K-2-ETS1-1: Defining a Problem to Solve
Also called NGSS K-2-ETS1-1 · Topic: Engineering Design · Engineering, Technology, and Applications of Science
The Official Wording
Ask questions, make observations, and gather information about a situation people want to change to define a simple problem that can be solved through the development of a new or improved object or tool.
NGSS Lead States, 2013 · Read it on nextgenscience.org · checked October 15, 2026
What K-2-ETS1-1 Means in Plain English
Children in kindergarten through 2nd grade notice something people wish were different, then ask questions, watch closely and collect facts about it. They use what they learn to describe a simple problem that a new or better object or tool could fix.
This first step is about understanding the problem, not building a solution yet. Sketching and modeling ideas comes next (K-2-ETS1-2), then testing and comparing designs (K-2-ETS1-3). In grades 3 to 5, students add limits like cost and materials (3-5-ETS1-1).
K-2-ETS1-1 I Can Statements
- I can ask questions about a problem people want fixed.
- I can observe and collect facts about a problem.
- I can describe a problem a new tool could solve.
K-2-ETS1-1 Worked Example
A week of careful watching that turns a classroom annoyance into a problem worth solving.
Why do pencils keep ending up on the floor, and what problem should we solve?
Set It Up: A tally chart taped to each desk, a short list of interview questions and chart paper.
- Make a tally mark every time a pencil rolls off a desk for one week.37 pencil drops in 5 days
- Watch closely when a pencil falls and note what was happening.Most fall when a page turns or a desk gets bumped
- Interview five classmates about when pencils fall and what happens next.“I lose my place when I pick it up”
- Check the desks for any place to keep pencils.Flat tops, no groove or holder
- Write the problem in one sentence on chart paper.Round pencils roll off our flat desks and we stop work to get them
The class turned a vague complaint into a clear problem: round pencils roll off flat desks with nothing to hold them.
Why it works: Engineers define a problem with facts and observations first, so the solution they build fixes the real cause.
Common Mistakes with K-2-ETS1-1
Jumping straight to a solution
“Let’s build a pencil robot!” before anyone observes
Try this: Spend time watching and collecting facts first. A clear picture of the problem leads to a design that actually helps.
Stating the problem too vaguely
“Pencils are annoying”
Try this: Say who has the problem, what happens and when, like “our pencils roll off flat desks when we turn pages.”
Asking only yourself
Writing the problem without talking to anyone
Try this: Ask the people who live with the problem. Classmates may notice causes and effects that you missed.
Where K-2-ETS1-1 Fits
Practice K-2-ETS1-1
Quick Check
- What should an engineer do before building anything?
- Which problem is clearer: “Recess is bad” or “Our balls roll into the parking lot at recess”?
- Why interview the people who have the problem?