Grade 4 · Science · Unit 7 of 8
Design & Computational Thinking
Plan, build, test and improve a solution
What your child practises
Children practise the steps of design (name a problem, brainstorm, build a prototype, test, improve) and basic computer-science ideas such as algorithms, loops and debugging.
Alberta Curriculum learning outcome: 4CS 1.1 · the design process, prototypes, testing and step-by-step instructions
Sample questions
A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.
Question 1
A sequence in a program is…
📋- steps done backwards by accident
- steps never done
- steps done in order
- steps done at random
Show answer
steps done in order
Hint: Order matters in an algorithm.
Question 2
What are criteria in a design task?
✅- the colours you like
- the price of the table
- the things your design must do
- the names of the builders
Show answer
the things your design must do
Hint: For example, a bridge must hold 5 books.
Question 3
Which result best shows that a new design is better than the old one?
📊- it did the job better in the same test
- it looks bigger
- it has more colours
- its builder likes it more
Show answer
it did the job better in the same test
Hint: Fair tests give evidence about which design is better.
Question 4
A paper bridge is supposed to hold 10 books but holds 6. What should the designer do?
🌉- say the test was wrong
- stop designing
- change the design and test it again
- add 10 more books
Show answer
change the design and test it again
Hint: Testing shows what to improve.
Question 5
A design must be light, strong and cheap. Which of these is a trade-off?
⚖️- making it stronger may make it heavier or cost more
- making it cheaper always makes it stronger
- weight does not matter
- there are no trade-offs
Show answer
making it stronger may make it heavier or cost more
Hint: Good designers balance what matters most.
Question 6
After you test a prototype and find a problem, what comes next?
🔁- give up
- improve the design and test again
- hide the results
- paint it
Show answer
improve the design and test again
Hint: Designers test and improve again and again.