Egg Drop Challenge

Overview

In this engaging, hands-on lesson, 6th grade students will apply Newton’s three laws of motion by designing protective structures for an egg drop challenge. Students will use creativity, engineering skills, and scientific reasoning to prevent an egg from breaking when dropped from a height. This lesson integrates scientific inquiry, engineering design, and critical thinking following the Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).

Duration: 50 minutes
Class size: 20 students
Unit: Newton’s Laws in Action (Lesson 10 of 20)

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Standards Alignment

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS):

• MS-PS2-2: Plan an investigation to provide evidence that the change in an object’s motion depends on the sum of the forces on the object and the mass of the object.
• MS-ETS1-1: Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution.
• MS-ETS1-2: Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.

Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for English Language Arts:

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.6.1: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions with diverse partners on grade 6 topics, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.6-8.3: Follow precisely a multistep procedure when carrying out experiments, taking measurements, or performing technical tasks.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will:

1. Explain how Newton’s three laws of motion apply to their egg drop designs.
2. Collaborate in small groups to engineer a device that reduces impact forces during an egg drop.
3. Test and record the outcome of their egg drop, identifying factors that contributed to success or failure.
4. Analyze and communicate results using scientific vocabulary related to forces and motion.

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Materials Needed

• Raw eggs (1 per group; extras for replacements)
• Various construction materials: straws, popsicle sticks, rubber bands, cotton balls, tissue paper, bubble wrap, paper clips, tape, plastic bags, string, paper cups, cardboard pieces
• Scissors
• Rulers or measuring tape
• Drop zone area (preferably from a height of ~8 feet, like a stairwell or platform)
• Science notebooks or worksheets for recording hypotheses, materials, and observations
• Safety goggles (recommended)

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Lesson Breakdown

1. Introduction & Review (8 minutes)

• Engage: Begin with a brief review of Newton’s three laws of motion:
  • Law 1: Objects in motion stay in motion unless acted upon by an outside force (inertia).
  • Law 2: Force = Mass × Acceleration (how the egg’s motion depends on forces and mass).
  • Law 3: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction (impact of the fall).
• Show a quick demonstration of a ball dropped with and without padding.
• Ask students guiding questions:
  • What will happen to an egg dropped without protection?
  • How can we use Newton’s laws to design something to protect the egg?

2. Group Challenge Setup (7 minutes)

• Divide students into groups of 4 (5 groups total).
• Explain the task: Design and build a device to protect their egg from breaking when dropped from 8 feet. They must apply all three laws of motion.
• Outline the constraints: Use only materials provided, complete design within 7 minutes.
• Discuss criteria for success: Egg remains unbroken, minimal material use, clear explanation of the design’s relation to Newton’s laws.

3. Design & Build Time (12 minutes)

• Students brainstorm, sketch ideas, and construct their egg protection devices.
• Teacher circulates, asks probing questions:
  • How does your design minimize the force on the egg at impact (Newton’s 2nd law)?
  • How does your design keep the egg stable during the fall (Newton’s 1st law)?
  • How does your device absorb or counteract the force of landing (Newton’s 3rd law)?

4. Egg Drop Testing (10 minutes)

• Groups take turns dropping their egg devices from the designated height.
• Each group records the results in their science notebooks: Was the egg protected? Did the device break?
• Students note observations about how their design’s motion changed based on the drop.

5. Discussion & Reflection (8 minutes)

• Facilitate a class discussion:
  • Which designs were successful and why?
  • How did each law of motion influence your design’s performance?
  • What would you change if you were to try again?
• Have each group briefly share their results and their reasoning using scientific vocabulary.

6. Exit Ticket Assessment (5 minutes)

• Students individually respond to prompts in their notebooks or on a worksheet:
  • Explain how Newton’s three laws were involved in your egg drop design.
  • Describe one change you would make for a better result next time.
  • Reflect on how working as a team influenced your results.

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Differentiation

• For advanced learners: Challenge students to calculate approximate forces involved using basic formulas (Force = mass × acceleration), adding a math integration with Common Core Math Standards (6.EE.A.2).
• For learners needing support: Provide sentence frames for explanations, assign specific roles within groups (recorder, builder, presenter), and allow use of visual aids for ideas.

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Teacher Tips

• Emphasize safety: Handle eggs gently and encourage gentle construction and dropping.
• Prepare materials ahead for quick distribution.
• Use this lesson as a formative assessment for students’ understanding of forces and motion.
• Capture photos or videos for reflection and future lessons.

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This creative and interactive exercise deepens students’ grasp of Newton’s laws through practical application and teamwork, fully aligned with Common Core expectations for science literacy, collaboration, and scientific practices.