Danielle Flaumenhaft’s fifth and sixth grade students scrambled into action with an “eggs-traordinary” challenge. The students were tasked with protecting a raw egg from cracking or breaking after being dropped from increasing heights during an egg drop experiment. 

Equipped with their knowledge of physics and engineering, they designed protective contraptions that minimize the impact of force brought on by a drop, inviting creativity, teamwork, and trial and error. Some of the contraptions included a parachute aimed to reduce kinetic energy through increased air resistance. Others took a more structural approach by nestling their egg inside sturdy outer shells like plastic pencil cases or tin cans, cushioned with cotton balls or foam to absorb shock.  

Throughout the process, students analyzed their results, spotted flaws, revised their plans and talked through improvements. By the final drop, the students were “egg-static” to see which designs held up and which ones cracked under pressure. They learned that thoughtful design, budget awareness and creative thinking can make a real impact. Most importantly, they learned that the experiment was about cracking open the process of engineering and discovering that learning sometimes comes from the splat as much as the success.

Click here to view the Scrambling for an ‘Egg-cellent’ Egg Drop slideshow.

Date Added: 4/15/2025