Students explore forces in motion to develop a casing for a mechanical egg to minimize impact after being dropped from up high.
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NGSS Performance Expectations
Summary of Module Activities
Classroom Activity #1 - Science Investigation:
Students build small, medium, and large parachutes and conduct an investigation to compare the rate of fall of the parachutes. Experimental data is recorded and graphed. Students draw conclusions and construct explanations based on the experimental evidence.
Classroom Activity #2 - Engineering Design:
Students examine images of various three-dimensional engineered objects and discuss the structure and function of the geometric shapes used in the design and how they might contribute to either supporting weight or stabilizing the object against motion. They then iteratively design and build a structure made out of straws and tape that can support the weight of a small book(or other small object) as high above the desk/table as possible.
MOXI Field Trip - Engineering Design Challenge:
After they define and delimit a problem, students engage in the engineering design process as they find an optimal solution to the problem through multiple designs and iterative testing.
Classroom Activity #3 - Reflection:
Students compare three "Egg" Drop Challenge designs and discuss the tradeoffs between criteria and constraints. Finally, students reflect on how they used the engineering design process to define and solve a problem.