Egg drop for Mathematics!

Funny Egg Faces

2009-11-02T01:20:00.000-08:00

Here is a video showing some funny egg faces...and some unfortunate eggs. (Hopefully none of our eggs will end up like the cracked and broken ones!)

Handouts for the EggDrop4Maths workshop

2009-09-27T02:22:00.000-07:00

This workshop formed part of our unit on Sustainability (called "Footprints", for immersion video see this Footprints Teachertube link). Students were asked to create an "egg drop device" that would keep a raw egg in tact when dropped from various heights. Students were allocated an imaginary dollar to "buy" materials to create their devices.

Each material had different monetary values, with the cheapest values allocated to the materials like wood chips (natural materials that can degrade easily) and shredded paper (recycled material), and the most expensive materials those that posed threats to the environment (e.g. plastic bubble wrap and plastic straws, and rubber balloons). The students were asked to work in pairs or trios to plan and build a device with the materials they bought, while all the while keeping a record of the planning and thoughts. Students also had to keep track of the results of other egg devices, and report back in the Analysis of Results Form. Links to all the handouts and documents are given below.

The "winning" device was the one that could keep the egg safe when dropped from the top of the basketball courts, (about 10m high), and also the cheapest. Interestingly the winning device did not use bubble wrap (or any wrapping for that matter!), but relied on balancing the egg on a "floating square" using the upward air resistence to stem the fall of the egg.

Here are the handouts and support documents for this EggDrop4Maths workshop. You can download these documents from where they are saved on Google Docs:

EggDrop4Maths Lesson Plan http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0ATrf3vzsgKqKZGNyNjhnZDhfMTQwZ3gyZ2tzZnE&hl=en
EggDrop4Maths List Materials to choose from, and Cost of Materials http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0ATrf3vzsgKqKZGNyNjhnZDhfMTQxZjg0amtxbTI&hl=en
EggDrop4Maths Basic Rubric http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0ATrf3vzsgKqKZGNyNjhnZDhfMTQyY21zcjk3ZGg&hl=en
EggDrop4Maths: Write Up of your plans, and reflecting on your design http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0ATrf3vzsgKqKZGNyNjhnZDhfMTM5ZGJuNnBoY2c&hl=en
EggDrop4Maths: Student : Analysis of Results: http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0ATrf3vzsgKqKZGNyNjhnZDhfMTM1ZHo5eHRrZHg&hl=en
EggDrop4Maths: Data Grid http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0ATrf3vzsgKqKZGNyNjhnZDhfMTM4ZmdzNzk4bXI&hl=en
EggDrop4Maths: Cooperative Group Checklist (Self and Peer Assessment of Cooperative work in the team) http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0ATrf3vzsgKqKZGNyNjhnZDhfMTM3Y2M4a2ZjY3A&hl=en

A video showcasing all the devices can also be viewed in the Eggdrop4Maths Teachertube Video.

Where am I now?

2009-09-27T01:41:00.000-07:00

I have journeyed a long way since creating this Egg-drop-4-Maths blog. In the mean time I have been working as a Teaching and Learning Coach for the Loddon Mallee Region in Victoria, Australia, and from 2010 I will be providing educational leadership in E-Learning at Echuca College. If you want to view some of my adventures in education, please go to this website: http://marynabadenhorst.globalteacher.org.au/ You will also find links to contemporary ways of Podcasting and Vodcasting (here and here), Voicethread, Blabberize, Collaborative Talking Tools , Twittertools for Teachers, Interactive sites and IWB resources, and much, much more!

Always follow your heart: “To be a star, you must shine your own light, follow your own path, and don't worry about the darkness, for that is when the stars shine brightest." (Anon)

OLD Link to Creating Podcasts web page

2007-07-27T02:46:00.000-07:00

This link takes you to a website with some old information to creating podcasts. For more contemporary ways, go to this page: http://marynabadenhorst.globalteacher.org.au/podcasting-using-audacity/, and for examples of podcasts and vodcasts created in a Special School, go to http://marynabadenhorst.globalteacher.org.au/podcasting-my-journey/

First prize: Jake and Jake with a device which cost 11c. It has a cardboard bottom which balances the egg upright so it lands on its "head"

2007-07-24T16:13:00.001-07:00

Second Prize: In a basic box made out of cardboard, filled with shredded paper, this device cost only 20c and kept the egg safe. Well done!

