3.1: Scientific and engineering practices: define a simple design problem…

Build It, Launch It Grades K–5

Egg drops, paper planes and balloon rockets, done properly at home. Three engineering challenges where kids build, test, fix and explain the pushes and pulls behind what happened.

• Can you drop an egg without breaking it? 60 min

  Kids design an egg protector on a materials budget, test it from a low height first and work up, and fix what fails. They finish able to explain why a soft, slow stop saves the egg.

• What makes a paper plane fly farthest? 45 min

  Kids fold two different paper planes and run a fair test, changing one thing at a time: first the design, then the throw. They measure three throws each and explain the flight using lift, drag, thrust and gravity.

• How does a rocket push itself into space? 45 min

  Kids build a balloon rocket that zooms along a string between two chairs, then run a fair test on how much air goes in the balloon. They finish able to explain action and reaction: the balloon pushes air back, and the air pushes the balloon forward.

Printable practice for 3.1

• Build It, Launch It workbook included with the unit

  3 practice pages, 2 English-support pages, 1 unit review, 1 unit test, 1 word wall, 1 reading, with answer keys.

• Your Senses: How Does Your Body Know? workbook included with the unit

  1 practice page, 1 reading, 1 unit review, 1 unit test, with answer keys.

• Simple Circuits: Make It Light Up workbook included with the unit

  1 practice page, 1 reading, 1 unit review, 1 unit test, with answer keys.

• Earth Day Investigations: Make Your School Better workbook included with the unit

  4 practice pages, 2 readings, 1 English-support page, 1 unit review, 1 unit test, with answer keys.

• Monsoon Science: Rain, Sun and the Nón Lá workbook included with the unit

  1 word wall, 1 unit test, 1 practice page, with answer keys.

• Evidence Lab workbook included with the unit

  2 practice pages, 2 readings, 1 word wall, 1 English-support page, 1 unit review, 1 unit test, with answer keys.

• How Your Body Works workbook included with the unit

  1 English-support page, 1 practice page, 1 reading, 1 unit review, 1 unit test, with answer keys.

• Keep It Cool: Ice, Insulation and Staying Comfortable workbook included with the unit

  3 practice pages, 1 English-support page, 1 reading, 1 unit review, 1 unit test, with answer keys.

• Winter Science: Ice, Snow and Staying Warm workbook included with the unit

  3 practice pages, 2 English-support pages, 1 reading, 1 unit review, 1 unit test, with answer keys.

• Think Like a Scientist: The Scientific Method workbook included with the unit

  4 English-support pages, 4 practice pages, 4 readings, 1 word wall, 1 unit review, 1 unit test, with answer keys.

• Test the Claim: Science Facts, Myths and AI Answers workbook included with the unit

  3 English-support pages, 3 practice pages, 3 readings, 1 word wall, 1 unit review, 1 unit test, with answer keys.

• Steppe Science: Staying Warm on the Kazakh Steppe workbook included with the unit

  1 practice page, with answer keys.

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