The raw or boiled egg challenge gives children the chance to explore their world use investigative skills to determine if an egg is raw or boiled without cracking the shell.

Supplies

• one hard boiled egg
• one raw egg
• Vinyl tablecloth or table covering (just in case)
• Towels (optional but recommended!)

Setup the egg Challenge

Use a permanent marker and write the number 1 on one of the eggs and a number 2 on the other. Ask the kiddos if they can tell the difference between a hard boiled egg and a raw egg without cracking it.  Have them examine the eggs. Carefully touch them, smell them, etc. 

Ask the children to think about the five senses. Can you tell which egg is raw or hard boiled by looking at them? Do the eggs feel the same? how about the smell? Do they make a different noise when shaken?

Discussion

After every child has had time to decide which is raw and which is boiled. Ask them who thought it was egg number 1 and who thought it was egg number 2.  Discuss why they think they are correct.

Further Discussion on the Egg Challenge

After the discussion ask the kids  what will happen when you spin each egg.  Will the hard boiled egg and the raw egg spin the same?  No, they will not. One will wobble while the other will spin.  Which one is which?

Of course the kids will want to crack them to see if they were correct.  Crack away!

More Egg Activites

If you like raw or boiled egg you may like Dinosaur eggs. This fun craft snack is a kid favorite. May a hard boiled egg look like a Dino egg!

You may also like brown & white eggs – a Lesson in diversity. This activity looks at the similarities and differences between colored eggs, plus you get a delicious snack when the lesson is over!