Asking questions and defining problems in grades 3–5 builds on grades K–2 experiences and progresses to specifying qualitative relationships.

• Ask questions that can be investigated based on patterns such as cause and effect relationships.
• Define a simple problem that can be solved through the development of a new or improved object or tool.
• Ask questions that can be investigated and predict reasonable outcomes based on patterns such as cause and effect relationships.
• Define a simple design problem that can be solved through the development of an object, tool, process, or system and includes several criteria for success and constraints on materials, time, or cost.