2007-07-19T18:24:00.000-07:00

From the top of the squash courts...again!

2007-07-19T18:21:00.000-07:00

Dylan: Egg survived in the 65c package

2007-07-19T18:20:00.000-07:00

Emily and Nathan: Egg survived but the package cost $1!

2007-07-19T18:19:00.000-07:00

Gavin and James: Egg survived although the balloons didn't

2007-07-19T18:17:00.000-07:00

Jak and Dirk: Egg did not survive the first drop

2007-07-19T18:16:00.000-07:00

Khysha and Sharni: Egg survived!

2007-07-19T18:15:00.000-07:00

Tayla and Erryn: Shredded paper

2007-07-19T18:14:00.000-07:00

Jaime Lee: Great device but egg broke at the last drop

2007-07-19T18:13:00.000-07:00

Nikkei and Tyson

2007-07-19T18:11:00.000-07:00

Bridget and Chloe: Egg survived

2007-07-19T18:10:00.000-07:00

Cootey: Egg fell out when one of the balloons came off.

2007-07-19T18:09:00.000-07:00

Raymond and Josh: Egg broke on the first drop!

2007-07-19T18:05:00.000-07:00

Egg dropping from the top of the squash courts...Fairly high up!

2007-07-18T20:41:00.000-07:00

Sam and Josh: The egg broke early on in the experiment

2007-07-18T20:40:00.000-07:00

Teagan and Milly: The parachute kept the egg safe except from the top of the squash courts

2007-07-18T20:39:00.000-07:00

Jaime and Casey: The device worked but cost 75c

2007-07-18T20:38:00.000-07:00

Maggy and Maddi: Their device was very cheap and kept the egg safe except from the top of the squash courts

2007-07-18T20:35:00.000-07:00

Camm: The egg broke ... no wonder he seems so unhappy!

2007-07-18T20:34:00.000-07:00

Leigh: The egg broke the first time it fell

2007-07-18T20:33:00.000-07:00

Phillip: The device worked really well but the egg broke on the last throw

2007-07-18T20:16:00.000-07:00

Brodie and Justin: The egg broke when thrown up in the air

2007-07-18T20:14:00.000-07:00

Braden and Jack

2007-07-18T20:11:00.000-07:00

Joel and Nathan S: The device kept the egg safe up to the last drop...

2007-07-18T20:09:00.000-07:00

Nathan L: The device did not keep the egg safe...

2007-07-18T20:08:00.000-07:00

Cameron and Dobby: The egg did not survive the very high drop, but the face and "antennae" were cute, though!

2007-07-18T20:06:00.000-07:00

Daniel and Hamish: Their egg survived all the drops and the device costs 50c

2007-07-18T20:05:00.000-07:00

Gabriele and Brittany: Great little device using two cups and some bubble wrap...Only survived the first drop.

2007-07-18T20:04:00.000-07:00

Erin and Rachael: Egg did not survive the first drop!

2007-07-18T20:00:00.000-07:00

Sarah and Kayla: Bubble wrap and cup device

2007-07-18T19:59:00.000-07:00

Sean and Shane (hiding behind the balloon)

2007-07-18T19:58:00.000-07:00

Wylie: Bubble wrap and cup device

2007-07-18T19:57:00.000-07:00

Tim and Damien: Basic box filled with shredded paper - Very cheap and very effective!

2007-07-18T19:55:00.000-07:00

Jake and Jake: Their bubble wrap with parachute worked a treat!

2007-07-18T19:54:00.000-07:00

Tommy and Tom's "Mickey Mouse" contraption...it kept the egg safe from a low height.

