Judging Between Designs is a free printable Grade 3 to Grade 5 science worksheet on comparing multiple solutions against criteria and constraints, aligned to Common Core standard 3-5-ETS1-2. It prints 8 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two pupils 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.
1.Two groups score the same design differently. What should happen?
A.Keep both scores
B.Average the scores quietly
C.They agree what the criterion means and rescore
2.One design meets every criterion but costs twice the budget. What follows?
A.It wins on merit
B.It is ruled out, unless the budget itself is renegotiated openly
C.The budget is ignored
3.A design fails one criterion badly. What is worth recording?
A.Only that it failed
B.Which criterion and by how much, in case the design is revised
C.Nothing
4.Why should solutions be generated before any is evaluated?
A.Evaluating early narrows the field before the best idea appears
B.It fills time
C.It is traditional
5.Why record why a rejected design failed?
A.To justify the rejection
B.It is not worth recording
C.Part of it may solve a later problem
6.Three filters are tested. What should the comparison be based on?
A.Which took longest to build
B.Which looks cleanest
C.Measured performance against each criterion, with constraint failures removed
7.Two designs score identically. What is a defensible tie-break?
A.A criterion agreed in advance, such as cost or ease of repair
B.Whichever was built first
C.The teacher decides silently
8.What makes a comparison honest?
A.Using more criteria
B.Scoring your own last
C.The same evidence and the same standard applied to every design
LessonPrint · 3-5-ETS1-2 · Set 1 · free to copy for classroom use
Answer key — Judging Between Designs
Set 1. Prints on its own sheet.
1.They agree what the criterion means and rescore
2.It is ruled out, unless the budget itself is renegotiated openly
3.Which criterion and by how much, in case the design is revised
4.Evaluating early narrows the field before the best idea appears
5.Part of it may solve a later problem
6.Measured performance against each criterion, with constraint failures removed
7.A criterion agreed in advance, such as cost or ease of repair
8.The same evidence and the same standard applied to every design
Questions about Judging Between Designs
What does the Judging Between Designs worksheet cover?
It practises comparing multiple solutions against criteria and constraints — 8 questions for Grade 3 to Grade 5, all on Common Core 3-5-ETS1-2: Compare several possible solutions against the criteria and the constraints. The instruction to pupils is “Circle the best answer”, and the answer key follows on the next sheet.
Which Common Core standard does Judging Between Designs practise?
3-5-ETS1-2 — 3-5-ETS1-2, in the Engineering Design domain for Grade 3 to Grade 5. The published standard reads: “Generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on how well each is likely to meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.” The worksheet assesses that standard rather than a paraphrase of it.
What age or grade is this worksheet for?
Judging Between Designs is written for Grade 3 to Grade 5, typically ages 40-41. It is one of the sheets on 3-5-ETS1-2, so it suits any pupil working at that standard — including older pupils revisiting it and younger ones working ahead.
Does Judging Between Designs come with an answer key?
Yes. All 8 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 Judging Between Designs can I print?
25 — one per pupil, 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 Judging Between Designs free to print and photocopy?
Yes. Judging Between Designs, 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-ETS1-2?
Yes — “Judging Between Designs” is a 60-minute Grade 3 to Grade 5 plan for 3-5-ETS1-2, timed section by section, with the misconceptions to expect and an exit ticket. Judging Between Designs is the practice that follows it.
More practice for 3-5-ETS1-2
Compare several possible solutions against the criteria and the constraints.
Teaching this next? Judging Between Designs is the 60-minute plan for it, with the misconceptions to expect.