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Kindergarten · Science · Unit 9 of 9

Make It Work

Spot a problem, draw a plan, test two ideas.

What your child practices

Practices the first steps of engineering: noticing a problem to fix, seeing how an object's shape helps it do its job, and comparing two designs after a test.

Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards benchmark: 0P.4.1.1.1 · testing whether a design changes how fast or which way an object moves

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. First, spot a problem to fix.
  2. Draw a plan before you build.
  3. A shape helps a thing work. Round wheels roll.

Example: Which shape is best for a wheel? A wheel must roll. Circles roll. Answer: a circle

Make It Work in Minnesota

In the Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards, this is unit 9 of 9 in Kindergarten Science, after Where Animals Live.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: Minnesota Department of Education (MDE)

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    Two paper boats. One floats, one sinks. Which works better?

    • Neither one
    • The one that sinks
    • They are the same
    • The one that floats

  2. Question 2

    Why test your idea?

    • To see if it works
    • To make it dirty
    • To make it slow
    • To lose it

  3. Question 3

    Two towers. One falls, one stands. Which is stronger?

    • The one that falls
    • Neither one
    • They are the same
    • The one that stands

  4. Question 4

    Why does a fork have points?

    • To sweep
    • To pick up food
    • To hold soup
    • To write

  5. Question 5

    Why is a slide smooth?

    • So it is sticky
    • So it stays wet
    • So you can slide down
    • So you can climb up fast

  6. Question 6

    Two kites. One flies higher. Which works better?

    • Neither kite
    • The one that stays down
    • They are the same
    • The one that flies higher

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