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Success and Limits is a free printable Grade 3 to Grade 5 science worksheet on defining a design problem with criteria and constraints, aligned to NGSS performance expectation 3-5-ETS1-1. It prints 3 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two students in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.

Set 1 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

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All 25 sets ask different questions.

Success and Limits

3-5-ETS1-1

NameDate

Sort each one into criterion or constraint.

1.Sort each one: Criterion: what success means or Constraint: what limits you?

Sort: It must hold a 500 g weight, It must keep the trash cans from blowing over, You may use only cardboard and tape, It must fit through the classroom door

Criterion: what success meansConstraint: what limits you
2.Sort each one: Criterion: what success means or Constraint: what limits you?

Sort: You have one afternoon to build it, It must stop soil washing onto the path, It must catch at least eight clips, You may spend no more than five pounds

Criterion: what success meansConstraint: what limits you
3.Sort each one: Criterion: what success means or Constraint: what limits you?

Sort: You may not fix anything to the wall, It must be readable from ten steps away, It must be visible in the dark, It must be safe for a five-year-old

Criterion: what success meansConstraint: what limits you

LessonPrint · 3-5-ETS1-1 · Set 1 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Success and Limits

Set 1. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. It must fit through the classroom door — Constraint: what limits you 2. It must hold a 500 g weight — Criterion: what success means 3. It must keep the trash cans from blowing over — Criterion: what success means 4. You may use only cardboard and tape — Constraint: what limits you
  2. 2.1. It must catch at least eight clips — Criterion: what success means 2. It must stop soil washing onto the path — Criterion: what success means 3. You have one afternoon to build it — Constraint: what limits you 4. You may spend no more than five pounds — Constraint: what limits you
  3. 3.1. It must be readable from ten steps away — Criterion: what success means 2. It must be safe for a five-year-old — Constraint: what limits you 3. It must be visible in the dark — Criterion: what success means 4. You may not fix anything to the wall — Constraint: what limits you

Questions about Success and Limits

What does the Success and Limits worksheet cover?

It practices defining a design problem with criteria and constraints — 3 questions for Grade 3 to Grade 5, all on NGSS 3-5-ETS1-1: Define a design problem, with what counts as success and what limits you. The instruction to students is “Sort each one into criterion or constraint”, and the answer key follows on the next sheet.

Which NGSS performance expectation does Success and Limits practice?

3-5-ETS1-1, under Engineering Design for Grade 3 to Grade 5. The published performance expectation reads: “Define a simple design problem reflecting a need or a want that includes specified criteria for success and constraints on materials, time, or cost.” The worksheet assesses that performance expectation rather than a paraphrase of it.

What age or grade is this worksheet for?

Success and Limits is written for Grade 3 to Grade 5, typically ages 40-41. It is one of the sheets on 3-5-ETS1-1, so it suits any student working at that standard — including older students revisiting it and younger ones working ahead.

Does Success and Limits come with an answer key?

Yes. All 3 answers are generated from the same problems as the questions, so the key cannot drift out of step with the sheet. It starts on a fresh sheet of paper, after the questions, so it is not handed out with the class by accident.

How many different versions of Success and Limits can I print?

25 — one per student, and all 25 ask different questions. Set 1 downloads the whole class as a single PDF. Every version is fixed to its own address, so a sheet printed today holds the same problems when you reopen it next week.

Is Success and Limits free to print and photocopy?

Yes. Success and Limits, its answer key and its 25 versions are free to print and photocopy for your own class, with no account, no email capture and no subscription at the download step. Please do not resell them or republish them as your own.

Is there a lesson plan to teach 3-5-ETS1-1?

Yes — “Success and Limits” is a 55-minute Grade 3 to Grade 5 plan for 3-5-ETS1-1, timed section by section, with the misconceptions to expect and an exit ticket. Success and Limits is the practice that follows it.

More practice for 3-5-ETS1-1

Define a design problem, with what counts as success and what limits you.

Teaching this next? Success and Limits is the 55-minute plan for it, with the misconceptions to expect.

All Grade 3 to Grade 5 worksheets

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to 3-5-ETS1-1 of the Next Generation Science Standards.