Fair Tests to Improve a Design
Aligned to 3-5-ETS1-3 — Next Generation Science Standards.
What this lesson teaches
A fair test changes only one thing at a time so you know what made the difference. Fair tests help you find which part of a design to fix.
Worked example
To make a paper airplane fly farther, you throw it the same way each time and only change the wing folds.
Practice questions
- Build a simple model, like a paper boat, and decide one thing you will change.
- Test it while keeping everything else the same, and measure the result each time.
- Explain which change worked best and what you would improve next.
Watch the lesson
Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.
▶ Watch this lessonEn español
Pruebas justas para mejorar un diseño
Una prueba justa cambia solo una cosa a la vez para que sepas qué hizo la diferencia. Las pruebas justas te ayudan a encontrar qué parte de un diseño arreglar.
Ejemplo: Para que un avión de papel vuele más lejos, lo lanzas de la misma manera cada vez y solo cambias los dobleces de las alas.
More Engineering Design lessons
Teach this lesson today
An AI tutor that guides with questions instead of just giving answers — all K–12 core subjects, every child in the family.
Start free — no card required