Design and Technology - Egg Drop Design Challenge

Design and Technology - Egg Drop Design Challenge

Designed as part of the AQA Unit Award Scheme, this is an open ended design project that allows pupils to work either collaboratively or independently to explore methods of protecting an egg dropped from height. This is an excellent opportunity for pupils to investigate and follow an iterative design cycle to solve a difficult problem.

Lesson 1 Identify weak areas of an egg Introduction to the Egg Drop Challenge, discussing the structure of an egg. Students will learn about the anatomy of an egg and identify at least two weak areas.

Lesson 2 Plan as part of a team Planning session with teams to brainstorm ideas on how to protect the egg. Students will learn about teamwork and collaborative planning in engineering tasks.

Lesson 3 Select appropriate materials Discussion and selection of materials that could protect the egg from breaking. Students will learn how to choose suitable materials based on their properties.

Lesson 4 Build the egg protection contraption Hands-on session where students build their designs to protect the egg. Students will learn practical skills in constructing a protective device.

Lesson 5 Participate in the egg drop activity Conducting the egg drop experiment from a set height, observing the results. Students will experience the practical test of their design and team’s effort.

Lesson 6 Evaluate what went well Review and discussion of what aspects of their contraption worked well during the drop. Students will learn to identify and appreciate successful elements of their designs.

Lesson 7 Identify improvements for next attempt Critical thinking session to discuss what could be improved in future attempts. Students will learn to critique and evaluate their designs for future improvements.

Lesson 8 Consolidate learning and reflect on the entire process Pupils create a presentation or report summarising their findings and learnings. Students will consolidate their learning and reflect on the entire engineering process.

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