The Amazing Egg Drop
Part 2 of the Engaged Learning Workshop Series
Dr. Susan Belgrad, Educational Design and Learning Consultant
Learning about Constructivist Practices by Engaging in Them
Grade
Level: Intermediate
Standards:
Objectives:
At
the conclusion of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Use the Internet as an effective research tool
2. Name and explain the steps of the scientific process
3. Explain applications of the scientific process and how companies use it
4. Follow the procedure of the scientific process
5. Design and construct an egg protection device
6. Analyze
and draw conclusions based on the results of the egg drop experiment
Instructions:
In this lesson you will use teamwork to design a
container that would protect a raw egg as it falls to the ground from a height
of 8 feet. Your team will receive an egg and a bag of
materials. You will be given time to
brainstorm how you might construct a protective mechanism for dropping your egg
without breaking it. You are only
allowed to use the materials in your bag within the time frame allotted. It will be important to work well with your
teams in analyzing the materials you are given and predicting which materials
will safely protect your egg during its descent.
Team
Roles:
1.
Materials
Manager - the person whose birthday is
the nearest in the future. Picks up, manages, and returns all materials.
2.
Checker - the person to the right of the materials
manager; makes certain all tasks are carried out correctly, answers team
questions and seeks out assistance when team requests it. Also responsible for
navigating to the websites identified by the instructor to check for resources
explaining the outcomes of their trials;
3.
Encourager - the person to the right of the Checker;
responsible for establishing and keeping a positive team spirit.
4.
Reporter/Recorder
- the person to the right of the Encourager; responsible for taking down (entering
into the computer) the team brainstorming notes and the selections for
assembling the protective mechanism as well as recording the results of the
team trials. This person will also
report the findings of the team.
5.
If
there are five team members the fifth person will be the reporter.
After
your team has assigned and reviewed the roles, the materials manager can pick
up the team materials.
Materials
1.
Computers with Internet access
2.
One egg for every group of students
3.
One piece of newspaper for every group of students
4.
One foot of tape for every group of students
5. Some materials you may choose are poster board, cardboard
cotton, Styrofoam, tape, glue, socks, toilet paper, and
straws.
6.
Garbage
bags
7.
Area
outside or in school stairwell.
In
your design, you should choose one or two variables and test the results of
this variable on your crate. Your design must not include changing the egg in
any way (no tape on the egg, no nail polish on the egg, no hollow eggs...). You
will write a lab report with all the standard sections and produce a final
product to describe your work. In this project, you should be trying to apply
some of the knowledge about motion.
Part
I. (10 minutes)
Once
the team has taken time to read the egg drop instructions and look over the
materials, they will brainstorm ideas on how to create the most protective
mechanism.
After
brain storming, the checker makes sure everyone’s idea is discussed and the
most agreed upon plan will be selected.
The checker may consult with other groups if their teams wish.
Part
II. (15 minutes)
When
the team has decided upon the construction plan, they may begin to construct
their mechanism. Following the
construction, the group then chooses a slogan for their group and select an
energizer which they would like the group to give them as they complete their
drop.
The
encourager leads the cheer following the group’s presentation
Part
III. (10 minutes)
When
all teams have completed their mechanisms the instructor will bring them to the
“drop” site.
Following
the concluding drop, each of the groups will review the results and hypothesize
why the mechanisms performed as well or poorly as they did. The materials manager returns the supplies
and picks up the egg drop lab sheet.
The group discusses the analysis and work together to individually
complete each sheet.
The
group then chooses a slogan for their group and assist the recorder in
preparing a graphic organizer for teaching the whole group about what they
learned. They also select an energizer
which they would like the group to give them as they complete their
presentation.
The
encourager leads the cheer following the group’s presentation
Part
IV
Processing: Each team assesses the quality of the work
their team accomplished in the egg activity.
ANALYSIS AND RESULTS
1.
Did the craft survive
the fall from the stairs?
2.
What was successful in the design of the craft?
_
3.
What would you change about your craft if you did the experiment again?
_
4.
As the egg drops, what type of energy conversion is taking place?
Explain
_
The Amazing Egg Drop
COOPERATIVE GROUP CHECKLIST
|
Group Member Name |
Encouraging |
Attentive Listening |
Working toward Consensus |
Staying with the group
and with your role |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Scoring Key 0 Never ž
Sometimes + Frequently |
