Joanna Jarc Robinson, Ph.D
CHILDREN'S WRITER, ILLUSTRATOR, AND EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL
Sample Workbook Pages
SCIENCE CONTENT
2.4 Engineering Design: Engineering design is a process used to design and build things to solve problems or address needs.
CHAPTER: 2.4D.1
Use tools to construct a simple designed structure out of common objects and materials.
With this standard, students will learn to use their resource-fullness and creativity. Students will be encouraged to use resources to create a designed machine that will solve a problem or address a specific need. Simple, re-usable materials can be used to create tools, toys, and more. Problem-solving skills are encouraged and fostered with this standard.
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You want to build a bridge for your toy cars. You have found two blocks for the sides of the bridge, but you need something to go across the blocks. Which material would be the strongest for the bridge?
a. A cereal box
b. Another block
c. A piece of aluminum foil
d. A magazine
(Answer B – Another block would be the strongest of the items listed because it is probably made of wood or plastic. The cereal box, a piece of aluminum foil, and a magazine would each make a relatively flimsy and weak bridge.)
2. You are looking to build a boat that you can take in the bathtub with you. Which material would be the best for the bottom part of the boat?
a. Cardboard
b. Cotton
c. A sponge
d. Plastic
(Answer: D - Plastic would be the best material to use for the bottom of the boat because the other materials will absorb water and the boat would eventually sink.)
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3. You live on the side of a hill and every time it rains, the water carries mud, grass, mulch, leaves, and plants to the bottom of your driveway – all over your basketball court. What could you use to prevent this from happening?
a. Dig a hole at the edge of the driveway.
b. Place some large rocks along the edge of the yard by the driveway.
c. Set a few bags of sand along the driveway.
d. All of the above.
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(Answer: D – All of the above suggestions would be useful ways of stopping the water from running onto the basketball court. A hole would collect rainwater and other debris, large rocks would interrupt the path of the rainwater, and the sand bags would help to absorb the water.)
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MATH CONTENT
Grade 3: Estimation (Solve multiplication problems involving estimation (2 digits by2 digits)
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1. Marian bought 13 crayon packs with 32 crayons in each pack. Estimate how many crayons there are in all.
a. 300
b. 230
c. 330
d. 450
e. 600
Answer: a
Grade 3: Division (Solve division equations within 100 (with remainder; no picture)
1. There are 82 cupcakes at the bake sale and 9 customers all buy the same amount. How many did each customer buy and how many are left?
a. Each customer bought 9 cupcakes and there are none left.
b. Each customer bought 8 cupcakes and there are 3 left.
c. Each customer bought 9 cupcakes and there are 2 left.
d. Each customer bought 8 cupcakes and there is 1 left.
e. Each customer bought 9 cupcakes and there is 1 left.
Answer: e
Grade 4: Add and Subtract Fractions (Solve problems involving fractions with like denominators (finding the addition equation needed to solve; with pictures)
1. There are 8 jellybean flavors in the bag. Matt has tried cherry and mocha, while Bill has tried the melon, pineapple, and chocolate flavors. Which equation shows how you would find how many of the 8 jelly bean flavors they have tried so far?
a. 2/8 + 3/8 =
b. 2/3 + 3/3 =
c. 8/8 + 2/8 + 3/8 =
d. 8/8 - 2/8 =
e. 8/8 - 3/8 =
Answer: a
Grade 4: Large Numbers (Round to any place (rounding to 1000 (4 or 5 digit numbers)
1. Over the past school year, the students in Mrs. Kisel's class ate 3,277 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. If you rounded that number to the nearest 1,000, about how many sandwiches is that?
a. 3,000 sandwiches
b. 4,000 sandwiches
c. 3,200 sandwiches
d. 3, 300 sandwiches
e. 3, 280 sandwiches
Answer: a