mud off the hallway; costs under $40
- is made of rubber; is red
- keeps mud off the hallway; dries shoes fast
- costs under $40; fits by the door

4th Grade Design and Test a Solution worksheet 1 – printable PDF — Download PDF: 1 2 3 4 5 6

About this worksheet

Design and test a solution tasks ask students to define a problem clearly, compare possible solutions, and use evidence to improve a design asks fourth graders to connect observations with an explanation, model, or design decision instead of choosing a fact from memory. Students may choose the most creative-looking design without checking whether it meets the criteria, stays within constraints, or performed best in a fair test. This worksheet uses short investigations and evidence-based situations so students must read what happened, decide which science idea is being tested, and choose the answer that fits the title.

Students identify criteria and constraints, choose fair tests, compare evidence from solution trials, and select improvements based on results. Support versions use familiar objects and direct wording. Standard and challenge versions add closer distractors, fair-test language, and multi-step evidence. Ask your child to point to the measurement, diagram, map, or observation before answering. If the choice does not explain the evidence in the prompt, it is probably a distractor. That habit keeps science reasoning tied to data rather than guesswork.

What your child will learn

Define a design problem with criteria and constraints
Choose fair tests for solutions
Compare evidence from solution trials
Improve a design based on results

NGSS standard: 3-5-ETS1-1

Worked example

If a paper bridge must hold 20 washers using only paper and tape, a folded-beam design that holds 24 washers meets the criterion.

Common mistake

Picking a solution because it sounds clever without checking the test evidence.

Helpful hint

Use the criteria, constraints, and test data before choosing a solution.

Earlier: Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources

Questions parents ask

What is the most common mistake with design and test a solution?

Picking a solution because it sounds clever without checking the test evidence.

How can I help my child with design and test a solution?

Use the criteria, constraints, and test data before choosing a solution.

Are these 4th grade science worksheets free to print?

Yes. All 6 printable versions on this page are free to download and print, with no account needed.

More 4th grade engineering

See all engineering

Every sheet you scan goes into your child’s record: dated, marked and ready for the year-end portfolio. Homeschool records