Identifying Design Problems - 3rd Grade Science

Identify the criterion type in: "It must be safe for children to use."

Safety criterion. States a goal for user safety.
Identify the constraint: "You have 30 minutes to design and test." What is the constraint?

30 minutes of time. Time limits are common design constraints.
Identify the constraint type in: "Use only paper and tape."

Materials constraint. Limits what supplies you can use.
What is the best first step to identify a design problem in a passage?

Find the need or goal the solution is meant to address. Start by understanding what problem needs solving.
Which word usually signals a constraint: must, should, or cannot?

Cannot. "Cannot" indicates a restriction or limitation.
Which words often signal criteria in a design problem: "must" or "cannot"?

"Must". "Must" indicates requirements to meet.
Identify the criterion in: "The water filter must make the water clearer."

Make the water clearer. States the goal of improving water clarity.
Which option is a constraint: "must be waterproof" or "must use only 2 cups of water"?

Must use only 2 cups of water. This limits the amount of water allowed.
Identify the design problem: "Students need a way to carry books in the rain."

Design a way to carry books in the rain. The problem states the need to be solved.
Which statement is a constraint: "It must roll" or "Use only cardboard"?

Use only cardboard. Material restrictions are constraints, not goals.
Identify the constraints: "Use materials in the classroom and finish by the end of class." What are the constraints?

Use classroom materials; finish by end of class. Both limit what can be used and when.
Identify the constraint: "Use only 20 craft sticks."

Only 20 craft sticks. This limits the materials you can use.
Identify the design problem in this statement: "Students spill drinks at lunch; design a solution."

Reduce drink spills at lunch with a designed solution. This identifies the problem that needs solving.
What should a design problem statement include besides the need?

Criteria and constraints. Complete problems include the need, goals, and limits.
Which statement is a criterion: "It must be waterproof" or "Use only tape"?

It must be waterproof. "Must" signals a required performance goal.
Which words often signal constraints in a design problem: "must" or "only"?

"Only". "Only" indicates limitations or restrictions.
Identify the design problem statement in: "Students need shade at recess; build a small canopy."

Build a small canopy to provide shade at recess. This states what needs to be created and why.
Identify the design problem: "Students need a way to carry books in the rain without getting wet." What is the problem?

Design a way to keep books dry while being carried in the rain. This restates the need as a design challenge.
Which statement is a criterion: "It must float for 2 minutes" or "Use only aluminum foil"?

It must float for 2 minutes. Criteria state performance requirements.
Identify the constraint: "The cost must be under $5."

Cost under $5. Budget limits are constraints on resources.
Identify the criterion: "The bridge must hold 10 toy cars."

Hold 10 toy cars. This states what the bridge must achieve (goal).
What is the difference between a criterion and a constraint?

Criteria are goals; constraints are limits. Goals describe success; limits describe boundaries.
Identify the criterion in this statement: "Make a bridge that holds 20 pennies."

It must hold 20 pennies. This states what the bridge must accomplish.
Identify the criterion type in: "It should be easy to carry."

Ease-of-use criterion. States a goal for user convenience.
Identify the criteria: "Build a bridge that can hold 10 books." What part is the criteria?

It must hold 10 books. This states what the bridge must accomplish.
Identify the criterion: "The container should keep ice from melting."

Keep ice from melting. "Should" also indicates a desired outcome or goal.
Which option is a criterion: "use only recycled materials" or "keep paper from getting wet"?

Keep paper from getting wet. This describes what the solution must achieve.
Which option is a criterion: time limit, material limit, or strength goal?

Strength goal. Strength is a performance goal to achieve.
Which word best matches criteria: goals or limits?

Goals. Criteria are what you want to achieve.
Identify the criterion in: "The model car must travel at least 3 meters."

Travel at least 3 meters. States the minimum distance goal.
Which part best states the problem: need, criteria, or constraints?

Need. The need defines what problem requires solving.
Which part of a design problem describes what you are trying to solve: need or material limit?

Need. The need explains why we're designing something.
Identify the constraint in: "The model car must fit inside a shoebox."

Must fit inside a shoebox. Limits the maximum size allowed.
Which word best matches constraints: goals or limits?

Limits. Constraints restrict what you can do.
Which word usually signals a criterion: must, should, or cannot?

