Tufts STOMP - Week 1: Egg Drop

Week 1: Egg Drop

This week we introduced the engineering design process (EDP) with the egg drop activity. We talked about how engineers are problem solvers and used the EDP to solve a hypothetical problem of not being able to reach cookies on a high shelf. We then gave each student group about a yard of tape, Popsicle sticks, straws, and a few cotton balls to make a structure to protect an egg from falling. The students were somewhat confused originally and thought they were supposed to construct a landing spot for the egg, but soon understood the challenge after further explanation and demonstration.

The students were given a hard-boiled egg to test their prototype. They were then instructed to redesign (as part of the EDP). At the end of the session, each group's structure was dropped with a raw egg (in a plastic bag) inside. Only one group managed to save the egg! We discussed what designs were effective and what was ineffective. Most of the students did not anticipate their structure turning or flipping over during the drop.

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