Young Inventors: The Great Egg Drop

Michael Gooch

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Young Inventors: The Great Egg Drop

Encourage creativity and problem-solving

In this lesson, students will design a contraption to protect an egg from breaking when dropped. This activity encourages creativity and problem-solving skills, as students must think critically about materials and design to achieve their goal. It helps develop teamwork, engineering thinking, and resilience as they test and refine their designs.

Audience

Achievers (Ages 9-10)

Time

45 mins

Approach

Encourage creativity and problem-solving

Materials

Raw eggs (1 per group), Various materials (straws, tape, paper, etc.), Scissors, Plastic bags, Stopwatch, and Discussion Questions

Step 1

Introduction

5 mins

Briefly introduce the challenge: design a contraption to protect an egg from breaking when dropped.
Explain the importance of creativity and problem-solving in engineering and everyday life.
Divide students into small groups.

Step 2

Design Phase

10 mins

Provide each group with materials (straws, tape, paper, etc.).
Allow students to brainstorm and sketch their designs.
Encourage them to think about how to absorb impact and protect the egg.

Step 3

Construction Phase

15 mins

Groups begin constructing their designs using the provided materials.
Circulate the room to offer guidance and ask probing questions to stimulate thinking.
Remind students to test their designs gently as they build.

Step 4

Testing Phase

10 mins

Have each group drop their egg contraption from a predetermined height.
Use a stopwatch to time the drop and observe the results.
Discuss what worked and what didn't with each group.

Step 5

Reflection and Discussion

5 mins

Gather students for a group discussion.
Use the Discussion Questions to guide reflection on the activity.
Encourage students to think about how they could improve their designs.

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Discussion

Discussion Questions

A set of questions to guide reflection on the egg drop activity.

What was the most challenging part of designing your contraption?

Encourage students to think about the design process and any obstacles they faced.

How did your group decide on the final design?

Discuss the decision-making process and how teamwork played a role.

What would you do differently if you could redesign your contraption?

Focus on the iterative process of design and improvement.