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PHOTOS BY CLARE JENSEN

EDUCATIONAL EGGSTRAVAGANZA. Downing Elementary School put their engineering skills to the test during the North End school’s annual egg-drop science experiment April 18.

Downing cracks the no-crack code

By Clare Jensen

Boxes, buckets, bags and bubble wrap flew through the air April 18 at Downing Elementary School during the seventh annual egg-drop science experiment.

Since spring break, fourth and fifth-grade students have been concocting their own egg-protection devices to keep the fragile shell from breaking when dropped from heights of six, 12, 20 and 35 feet.

Aside from the hysteria that broke out on the playground each time a school district employee tossed the slew of devices off a 20-foot crane – and the 35-foot-high Downing rooftop – the egg-drop project is also educational.

The at-home project required the students to follow a set of restrictions when creating their safety-nets – they could not spend more than $1, they could not use tape and the device had to be smaller than a 10-inch box.

The students also had to apply the scientific method to their experiment.

Fourth and fifth-grade split teacher Karen Barnes said the purpose of the project is to apply scientific systems to the students’ own experiments – however, the fun of seeing an adult throw stuff off the top of the school cannot be denied.

And the variety of devices falling from the air was as unique as each student. Some opted for parachutes to provide a more delicate landing. Others used shredded paper, socks or plastic grocery bags to enclose the egg stuffed in a box.

Fifth-grader Lyric McLaughlin filled a shoebox with popcorn, which did the trick even at the maximum test of 35 feet.

Fifth-grader Chris Gores’ egg did not make it past 12 feet with his combination of zip-locks and cotton balls.  

Fourth-grader Justus Rogers packed his mother’s kitchen towels in a large sour cream container to protect the egg. The egg passed all the tests, but the same could not be said for the plastic container, which cracked on impact once dropped from the roof.

Fortunately, even if the egg did break, Rogers said his mom would not be mad about the yolk on her linens.

Out of the 53 students participating, 24 eggs passed the 35-foot test; getting the students an ‘A’gg plus.

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