Challenge 004 · Ages 8–16
Egg Drop Challenge
Design a protective container to stop an egg from breaking when dropped.
Recommended Guided Learning Time: 2 hours
Learners may require additional or fewer hours depending on age, prior experience, pace and the level of development they choose to take their project to.
Primary STEAM area
Engineering
The Challenge
What will your learner investigate?
Can you engineer a protective system that keeps an egg intact during a drop?
Learning outcomes
- Explain how impact forces can be reduced.
- Develop and test a protective prototype.
- Evaluate materials and refine a design from test results.
Connected learning
Science: forces, gravity and energy transfer; Mathematics: height and measurement; Design & Technology: materials and prototyping; English: evaluation.
Dream Areas
Prepare for this Challenge
What you'll need
Here's what may be useful for completing this activity. Requirements may vary depending on the learner, activity format and equipment available.
Materials & consumables
- Eggs or reusable practice eggs
- paper
- cardboard
- cotton
- straws
- tape
- string.
Equipment, tools & software
- A clear, safe area where the egg can be dropped onto a protected floor
- metre ruler
- tray
- newspaper, a plastic sheet or an old towel to protect the floor.
Safety & preparation
- Check allergies
- adult controls drop height and cleans broken eggs.
These preparation notes support planning and do not replace a project-specific risk assessment or appropriate adult supervision.