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Egg Drop Project
Each year, Grades 6, 7 and 8 participate in an egg drop competition at the end of April. The objective of the project is for the students to build a vessel which would protect an egg as it is dropped from the MAMS roof into the courtyard. Each grade level receives different directions and project constraints to consider. Grade 6 is to design a vessel from a shoe box that will protect one egg. Grade 7 is to design a vessel out of any material they wish that would protect three eggs. Grade 8 must design a vessel that holds only one egg, but 1/4 of the egg is to be visible (and unprotected) at all times. A copy of these directions can be found by following the appropriate grade-level links at left. The results of the projects are always fantastic. Students in the past have designed vessels using parachutes, helium balloons, and many other devices that would help slow their project as it hurtled toward the concrete. All manner of packaging materials could be found inside the vessels to protect the eggs - even Twinkies! Students learn a great deal about kinetic and potential energy, gravity, motion, inertia, shock, impact, and power. We have been amazed in the past when some of the projects that were deemed totally destructible at first glance actually survived the fall and protected the egg(s) as well. Apparently, these students knew something we didn't!
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