Developing and Testing Prototypes

Active learning works for developing and testing prototypes because students need to experience firsthand how ideas become testable models. When they build, test, and revise their own designs, they see that each test provides real data, not just opinions.

• 5th Grade
• Science
• 3 activities
• 20 min–45 min

Learning Objectives

1. Compare the performance of two different prototype designs against a set of defined criteria.
2. Explain how testing a prototype provides data that informs design improvements.
3. Critique a prototype's design based on test results, identifying specific areas for modification.

Inquiry Circle

⏱ 45 min·Small Groups

Inquiry Circle: The Paper Plane Derby

Groups build two different paper plane designs (prototypes). They must conduct a 'fair test' by throwing each plane five times from the same spot and measuring the distance, then comparing which design best met the 'long distance' criterion.

Prepare & details

Why is failing during a test actually a success for an engineer?

Facilitation Tip: During The Paper Plane Derby, remind students that they must keep all flight conditions the same (launch force, distance, location) between tests to ensure a fair comparison.

Setup: Groups at tables with access to source materials

Materials: Source material collection, Inquiry cycle worksheet, Question generation protocol, Findings presentation template

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Self-Awareness

Gallery Walk

⏱ 30 min·Individual

Gallery Walk: Prototype Critique

Students display their initial prototypes for a simple task (like a pencil holder). Peers walk around with 'I like...' and 'I wonder...' sticky notes to provide constructive feedback on the design's potential.

Prepare & details

How can we compare two different designs fairly?

Facilitation Tip: During the Gallery Walk, provide sentence stems on critique cards to help students give specific feedback rather than vague comments.

Setup: Wall space or tables arranged around room perimeter

Materials: Large paper/poster boards, Markers, Sticky notes for feedback

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Create
• Relationship Skills
• Social Awareness

Think-Pair-Share

⏱ 20 min·Pairs

Think-Pair-Share: The 'Beautiful Failure'

Show a video of a famous engineering failure (like a bridge wobbling). Students discuss in pairs: 'What did the engineers learn from this failure that helped them build the next one better?'

Prepare & details

What can we learn from a model that we cannot learn from a drawing?

Facilitation Tip: During Think-Pair-Share, explicitly model how to phrase a 'Beautiful Failure' by sharing your own engineering mistakes and what they taught you.

Setup: Standard classroom seating; students turn to a neighbor

Materials: Discussion prompt (projected or printed), Optional: recording sheet for pairs

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Teaching This Topic

Teachers should model the engineering mindset by publicly testing their own prototypes and treating setbacks as learning moments. Avoid rushing students to a 'correct' answer; instead, guide them to ask, 'What did the test tell us?' and 'What should we change next?' Research shows that students who document their testing process develop stronger problem-solving skills.

What to Expect

Successful learning looks like students using clear criteria to build at least two prototypes, testing them under controlled conditions, and explaining how test results guide their next design choices. They should also recognize that failure is part of the process and use it to improve their work.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

During The Paper Plane Derby, watch for students who change multiple variables between flights, such as wing shape and launch angle, and redirect them to test one change at a time.

What to Teach Instead

Pause the activity and ask the group to identify which variable they changed first, then rerun the test changing only that one variable to see the true effect.

Common Misconception

During Think-Pair-Share, watch for students who say 'It didn't work' without explaining what happened or why.

What to Teach Instead

Provide a template with prompts like 'The test showed that...' and 'The prototype failed because...' to guide their reflection.

Assessment Ideas

Quick Check

After The Paper Plane Derby, have students complete a two-column exit ticket: in the left column, list one thing their prototype did well, and in the right column, list one thing it did not do well, referencing the criteria they tested.

Discussion Prompt

During the Gallery Walk, ask students to share one observation about how another group’s prototype performed and one suggestion for improvement based on the test results they witnessed.

Peer Assessment

After Think-Pair-Share, have students write down one positive observation and one constructive suggestion for a peer’s prototype, using the testing criteria discussed in class.

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Challenge: Ask early finishers to design a second prototype that addresses the most critical flaw from their first test.
• Scaffolding: Provide templates for recording test results and sentence starters for discussing failures.
• Deeper exploration: Have students research real-world engineers who improved designs through repeated testing and share findings with the class.

Key Vocabulary

Prototype	A preliminary model or sample of a product, built to test a concept or process before mass production or final design.
Criteria	Specific requirements or standards that a design must meet to be considered successful.
Constraint	A limitation or restriction that engineers must consider when designing a solution, such as materials, time, or cost.
Fair Test	An experiment where only one variable is changed at a time, ensuring that the results are due to that single change and not other factors.