EggDropActivity

Lessonplancreatedby:
MeredithWaara,NorthernMichiganUniversity
Datelessonwascreated:
June2014
Timerequiredtopreparelesson:
30minutes
Timerequiredtocarryoutlessonplan:
7090minutes

Guidingquestionofthelessonplan:
Teamworkisaskillthatweuseeverydayinvarious
situations.Itisimportantforstudentstoknowandunderstandtheimportanceofworkingasa
teamwhennecessary.
Goal(s)ofthelessonplan:
Studentswillbesplitintogroupsandwillworkasateamto
constructadevicethatwillprotectaneggfrombreakingwhendroppedfromasecondstory
balcony/roof.Eachround,thesupplieswillbecomemorelimitedandteamswillneedtobemore
resourcefulandcreativewiththeircontraptions.
Informationforfacilitators(tips):
Tryandgroupstudentstogetherthatyoualreadyknowworkwelltogether.
Thereisahighlevelofcollaborationinthisactivityandeveryoneshouldbeabletohave
avoicewhileparticipating.
Providethestudentswithsomestartingmaterialstobeginwith,thenhavethemsearch
formoretheywouldliketouse.
Backgroundonlesson:
Everyyearatsummercampwedothisactivity.Thestudentsloveitand
rememberwhowonthepreviousyear.Eventhecounselorsgetinontheactionandkeepthe
friendlycompetitiongoingstrong.
Objectivesofthelessonplan:
Workinginsmallgroups,studentswillconstructsomethingthatwillprotectaneggfrom
breakingwhendroppedfromahighplace.
Usingteamwork,studentswillcollaborateanddecidehowtheywillbuildtheir
protectivecontraption.
Studentswillbuildresourcefulnessbyrepurposingfoundmaterialsandusingthemin
theirprotectivecontraption.
Studentswillappropriatelycommunicatewiththeirgroupandothersoutsidetheirgroup
whileconstructing.

Listofvocabularyusedinthelessonplan:

Resourcefulness

Teamwork

Collaboration
Youwillneed(listofresources/materialsneeded):
Eachteamwillbegiven:
1egg
1rollofmaskingtape
2piecesofprinterpaper
Methodofmeasuringlearningoutcomes:
Studentswillbeinformallyassessedbasedupon
theirteamworkandcommunicationskillsduringtheactivity.
LessonOverview:
Activities:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Introduction
Constructing
Round1
Testingteamseggcontraptions
Rounds2and3(Testingtofollow)
Conclusion

Requiredtime:
7090minutes
Thesetup:
Room:Thisactivitycouldbedoneinsideoroutside.Studentsshouldhavespacetowork,
buttablesarentnecessarytosucceedwiththisactivity.Thedifferentroundsoftrials
couldtakeplaceinsideoroutside,butahighplacetodroptheeggsfromisnecessary.A
fireescapeorbalconyinthespacewillworkfortesting.
People:Studentswillbegroupedintoeventeams.Eachteamwillbegivenonesetofthe
suppliesandwillworktogethertoconstructsomethingtoprotecttheiregg.
Theoverallactivityisconductedbydoingthefollowing:
Youstarttheactivityby:
1. Introducetheactivity.Explaintothestudentstherulesashighlightedonthe
attachedsheet.

2. Splitthestudentsintoequalgroups.Eachgroupwillbegivenonesetofsupplies
(1egg,1rolloftape,and2piecesofprinterpaper).
3. Explaintothestudentsthattheywillneedtoworkasateamandcollaboratewhen
workingonprotectingtheiregg.
Duringtheactivity:
1. Studentswillbegiven20minutesforthefirstroundoftesting.Asateam,
studentswillworktogethertoconstructsomethingtoprotecttheireggfrom
breaking.Whenthe20minutesisup,eachgroupsstructurewillbedroppedfrom
ahighplace.
2. Whentestingeachgroup,dropthemindividually.Whenallthegroupshavebeen
tested,haveeachteamchecktheireggtomakesuretheyareintact.Iftheyare
broken,theteamisoutandtheotherteamswillcontinuetothenextround.
3. Continuewitheachround,cuttingthetimedownby5minuteseachtime.(Round
1has20minutestobuild,round2has15minutestobuild,round3has10
minutestobuild,round4has5minutestobuild).
4. Assiststudentswhennecessarywhileeachgroupisbuilding.Makesureevery
studentisinvolvedandisbeinggivenachancetocollaborateandsharetheir
ideas.
5. Oncealltheroundshavebeencompletedandoneteamisleftwithanintactegg,
thewinningteamwillbecrowned.
Toconcludetheactivity:
1. Oncethewinningteamiscrowned,askthestudentstohelpcleanupthearea
wheretheywereworking.
2. Askthestudentstotakeaseatanddiscusswhatitfeltliketogothroughthe
activity.
Howwelldidthedifferentgroupsofstudentsworktogether?
Wasitdifficulttocomeupwithaplantobeginbuilding?
Howmanydifferentideasweresaidbeforeonewasdecidedupon?
Didthestudentsneedtodosomenegotiating?
3. Askthestudentsiftheylearnedanythingaboutteamworkthroughdoingthis
activity?
Whatothersortsofsituationswillyouneedtouseteamwork?
Whywasworkingtogethersoimportant?
4. Endtheactivitybycongratulatingthestudentsontheirresourcefulnessandtheir
ingenuityinbuildingtheirprotectivecontraptions.
5. Thewinningteamwillreceiveaprize(candy).

GEARUPAnnualEggDrop

Instructions:
Studentswillbesplitupintoeventeams(counselorsmayparticipatealso).
Teamsmustcomeupwithateamnameandanamefortheiregg.Teamswillbe
given20minutestoconstructsomethingthatwillprotecttheireggfrombreaking
whenitisdroppedfromabalcony/fireescape.Atthestartofthe20minutefirst
round,studentsaretoberesourcefulandworkasateamtobuildtheirprotective
contraption.
Teamswillbegiven:
1egg
1rolloftape
2piecesofprinterpaper
Teamsmustonlyusethesuppliesgivenandanythingelsetheycanfind.Teamsare
notpermittedtouseofficesorothersuppliesunlesstheyareasking
politely
for
somethingtheyneed.
Aftereachround,teamscontraptionswillbetestedbydroppingthemfromahigh
place(balconyorfireescape).Eachteammustunwraptheireggandletthe
facilitatorsseethatithasntbeenbroken.Beginningwiththe20minuteround,the
roundswilldecreaseintimeby5minutes.Atthebeginningofeachround,students
mayrevisetheirdesignsorcomeupwithawholenewone.
Thewinningteamwillreceiveaprize!Goodluck!