Egg Drop Madness! When Grade 5 & 6 Take on Aerodynamics

Last week, our students blasted off into the world of aerodynamics! They explored the four forces of flight—Lift, Thrust, Weight, and Drag—by designing, building, and launching paper airplanes. The classroom turned into an airport as planes zoomed through the air, crashed, looped, and sometimes soared beautifully across the room. Students measured how far their planes flew, tweaked their designs, and tested again, all in the name of becoming better engineers.

This week, the challenge got even more intense… and egg-cellent!
Students put their science knowledge to the test by becoming parachute engineers on a mission. Their goal? To safely deliver a very precious cargo—an egg—back to Earth. Using ideas about air resistance, drag, and material science, they asked big questions:
What materials can protect an egg best?
How can drag slow a falling object?
Does adding weight make the landing harder or softer?

The classroom buzzed with creativity as teams got to work. Some students focused on material science, wrapping their eggs in layers and layers of bubble wrap. Others designed parachutes and wings to slow the fall from above. A few clever inventors combined parachutes with soft straws and cushions to absorb the impact. Every group had a different plan—and every plan was tested!

Finally, it was time for the big drop. Students rushed outside to recover their brave egg-onauts. Not every test pilot survived the mission. There were gasps, cheers, and a few sad faces—especially when a carefully named and beautifully decorated egg didn’t make it. But in the end, laughter filled the field as students watched their inventions succeed (or fail!) in the most dramatic ways.

Science was messy, exciting, and unforgettable—and the students loved every second of it!