9. Your team may spend no more than $8.00 on total building materials. Circle one: [ Criterion | Constraint ]
10. The device must be built in under 45 minutes using only masking tape and craft sticks. Circle one: [ Criterion | Constraint ]
11. The solar oven must reach an interior temperature of at least 150°F. Circle one: [ Criterion | Constraint ]
16 points total
The Haunted House Cup Station Challenge In a classroom station, Team B built a Haunted House using paper cups decorated with ghost faces. Students tested how tall their haunted house could stand before the cups wobbled and fell over. Their house reached 4 levels high, but when they added the 5th ghost cup, the entire tower collapsed!
12. Which foundation design will create the most stable base to help Team B's haunted cup house stand taller without tipping over? (2 pts)
A. Stacking all the cups in a single, narrow vertical column
B. A wide pyramid base with interlocking cups supporting upper levels
C. Balancing the bottom cups on their narrow top rims
D. Placing the heaviest ghost cups on the top level
13. Redesign Blueprint (5 pts) Sketch an improved cup haunted house. Label 2 engineering features that prevent wobbling:
14. Team B's Improve Step (4 pts) Explain 2 specific modifications Team B should make during the Improve step so their house reaches 6 levels:
15. Testing & Data Analysis (5 pts) During the classroom test, Team B measured the height in centimeters and counted the number of cups held before collapsing. How does collecting this quantitative test data help Team B successfully iterate and improve their design on the next attempt?
Engineering Design Process Quiz • Grade 5 Science End of Assessment
12. Multiple Choice Foundation Question (2 pts) CORRECT: B
Rationale: Choice B (A wide pyramid base with interlocking cups) lowers the center of gravity and distributes the weight of upper levels across multiple foundation points, preventing tipping. Single vertical stacks (A) or rim-balancing (C) create extreme instability.
13. Blueprint Rubric (5 pts) Full Points Criteria
• Wide Foundation (+2 pts): Shows a broad base row (e.g., 4-6 cups across).
• Pyramid / Interlocking (+2 pts): Upper cups nest over the seams between bottom cups.
• Clear Labels (+1 pt): At least 2 structural elements labeled (e.g., "wide base", "interlocking cup seams").
14. Justification Key (4 pts) 2 pts each modification
Modification 1: Increase the width of the bottom foundation row by adding more cups so the center of gravity stays low.
Modification 2: Stagger the cups so each upper cup sits directly across two bottom cups (interlocking) rather than rim-to-rim.
Also accept: placing lighter ghost cups at the peak or spacing base cups evenly.
15. Testing & Data Analysis Rubric & Exemplar (5 pts) 3 pts Content + 2 pts Reasoning
Exemplar Student Response: "Measuring height in centimeters and counting the number of cups gives Team B exact numerical (quantitative) data about when and where their structure failed (at 4 levels / 5th cup). Instead of just guessing what happened, this data gives them a specific baseline to beat. On their next attempt, they can compare their new measurements to prove scientifically whether their wider base actually improved the haunted house."
• 3 Points: Explains that numerical data shows exact failure limits/weak spots without guessing.
• 2 Points: Connects data comparison to validating improvement during the next test cycle.
Engineering Design Process Answer Key • Teacher Resource Grading Key Complete
Apply the Process
Key Engineered Features:
A Task 1: Identify the Problem & Human Need The "ASK" Stage
Why did engineers design reusable insulated bottles? Describe at least two human, environmental, or practical problems caused by single-use plastic bottles:
B Task 2: Engineering Process in Action (Identify the Step & Write Response) Choose from: Ask, Imagine, Plan, Create, Test, Improve
Scenario 1: The team fills the bottle with 34°F ice water and places it in a 100°F oven for 12 hours, measuring the water temperature every hour with digital thermometers.
Step Name ________________
What are the engineers doing during this step and what data are they collecting?
Scenario 2: Engineers draw a 3D blueprint showing exact thread measurements (1.5mm) so the cap seals tightly, and calculate how much stainless steel sheet metal is needed.
Step Name ________________
Why are exact measurements and blueprints crucial before building begins?
Scenario 3: During a backpack bounce trial, the flip lid popped open and leaked. The engineers analyze the broken latch and add a safety locking ring and thicker silicone seal.
Step Name ________________
How does the team use failure data to redesign and iterate the product?
Prototype Power • Product Evolution Challenge Student Lab Activity Complete
Exemplar Student Response: "Single-use plastic bottles create millions of tons of plastic waste that pollute oceans and take over 450 years to decompose. Also, plastic bottles warm up quickly in backpacks and cannot keep drinks cold during hot weather or sports. Reusable insulated bottles solve this by eliminating plastic trash and using vacuum walls to keep water ice-cold all day."
Environmental Need (+2 pts): Mentions plastic pollution, ocean trash, landfill waste, or avoiding microplastics/BPA.
Practical/Human Need (+2 pts): Mentions keeping liquids cold/hot, preventing leaks in school bags, or saving money over buying bottles.
B Task 2: Process Steps & Written Response Keys (6 Points Total • 2 pts each) 1 pt Step + 1 pt Explanation
Scenario 1 (Ice water test in oven): STEP: TEST (Testing)
Correct Explanation: Engineers are gathering numerical temperature data over time under extreme heat conditions to see if their double-wall vacuum prototype successfully meets the temperature criterion (e.g., keeping water under 40°F for 12 hours).
Scenario 2 (3D blueprint & material calculation): STEP: PLAN (Planning)
Correct Explanation: Precise blueprints and millimeter measurements ensure the lid threads screw on tightly without leaking. Planning materials beforehand prevents wasting expensive stainless steel and ensures factory machines can produce identical copies.
Scenario 3 (Broken latch & redesign with lock ring): STEP: IMPROVE (Redesign/Iterate)
Correct Explanation: The engineers use failure analysis to find the exact weakness (flimsy latch). Instead of starting from scratch, they modify the blueprint by adding a locking safety ring and thicker seal, making the next prototype much more durable.
Product Evolution Answer Key • Teacher Resource Scoring & Key Complete