2007-07-17T23:40:00.000-07:00

Will and Terry: The parachute broke the egg's fall.

2007-07-17T23:38:00.000-07:00

Heath and Branden...Egg had no chance with just a paper plane as protection!

2007-07-17T23:37:00.000-07:00

Josh P and Josh G: Great little device but a little expensive.

2007-07-17T23:36:00.000-07:00

Joel and Bradley: Balloon and masking tape...egg survived for a while.

2007-07-17T23:35:00.000-07:00

Bianca and Bec: Bubble wrap and cup. Egg survived!

2007-07-17T23:34:00.000-07:00

Addison's bubble wrap and cup device. Cheap and effective!

2007-07-17T23:33:00.000-07:00

2007-07-17T23:30:00.000-07:00

Scoring Rubric

2007-06-27T03:31:00.000-07:00

Scoring Rubric for Team Performance of Amazing Egg Drop
(Comments made regarding Not Yet, Almost There or Got It!!)

Criteria:

1. Team engaged in brainstorming; analyzed ideas and selected plan (Tick the correct one)

No evidence that the team brainstormed and analyzed several plans
Team clearly brainstormed and analyzed several plans before selecting construction plan
Team brainstormed several good ideas, engaged in analysis and selected an effective construction plan

Comments: -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Made predictions regarding survival of the egg. (Please tick the correct one)

No evidence of predictions regarding survival of the egg
Team shows good evidence of predictions regarding survival of the egg
Excellent evidence of predictions regarding survival of the egg

Comments -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. Completed construction of package/Egg Transportation Device (Please tick correct one)

Team demonstrated an inability to construct a container in the time allotted
Team effectively used the time allotted to create a well-designed container
Team effectively used the time allotted to create a well-designed container

Comments:-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. Correctly identified variables in laboratory report (Please tick correct one)

Lab report was incomplete, failed to address variables and/or had incorrect information
Lab report is complete, addresses variables and provides correct information
Lab report is very well written, addresses variables, provides correct information and presents valid conclusions

Comments: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cooperative Group checklist

2007-06-27T03:20:00.000-07:00

The Amazing Egg Drop

COOPERATIVE GROUP CHECKLIST (comments regarding the areas with regards to never, emergent, frequently and always)

Group Member Name

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Encouraging

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Analysis of results

2007-06-27T03:15:00.000-07:00

ANALYSIS AND RESULTS

1. Did the egg survive the fall?

2. What was successful in the design of the Egg Transportation Device (your package)?

3. What would you change about your Egg Transportation Device (package) if you did the experiment again?

Egg Drop Data Grid

2007-06-27T03:09:00.000-07:00

Egg Drop Data:
( Please tick if the egg survived, also put the cost of the Egg Transportation Device/container beneath the data re the survival of the egg)

Egg Number/Name Cost of the container made Survival of the egg Other info

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sample of Egg Drop Write-Up page

2007-06-27T02:58:00.000-07:00

Sample of Egg Drop Project Writeup
Step 1: Identify the problem
The problem in this situation is that Billy Bob must design a device to protect an egg from a drop using only a limited amount of materials.
Step 2: Hypothesis
I hypothesize that a parachute design will protect the egg from breaking in the fall. This design will have four long thin strips of paper attached to the remaining four corners of the newspaper and then to the egg.

Step 3: Testing
(no written work for this step)

Step 4: Evaluate
(Example: "My design was successful in protecting the egg. Other parachute designs were also successful. Other designs involving wrapping the egg in butchers paper or newspaper were, for the most part, not successful. The results of my classmates were as follows:
Parachutes-
number broken: 2
number not broken: 6
Wrapping egg in newspaper- number broken: 5 number not broken: 1
Step 5: Conclusion
I conclude that the __parachutes___are the best way to protect the egg from a fall. It had a far better success rate than the __cushion___..

