Take the egg drop challenge a step further. Limit the supplies that children can use with this fun and exciting activity for kids. Great for After school programs and summer camps.
What is an Egg Drop?
An Egg drop is an iconic STEM activity that asks kids to build a vehicle that will keep an egg from breaking or cracking when dropped from a high point. See more about traditional egg drop from Northeastern university.
In my after school program we have done this activity every year. That being said, kids have master the art of egg drops. So one year I put limitations on the activity. This limited egg drop challenge asks kids to build a traditional egg drop vehicle, but with a limit on the supplies they can use.
Set Limitation
The whiteboard pictured above represents items that I had laying around at our center. Change or alter items on this list to fit the items you have on hand. Make sure to place them appropriately into the 1,2 or 3 pt category. Some items you may have that would be useful for an egg drop include:
- Dixie Cups
- Cray paper
- Tape
- String
- Paper
- Rubber bands
- Solo cups
- Cotton balls
- Paper bags
- Tissue paper
- Balloons
How to Run a Limited Egg Drop Challenge
Break the kids into teams. I find that groups of 2-3 work best, but use whatever works best for your group of children. Each team gets 10 points (Have a running total of points on a sheet of paper to keep them honest) Have each team create a plan for their structures with the new limit of 10 points per team. Have them draw out a blueprint for the plan. When the children have decided, and drawn out their plan, have them present it to you. If you approve their plan, give them the necessary supplies and mark down how many points they have remaining.
Allow the groups to manipulate their structures and make changes as needed. I allowed kids to exchange products for other products when necessary, but that is up to you. When the children have what they think is the best possible structure to protect their egg, give them an egg to add to the project.
If you have access to a balcony take the children to the balcony. If you do not, take the structures to a designated spot on the roof and have a coworker gather the children in a safe area below the drop site. Take the structures one at a time and drop them from the roof. Allow time to build anticipation with a 3…..2…..1…..Drop! Count.
Have your coworker check the eggs in the structures below to see if the eggs survived. If an egg survived that group can have bragging rights until the activity again a year from now.
