Tuesday, March 31, 2009

The Egg Drop


Last Monday, we spent a good portion of our day staring up at the 70 foot ladder of a fire truck. What were we doing? Our homeschool co-op was having an egg drop contest.



At co-op, we have been studying physics this year and what better way to research and learn about physics than making messes with eggs?

Right?

No.

The egg messes were just an extra bonus. I some how missed out on contests of this type during my educational experience but apparently a contest involving the building of a structure meant to withstand destruction is pretty common. Bob built some kind of egg protector in high school with the understanding that a bowling ball would soon bring death upon it from above.

Like I said, I don't remember being assigned this kind of thing... but I did make a neat tie-dye shirt in high school chemistry. It was on Senior Skip Day. Our teacher promised that she would fail us if we skipped. I didn't skip but I think I only got a C.

Bob and both Daniel and Michael worked on this egg capsule after discussing a little of what happens to objects as they fall as well as what happens on impact. Looks like Josiah was helping here, too.



Daniel really led the design team. After all, it was his assignment. Here he is sharing his thoughts with us. Michael is also sharing something with us in the background.





So here we are for the actual event. Daniel is ready for rain in the blue slicker. He's standing with the boys of his Pregrammar class. I was proud of them for standing so still and polite for so long. Things got crazy towards the end but really, they stayed together as a class for most of the event. Good work, PG!



Here are Michael and a couple of his preschool class pals, also watching carefully!



Up goes our egg capsule. See it poking up it's pointy head down there at the bottom of this shot?



Now the only question that remains is: will our egg survive?!



The answer: Um no.

Drippy eggings seeping out of the egg capsule upon post drop examination.

Oh well!

Here are some responses from the kids in our family:

Mercy: I watched the fire truck... then I fell off my chair!"

Michael: Our egg broke... but our capsule survived!

Daniel: That's okay. I like destroying things.

Next time, we'll put ours in a yellow purse. I'll bet that egg made it just fine!

6 comments:

Stacy said...

What a fun project!

amy said...

This made me smile from beginning to end Rebecca! We love your family. So cute.
Bummer it didn't work but it does look like a fun project.
How amazing that you are doing physics experiments with your pre-grammar guy while sickly pregnant with your fifth child! I am amazed by you!

Rebecca M said...

Oh, Amy! Bob was entirely responsible for our participation in this project! Really! I've kind of unofficially taken a break from teaching at home during this last unit but I'm hoping to be back at it for this next and final unit of the year!
And yes, it was pretty fun, Stacy- I think the boys really enjoyed it. The addition of being that close to a fire truck for a good hour really made it neat for them too!

D. Lee Grooms said...

Love this—so fun!

Our Four Kids said...

Love the pictures and the commentary! I'm sorry your egg didn't survive! Didn't your capsule land in the tree at first?! It was a fun day, wasn't it?!

Ells said...

awesome!!!! Loved the pictures. :)