Texas TEKS 5.2.D

Science5th GradeScientific and engineering practices

The Standard

evaluate experimental and engineering designs.

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Science

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students judge whether an investigation gives trustworthy results and whether a designed solution meets its goal. They use test data, criteria, and limits to find strengths and weaknesses. They suggest specific changes and explain why those changes should help.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can spot uncontrolled variables, missing measurements, and tests that are not repeated. They can compare prototype data with set criteria, identify a weakness, and support a revision with evidence.
Common Misconceptions: Students may choose their favorite design instead of using test data. They may call an experiment fair because every step was completed, even when several variables changed. They often suggest changes without explaining how the changes address a measured weakness.
How to Assess It: Give students this exit ticket: A team compares two toy car wheel designs but also changes the ramp height. Identify the testing flaw, name useful data, and suggest one justified revision.

Lesson moves

Build paper bridges from one index card and 20 centimeters of tape, test them with pennies, then revise after recording where each bridge fails.
Show test results for three ice-pack designs and ask students to write which design best meets the temperature and cost limits.
Play Design Flaw Match by pairing scenario cards with flaw cards, then have teams defend each match using evidence from the scenario.
Compare two classroom water-bottle holders using stability, material cost, and ease of use, then recommend one for the school store.

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