The children had the opportunity to create an "egg protection device" with a plethora of recyclables presented for their use. All participated, with 5 of the 9 children in attendance choosing to submit an official entry into the "drop challenge" portion of the experience.
This opportunity was pure, hands on physics. They were provided water balloons and plastic eggs to "test" their devices before being given a real egg. All children who worked on a device were observed testing and refining their designs. Fine motor skill building was the an integral part of the morning, as well as measurement of distance and some work with me to find out whether more weight increased or decreased the velocity of the drop. A few children collaborated to discover better methods and materials, while several took their materials and choose to work alone. In the end, we found that there was a 65% success rate for the entire group that submitted an entry. Not bad at all!
We shared the story "After the Fall: How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again" by Dan Santat at the end of the morning. It's a Caldecott medal winner about failing and finding the courage to try again. Even the children familiar with the story were engaged. The illustrations are phenomenal.
Egg Drop Details: Teaching Science, Engineering, and Problem-Solving
The egg drop science experiment is a fun and engaging activity for young kids that can teach them various scientific concepts and skills. Here are some of the things that kids can learn from doing the egg drop experiment:
Engineering and design: In the egg drop experiment, kids are challenged to build a device to protect an egg from breaking when dropped from a certain height. This requires them to use their creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills to design and construct a device that can withstand the impact. Through trial and error, they learn about the engineering design process and how to improve their design.
Physics: The egg drop experiment also involves basic physics concepts such as gravity, acceleration, and force. Kids can learn about the laws of motion and how they apply to the egg as it falls through the air. They can also learn about energy transfer and how it affects the egg when it hits the ground.
Data collection and analysis: To evaluate the success of their egg drop device, kids need to collect data and analyze the results. They may measure the height of the drop, the time it takes for the egg to fall, and the condition of the egg after the drop. This helps them understand how different variables affect the experiment's outcome.
Collaboration and communication: The egg drop experiment is often done in groups, allowing kids to work together and communicate their ideas. They can learn how to listen to each other, share their thoughts and opinions, and collaborate to achieve a common goal.
Overall, the egg drop experiment can be a valuable learning experience for young kids, helping them to develop their scientific knowledge, critical thinking skills, and teamwork abilities.
Here are the basic steps for doing an egg drop experiment with young kids:
Gather materials: You'll need some basic materials for the egg drop experiment, including eggs, containers (such as plastic cups or small boxes), and various materials for cushioning the egg (such as cotton balls, foam, or bubble wrap). You may also need tape, scissors, and other tools for building the egg drop device.
Explain the experiment: Before starting the experiment, explain the purpose and rules of the egg drop challenge to the kids. Tell them their goal is to design and build a device to protect an egg from breaking when it is dropped from a certain height.
Design and build the egg drop device: Give the kids time to brainstorm ideas for their egg drop device and sketch out a design. Then, please give them the materials and let them build their device. Encourage them to test their device and make improvements as needed.
Experiment: Once the devices are built, it's time to test them! Choose a height for the drop (such as a balcony, a staircase, or a ladder) and drop each device one at a time. Measure the height of the drop, the time it takes for the egg to fall, and the condition of the egg after the drop.
Analyze the results: After testing all the devices, gather the kids and discuss the results. Ask them to share what they learned from the experiment and why some devices worked better than others. Encourage them to think about how they could improve their designs.
Clean up: Finally, clean up the materials and dispose of the eggs properly.
The egg drop experiment can be a fun and educational activity for kids, teaching them about science, engineering, and problem-solving.
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