Must. "Must" indicates a required goal to meet.
Identify whether this is a criterion or constraint: "It must hold 10 books."

Criterion. This states what the solution must do (a goal).
Which part of a design problem tells what the solution should do well: criteria or constraints?

Criteria. Criteria describe the desired performance or features.
Which statement is a constraint: "It must keep an ice cube from melting" or "Use only paper"?

Use only paper. Material limitations are constraints.
Identify the constraint: "You may not use tape or glue." What is the constraint?

No tape or glue allowed. Material restrictions are typical constraints.
Which term means "what the solution must do" in a design problem: criteria or constraints?

Criteria. Criteria describe requirements the solution must fulfill.
Identify the constraint: "The tower cannot be taller than 30 cm."

Height cannot exceed 30 cm. "Cannot exceed" signals a maximum limit.
Identify whether this is a criterion or constraint: "Finish building it in 30 minutes."

Constraint. This sets a time limit for the design process.
Identify the criteria: "The water filter must make the water clearer." What is the criteria?

It must make the water clearer. This describes what the filter must achieve.
Identify the constraint: "Finish the model in 30 minutes."

30-minute time limit. Time restrictions are constraints that limit the process.
Identify the criterion in: "Design a toy car that goes far, but use only 3 wheels."

It must go far. This states the performance goal for the car.
What is the main difference between criteria and constraints?

Criteria are goals; constraints are limits. This summarizes the key distinction between the two terms.
Which option is a constraint in a school project: "It must be strong" or "It must cost under $5$ "?

It must cost under $5$ . Cost limits are constraints, not criteria.
What are criteria in a design problem?

The goals the solution must meet to be successful. Criteria define what makes a solution successful.
Which option is a constraint, not a criterion: "must be strong" or "only 10 blocks allowed"?

Only 10 blocks allowed. Block count is a limit; strength is a goal.
Identify whether this is a criterion or constraint: "Use only cardboard and tape."

Constraint. This limits the materials you can use.
Identify the constraint: "You may only use 20 straws to build the bridge."

Use only 20 straws. This limits the materials you can use.
Identify the criterion: "The flashlight must be bright enough to read."

Bright enough to read. Brightness level is a performance goal.
Which option is a constraint: performance, size limit, or effectiveness?

Size limit. Size restrictions limit the solution's dimensions.
Identify the constraint in: "Design a toy car that goes far, but use only 3 wheels."

Use only 3 wheels. This limits the number of wheels allowed.
What is a design problem in engineering?

A need to solve by creating or improving an object or process. Engineers identify needs and create solutions to address them.
Identify the constraint in this statement: "Build the bridge using only straws and tape."

Use only straws and tape. This limits which materials can be used.
Identify the constraint type in: "Spend no more than $5$ ."

Cost constraint. Limits how much money you can spend.
Which part of a design problem sets boundaries like time, cost, or materials: criteria or constraints?

Constraints. Constraints limit resources like time, money, or materials.
Identify the criterion: "The bridge must hold 10 toy cars."

Hold 10 toy cars. This states what the bridge must achieve (goal).
Which option is a criterion, not a constraint: "must be waterproof" or "use 1 sheet of paper"?

Must be waterproof. Waterproof is a goal; paper use is a limit.
Identify the constraint: "Use only 20 straws to build the bridge." What part is the constraint?

Use only 20 straws. This limits the materials you can use.
What is a clear way to write a design problem statement in one sentence?

Design a solution to meet the criteria while staying within constraints. Combines the need, goals, and limits clearly.
Identify the criteria: "The bag must keep books dry and be easy to carry." What are the criteria?

Keep books dry; be easy to carry. Both are goals the solution must achieve.
Which part states the problem: "Design a lunchbox that keeps food cold for 2 hours."?

Design a lunchbox that keeps food cold. This part describes what needs to be created.
What are constraints in a design problem?

The limits or rules the solution must follow. Constraints set boundaries for what solutions can do.
Identify whether this is a criterion or constraint: "It must cost less than $5."

Constraint. This limits the budget for the solution.
Identify the constraint type in: "Build it in 30 minutes."

Time constraint. Limits how long you have to build.
Identify whether this is a criterion or constraint: "It must be safe to use."

Criterion. This describes a goal the solution must achieve.
Which term means "limits you must follow" in a design problem: criteria or constraints?

Constraints. Constraints restrict what you can use or do.

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