The Egg Drop Challenge: Engineering a Solution (update 2025)
Educational and Fun Activities
Written by Gregg Payne
09 September 2024
? 10 min
Few activities capture the spirit of hands-on STEM learning quite like the Egg Drop Challenge. This classic experiment invites children to design a protective structure that prevents an egg from breaking when dropped from a height. Beyond the excitement of the "will it survive?" moment, this challenge offers a powerful introduction to physics, engineering, and creative problem-solving. As we move into 2025 and beyond, encouraging children to engage with real-world problem-solving tasks has never been more important. Whether you’re trying this at home, hosting a science-themed party, or leading a school STEM day, the Egg Drop Challenge promises learning, laughter, and lots of innovation. At Science of Sound, we believe that every experiment is an opportunity to build resilience, curiosity, and critical thinking. Let’s dive into how you can set up this classic engineering challenge and turn it into an unforgettable learning experience for your young scientist!
1. What You'll Need
Setting up the Egg Drop Challenge is simple and affordable, using everyday materials that encourage creativity and ingenuity. To give children the best chance of success, we recommend gathering a wide variety of supplies. Here's what you’ll need:
✅ Raw eggs — Have a few extras on hand in case of breaks during testing.
✅ Recyclable materials — Items like cardboard, paper, plastic bags, cotton balls, straws, newspaper, or bubble wrap all work well.
✅ Adhesives and fasteners — Provide tape, string, glue dots, or rubber bands to help children build their protective structures.
✅ Scissors — For cutting and shaping materials safely.
✅ Ruler or measuring tape (optional) — Useful for measuring drop heights or planning design dimensions.
✅ A safe drop zone — A sturdy chair, step stool, or balcony can create the perfect testing platform. Place something soft underneath for safety if working indoors.
- By preparing a good range of materials in advance, you empower children to experiment freely and find clever engineering solutions to the challenge!
2. Step-by-Step Instructions
Now that you have all your materials ready, it’s time to dive into the Egg Drop Challenge. Follow these simple steps to set up and complete the experiment:
✅ Define the challenge. Explain the goal clearly: design and build a structure that protects a raw egg from cracking when dropped from a height of about 1–2 metres.
✅ Gather materials. Let children choose from the available materials. Encourage them to think creatively about how each item might help cushion or slow the egg's fall.
✅ Design the solution. Ask children to sketch or describe their ideas first. Will they create a soft landing pod? A parachute system? Brainstorming helps them visualise possible success.
✅ Build the structure. Help children bring their designs to life using the materials provided. Ensure the egg fits securely inside the device without being squeezed too tightly.
✅ Test the design. Drop the completed structure from the selected height. Observe whether the egg survives intact and discuss what worked or didn’t.
✅ Refine and retest. If the egg breaks, encourage improvements. Iteration is a vital part of real-world engineering!
3. The Science Behind It
The Egg Drop Challenge isn't just fun — it teaches powerful real-world science and engineering concepts that children can easily understand through hands-on experience.
✅ Gravity is always at work. Gravity pulls the egg toward the ground. Without any protection, the egg would accelerate quickly and hit the ground with force.
✅ Impact force matters. When the egg hits a surface, it experiences a sudden force. The higher the fall, the greater the impact. Reducing this impact is key to keeping the egg safe.
✅ Cushioning saves the egg. Materials like cotton balls, bubble wrap, and paper absorb some of the impact energy, slowing the egg down gently instead of letting it smash.
✅ Distributing force helps. A wider, softer structure spreads out the impact force over a bigger area rather than focusing it all on the fragile eggshell.
✅ Engineering mindset. The challenge mirrors real-world engineering processes — design, build, test, and improve. Each failure is an opportunity to learn and invent a better solution!
- Through this simple challenge, children get a real taste of physics and design thinking in action.
4. Tips for Success
Setting young engineers up for success means encouraging creative thinking, careful building, and a willingness to adapt their designs. Here are some expert tips to make the most of the Egg Drop Challenge:
✅ Encourage wild ideas. Sometimes the most unexpected designs are the most successful! Let children try out imaginative and unconventional solutions.
✅ Use a parachute. Attaching a parachute made from a plastic bag, cloth, or lightweight material can slow the descent and dramatically reduce impact force.
✅ Focus on lightweight structures. Heavy designs fall faster and hit harder. Encourage children to select materials that are strong yet light, balancing protection with reduced weight.
✅ Test and tweak. Remind children that initial failure is part of the process. Each test is an opportunity to observe what works and make small improvements for better results.
✅ Talk through predictions. Before each drop, ask children to predict what will happen and why. This strengthens observation and critical thinking skills.
- By following these tips, your Egg Drop Challenge will be an inspiring blend of creativity, resilience, and scientific discovery!
Final Thoughts
The Egg Drop Challenge is far more than just a fun experiment — it’s a hands-on journey through physics, engineering, and creative problem-solving. Whether a child’s design works perfectly on the first try or needs several improvements, every attempt offers valuable lessons in resilience, experimentation, and critical thinking. By encouraging children to plan, test, and refine their ideas, you nurture important skills that extend well beyond the world of science.
If your child loved tackling the Egg Drop Challenge, they’ll be thrilled by the wide range of exciting activities offered at our Science of Sound holiday camps, after-school clubs, and STEM workshops. We combine engaging hands-on challenges with real-world learning to create experiences that build confidence, curiosity, and a lifelong love of discovery. Explore our latest programmes and give your young innovator the perfect environment to learn, experiment, and shine!
Stay tuned for more inspiring STEM adventures you can try at home or in the classroom.
