Did the Design Work?
A 45-minute Kindergarten lesson on reading the results of a test to decide whether a design did what it was meant to do.
Did the Design Work? is a free 45-minute Kindergarten science lesson plan for Common Core standard K-PS2-2 — look at the results and decide whether a design really changed how something moved. It is timed across 5 sections, gives the exact wording to use where the wording carries the mathematics, names 3 misconceptions with the teaching move that addresses each, and ends with an exit ticket and a printable worksheet with its answer key.
- Grade:
- Kindergarten
- Length:
- 45 minutes
- Standard:
- K-PS2-2
Kindergarten · Physical Science
K-PS2-2
Analyze data to determine if a design solution works as intended to change the speed or direction of an object with a push or a pull.
Objective
Students will be able to use test results to say whether a design changed how something moved.
Students are successful when they can
- Reads a value off a results chart.
- Names which design did best, and says how they know.
- Says what the design was meant to do before judging it.
What you need
- Two ramps of different heights, one toy car
- A results chart drawn on the board
- The printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan
The lesson
Warm-up — what was it for?
5 min- Show the two ramps and say the job: send the car as far as possible.
- Ask the class to remember the job, because it is what the results get judged against.
Teach — results before opinions
12 min- Run the car down ramp A three times and record how far, in steps.
- Do the same for ramp B, from the same car and the same start.
- Draw both results as bars on the board.
- Ask which bar is taller, then which ramp did the job better.
- Say the move out loud: we did not guess, we looked at the results.
- Ask what would make it unfair: a different car on ramp B.
“The job was to send it far. Which one did the job?”
Investigate — build and test
15 min- Groups build two ramps of different heights from books and card.
- They run the same car down each one twice and mark where it stops.
- They draw two bars on a strip of paper to show the results.
- They circle the ramp that did the job.
Independent practice
10 min- Students complete the 'Did the Design Work?' page.
- Point at the tallest and shortest bar with a pupil who is stuck.
Close
3 min- Ask which ramp the class would build next time, and why.
What goes wrong, and why
Each of these is a reasoning error rather than carelessness. The fix addresses the reasoning.
Picks the design they like the look of.
Why: The prettier build feels like the better one.
Fix: Cover the ramps and show only the bars. Which did the job?
Judges a design without saying what it was for.
Why: The job was stated once and then forgotten.
Fix: Ask the job again first. 'Better' means nothing until there is a job.
Tests once and calls it a result.
Why: One run is quicker.
Fix: Run it again. If the two runs disagree, one run was not enough.
If they are not there yet
- Two bars rather than four on the results chart.
- Give the job written on a card to keep on the desk.
If they finish early
- Add a third ramp and predict where its bar will go.
- Say what you would change about the losing ramp.
- Find a result that would make you change your mind.
Exit ticket
Ramp A sent the car 4 steps. Ramp B sent it 9. Which ramp did the job, and how do you know?
What to look for: Ramp B, because 9 steps is further. A preference with no number means the results step needs another run.
Printable practice for K-PS2-2
Free to print and copy, answer key included. Each sheet can generate a fresh set of problems for a retake.
- Did the Design Work?Look at the results, then answer.
Questions about Did the Design Work?
How long does the Did the Design Work? lesson take?
45 minutes, split across 5 timed sections: warm-up 5 min, teach 12 min, investigate 15 min, independent practice 10 min, close 3 min. The minutes are stated per section and add up to the stated length, so the plan can be cut or extended at a section boundary rather than abandoned halfway.
Which standard does Did the Design Work? teach?
K-PS2-2 — K-PS2-2, Physical Science for Kindergarten: “Analyze data to determine if a design solution works as intended to change the speed or direction of an object with a push or a pull.” In plain terms, look at the results and decide whether a design really changed how something moved.
What do I need to teach this lesson?
Two ramps of different heights, one toy car, a results chart drawn on the board and the printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan. Everything listed is either ordinary classroom equipment or a free printable from this site — there is nothing to buy and nothing to prepare beyond photocopying.
What mistakes should I expect in this lesson?
Three, each a reasoning error rather than carelessness: picks the design they like the look of; judges a design without saying what it was for and tests once and calls it a result. The plan gives the thinking behind each one and the teaching move that addresses the thinking rather than the symptom.
How do I know whether the lesson worked?
The exit ticket asks: “Ramp A sent the car 4 steps. Ramp B sent it 9. Which ramp did the job, and how do you know?.” Ramp B, because 9 steps is further. A preference with no number means the results step needs another run. That tells you whether the class needs a reteach or a thirty-second conversation before you plan tomorrow.
Is there a worksheet to go with Did the Design Work??
Yes — 1 printable K-PS2-2 worksheet, linked at the end of the plan and free like the rest of the site. Each one comes with an answer key and 25 versions, so the practice after the lesson can be a different paper on every desk.
Is Did the Design Work? free to use?
Yes. The plan, its printables and their answer keys are free to read, print and photocopy for your own class, with no account and no email capture. It was last reviewed on 8 September 2026. Please do not resell it or republish it as your own.
Last reviewed 2026-09-08. Aligned to K-PS2-2 of the Next Generation Science Standards.