All or nothing: EDS third-graders rise to Egg Drop Challenge
Published 10:54 am Friday, April 21, 2023
This student also incorporated a parachute into his egg drop contraption. (Donna Price / American Press)
Donna Price / American Press A fireman drops an egg from a firetruck ladder Thursday At Bishop Noland Episcopal Day School. This egg is encased in a foam soccer ball that is attached to four parachutes. It was designed by third grader Shane Scarborough. (Donna Price / American Press)
To celebrate Easter, 32 third grade students at Bishop Noland Episcopal Day School put their STEM skills to use and participated in the “Egg Drop Challenge” on Thursday.
The event was originally planned for April 6, but was delayed due to poor weather conditions.
This is an experiment that the school does annually, in partnership with local firefighters, to combine Easter celebrations with physics.
“We are so grateful to the Lake Charles Fire Department for always making it such a memorable experience,” said Libby Richards, third grade teacher.
The “Egg Drop Challenge” is a popular STEM activity that tests their understanding of force and motion. Their mission is to design a device that will carry a raw egg to safety after being dropped from the top of a fire truck ladder.
After being deployed by a firefighter safely attached to the ladder, yesterday’s eggs faced a very windy day and a drop of over 20 feet.
The students have been prepping and building their egg drop devices from home.
“Students are encouraged to be creative and experiment with any material that will not shatter,” said Richards.
This included cardboard boxes, straws, bubble wrap, paper bags, a reconstructed regulation volleyball and a styrofoam Big Gulp cup.
One student, Shane Scarborough, encased his egg in a foam soccer ball attached to four colorful parachutes.
“At first I tried to use a foam football, but the shape wasn’t right,” he recalled.
It took about two weeks for him to finalize his egg drop invention’s design. “My mom and I went through a lot of eggs.”
