Egg Drop Challenge

How to Play

Setup

1. Prepare team kits (one per team of 3–5): 1 raw egg (+1 spare optional), 10–20 straws, 1–2 sheets of paper, cotton balls, 4–6 rubber bands, a roll or pre-cut lengths of tape, scissors (shared), markers.
2. Define the drop zone: clear a safe area, lay a tarp or plastic sheeting, mark a landing target, and set cones to keep observers back.
3. Choose a drop height (6–10 feet) from a step ladder, platform, or balcony. Assign a ladder spotter.
4. Post criteria and constraints on a visible sign: time limit, allowed materials, drop height, and judging categories.
5. Set a timer: 5 minutes planning (no building), 15–20 minutes building, 3–5 minutes for testing (if you provide spare eggs), 5–10 minutes for the drop and judging, and 5–10 minutes for debrief.
6. Stage cleanup supplies nearby: paper towels, wipes, trash bags, and a bin for broken shells.

How to Play

1. Brief the challenge: Using only the provided materials, build a device that protects a raw egg from breaking when dropped from the set height. Explain judging criteria (e.g., egg survival, accuracy to target, lightest design, aesthetic/innovation points).
2. Form teams and hand out kits. Encourage teams to assign roles (project lead, builder(s), materials manager, timekeeper/tester).
3. Planning phase (5 min): Teams sketch ideas and discuss risk trade-offs. No cutting or taping yet.
4. Build phase (15–20 min): Teams construct their contraptions. Remind them to test fit and access (how to insert/remove the egg) and to keep an eye on the clock.
5. Optional testing (3–5 min): If you provided spare eggs, teams may do low-height tests in a designated area. They must clean any mess before continuing.
6. Inspection: At the buzzer, tools down. Optionally weigh devices or check size limits.
7. The drop: Line teams at the drop zone. On a synchronized countdown, each team releases their device from the specified height with no guiding.
8. Results and scoring: Open devices carefully and verify egg integrity. Award points for survival and any tie-breaker categories (e.g., closest to target, lightest build, fewest materials, creativity).
9. Debrief: Ask teams what worked, what they’d change, and how they managed time and risk.

Rules

1. Use only materials supplied; no external items or adhesives other than the provided tape.
2. Eggs must be raw and unmodified. No pre-wrapping the egg with tape alone; it must be part of the device.
3. Devices must be released cleanly from the drop height—no tossing, guiding, or tethers. Hands off after release.
4. Respect the time limit; no adjustments after “tools down.”
5. Testing is allowed only in the designated area and within time. Teams clean up any spills they create.
6. Safety first: one person on the ladder at a time with a spotter; keep the drop zone clear; wear goggles if required.

Tips

• Pre-cut tape strips to speed building and keep things fair.
• Encourage quick sketches before building. Emphasize cushioning, crumple zones, suspension, and energy dissipation.
• Assign roles to reduce chaos and ensure timekeeping.
• Mark a target to add focus and excitement.
• Capture slow-motion video for replay and learning.
• Run outdoors or on easy-to-clean floors when possible.

Variations

• Budget Marketplace: Assign prices to materials and give each team a budget to “buy” supplies.
• Iterative Heights: Surviving devices advance to higher drops until one remains.
• Silent Build: Nonverbal communication only to emphasize planning and clarity.
• Constraint Twist: Limit tape, ban parachutes, or cap device size (e.g., must fit in a 30 cm cube).
• Pitch Round: Teams deliver a 60-second product pitch; award innovation/style points.
• Accuracy Mode: Score by distance from target as a tie-breaker or secondary win condition.