Egg Drop Write Up Page

2007-06-27T02:56:00.000-07:00

Egg Drop Project Write-up (for more information and an example of what to write, please look at the Sample Egg Drop Project Write-up)
Step 1: Identify the problem

Step 2: Hypothesis (Remember to include the total cost of your design!)

Step 3: Testing(
no written work for this step)

Step 4: Evaluate

Step 5: Conclusion I conclude that the _______________is the best way to protect the egg from a fall. It had a far better success rate than the _____________..

Instructions for the activities

2007-06-27T02:53:00.000-07:00

Part I. (10 - 15 minutes) Think, pair, share
Whole class activity to brainstorm the cost of packaging materials. Essential Questions: Is it really necessary to use so much plastic, polystyrene and other materials to wrap items? What do we usually do with these wrapping materials? What is the cost to our planet if we continue this trend? Is wrapping really necessary? Name some instances where wrapping could benefit us.

Part II (Time: 10 minutes) Two team members/Partners. 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 team makes sure everyone’s idea is discussed and the most agreed upon plan will be selected. Teams may consult with other groups if their teams wish.

Part III (10 minutes)Please complete the first two steps on the page titled:”Egg Drop Project write-up”, namely the parts labeled “Identify the problem” and “Hypothesis” (this is where you draw or write what you plan to build.)

Part IV. (30-40minutes)When the team has decided upon the construction plan, they may begin to construct their mechanism. Following the construction, the team then chooses a slogan/name for their design.

Part IV. (10 minutes)When all teams have completed their mechanisms the instructor/teacher will bring them to the “drop” site. Each team will introduce their design by name, say what the package cost, and what they did to protect the egg, then drop it. The other teams must make comments on the grid provided re whether the egg survived or not, and the cost of the packaging. 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. Each team returns the supplies and picks up the egg drop lab sheet after their drop. The group discusses the analysis and work together and fills out the rest of the Egg Drop Project Write-Up. Remember to put your names onto the sheet! Hand it in.

Part VProcessing: Each person in the group fills out the analysis of results page. Put your name onto the page and hand it in.

Some other web resources

2007-06-26T21:25:00.000-07:00

These links can be copied and pasted in the address bar to go to them. They also have some photos and information on egg drop activities around the world!

http://lc.ust.hk/~courses/206/documents/mini_report.doc
http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/experiment/00000115
http://www.niemworks.com/else/eggdrop.html
http://www.engr.ncsu.edu/k12outreach/documents/finalCostEffectiveEggDrop1.doc
http://www.tnengineering.net/eweek/Demonstrations/Egg%20Drop%20Demonstration.pdf
http://sitemaker.umich.edu/adventuretherapy/files/eggdrop.doc

An interesting website that can be used as a resource...it has videos as well!

2007-06-26T21:14:00.000-07:00

http://www.sciencewithmrnoon.com/eggdrop/egg.html

Materials list

2007-06-26T20:51:00.000-07:00

Outer Structure: Cardboard piece (large) @ 15 cents, Cardboard piece (medium) @ 10 cents, Cardboard piece (small) @ 5 cents, cup @ 10 cents, straw @ 5 cents

Shock Absorbers: Bubble wrap (20 cm by 20 cm) @ 15 cents, peanuts (15) @ 15 cents, Plastic/Polystyrene bubbles @ 15cents for a handfull, tissue paper (1 sheet) @ 5 cents, butcher paper (1 sheet) @ 5 cents

Fasteners: Scotch tape (1 metre lenght) @ 10 cents, masking tape (1 metre) @ 20 cents, duct tape (1 metre) @ 25 cents, rubber band (one) @ 5 cents.

Limitations: You must use only the items listed above.
You must pick one material from each group.
The total cost of the materials cannot exceed $1.

Other information: Please work in pairs to design you Egg Transportation Device (ETD). You may "buy" materials up to a total of $1. You may later want to exchange (unused, undamaged) goods, or want to return (unused, undamaged) goods. Remember that the cheapest Egg Transporting Device that can keep the egg intact and safe when dropped from a height of 2 metres, will win!