Fifth Grade’s Annual Egg Drop Event: A Smashing Success

Trevino, Julia

May 09, 2025

Fifth-grade students at Netzaberg Elementary School watches their eggs land during the school’s annual Egg Drop challenge.

Fifth-grade students at Netzaberg Elementary School gather to test their egg-protection devices during the school’s annual Egg Drop event in Netzaberg, Germany. The event challenges students to design contraptions that prevent eggs from breaking when dropped from a height.

Fifth-grade students at Netzaberg Elementary School recently held their much-anticipated annual Egg Drop event, blending fun with hands-on learning. The event, a key part of the fifth-grade science curriculum, challenged students to apply critical thinking while engaging in practical problem-solving.

Students were tasked with designing and building a device to protect an egg from a high fall. Each team had a $100 budget to purchase materials, such as straws, rubber bands, string, paper plates, and paper clips. This budget constraint encouraged creativity and strategic thinking as students considered the best materials for their designs.

Lilliana, from Mrs. Freeman’s class, shared the excitement leading up to the event. “We tied a newspaper and string around the egg to help cushion the landing, and we were successful!” she said. Wyatt Brunn, from Mr. Anderson’s class, enjoyed the experiment even though his egg splattered. “It was a lot of fun! We learned how to improve our device during the after-action review,” he said.

Amanda Santiago, expressed her excitement when her team’s egg survived the drop. “It was a very exciting event, and I am just glad our plan worked,” she said. Antonio, from Mrs. Freeman’s class, was thrilled when his egg survived. “I brought it home, cooked it, and ate it... it tasted like victory!” he added.

The Egg Drop event not only reinforced scientific concepts but also incorporated skills from art, math, and engineering. Students took ownership of their learning, asking questions and exploring scientific principles such as gravity, impact force, and motion. This hands-on, inquiry-based approach made physics more tangible and memorable.

The entire school community gathered to watch the event, with younger students especially excited to see the creative contraptions and dramatic outcomes. The event was a celebration of curiosity, innovation, and collaboration.

Fifth-grade teachers were pleased to see their students take charge of their learning and apply their knowledge in such an engaging way. The Egg Drop event showcased the students’ critical thinking skills, teamwork, and enthusiasm for science.

The success of this year’s Egg Drop event highlights the hard work and creativity of the fifth graders, and teachers are already looking forward to next year’s innovative solutions.