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Design and Test a Solution
Grade 4 - Science - Challenge Me
Worksheet 1
1Design problem: a model roof must drain rainwater away from a doorway. Which criterion tells what success means?
2Which constraint limits the design for this problem: a model roof must drain rainwater away from a doorway?
3Which solution best matches this problem and constraints: a paper bridge must hold 20 washers?
4Which fair test would compare solutions for this problem: a model roof must drain rainwater away from a doorway?
5Evidence: wax paper kept seeds dry while plain paper became damp. Which improvement follows from the test?
6Design problem: a seed package must keep seeds dry. Which criterion tells what success means?
7Which constraint limits the design for this problem: a wind barrier must stop soil from blowing away?
8Which solution best matches this problem and constraints: a shade cover must cool a playground thermometer?
9Which fair test would compare solutions for this problem: a shade cover must cool a playground thermometer?
10Evidence: the side-channel roof kept the doorway dry twice. Which improvement follows from the test?
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
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.
Worksheet 1