Science: Engineering Design Process: Ask, Imagine, Plan, Create, Improve Worksheet

Question 1

A class needs a way to keep crayons from rolling off the table. Which engineering design step should they do first: ask, imagine, plan, create, or improve? Explain your answer.

Accepted Answer

They should start with the ask step. In this step, they learn what the problem is and what the solution needs to do.

Question 2

Mia wants to build a paper bridge that can hold toy cars. Write one question she should ask before she starts building.

Accepted Answer

Mia could ask, "How many toy cars does the bridge need to hold?" This helps her understand the goal before she designs the bridge.

Question 3

During the imagine step, students think of many possible solutions. List two ideas for helping a plant get water while the class is away for the weekend.

Accepted Answer

One idea is to use a water bottle with a small hole to drip water slowly. Another idea is to place the plant pot in a shallow tray of water.

Question 4

Look at this design goal: Build a tower using only 20 craft sticks and tape. The tower must stand for 10 seconds. Write one rule or limit for this challenge.

Accepted Answer

One rule is that the tower can only use 20 craft sticks and tape. Another rule is that the tower must stand for 10 seconds.

Question 5

Sam drew a picture of his windmill design before building it. Which step of the engineering design process is he using? Explain how you know.

Accepted Answer

Sam is using the plan step. He is drawing and thinking about how the windmill will be made before he creates it.

Question 6

Circle the action that belongs in the create step: A. Ask what the problem is. B. Build and test the design. C. Think of three ideas. D. Make the design better.

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is B. In the create step, engineers build and test the design.

Question 7

A student builds a boat from foil. It floats, but it tips over when pennies are added. What should the student do during the improve step?

Accepted Answer

The student should change the boat to make it work better. For example, the student could make the bottom wider so it is more stable.

Question 8

Put these engineering design steps in order: create, ask, improve, imagine, plan.

Accepted Answer

The correct order is ask, imagine, plan, create, and improve. Engineers first understand the problem, then think of ideas, choose and draw a plan, build it, and make it better.

Question 9

Lena tested her paper airplane three times. It flew 5 steps, then 6 steps, then 4 steps. What information did she collect, and how can it help her?

Accepted Answer

Lena collected data about how far the paper airplane flew. The data can help her decide if she needs to improve the airplane design.

Question 10

Choose one classroom problem, such as a messy desk, a noisy line, or lost pencils. Write a short plan for a solution using at least three engineering design steps.

Accepted Answer

An example answer is: I will ask what causes pencils to get lost. I will imagine ideas like a pencil cup or labeled pencils. I will plan and create a pencil station, then improve it if pencils still get lost.

Science: Engineering Design Process: Ask, Imagine, Plan, Create, Improve

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