From Thingamabobs to Gismos & Gadgets

Egghead's Great Adventure

Challenge:
You are to work with your team to design a safety feature for Egghead's vehicle that will keep him/her safe as he/she drives down the ramp and crashes into a brick wall. Your goal is to create this effective safety feature in the most economical way.

Your team will be scored based on your use of scientific problem solving strategies, teamwork, cost of materials used, effectiveness of your design, and Egghead's biographical sketch.

Teams

Dumpty Humpty
(Dominic/Freddy)
Humpty Denia
(Elana/Chloe)
Meep
(Clayton/Drew/Briar)
Captain Gabe
(Brandon/Gabe)
Eggy Omlette
(Delaney/Maya)
Littel Sarah Egghead
(Angelique/Destiny)
Chris Angel
(Abe/Huner/Luke)
Deviled Egg
(Christian/Justin/
Terrill)
Christy Selina Lu
(Tehya/Nina/Abby)
Jim
(Seth/Ed)

 

Procedure:

1. Work with your team to brainstorm and draft a design of the safety feature(s) you will use to keep your egghead safe.

2. Purchase materials and complete a materials cost analysis form.

  • 6 oz. cup - $500.00 each
  • Cotton Balls - $100.00 each
  • String- $ 10.00 per inch
  • Rubber bands - $100.00 each
  • Toothpicks - $100.00 each
  • Tape - $ 10.00 per inch

3. Build your vehicle and adjust your cost analysis form as needed.

4. Type up a biography (in Dreamweaver) about your egghead. Give your egg a name, age, occupation, educational background, hobbies, place of residence, and any other facts that will help us to get to know your egg. Decorate your egg's face/head. Take a picture of your egg and insert the image on your biography page. Post the page on your website.

5. By the end of the day you should have completed:

  • your vehicle
  • your egg's biography page
  • cost analysis for

Conclusion:

What were the strengths and weaknesses of your design?

What were the most successful and cost effective materials?

What is one change you would make if asked to redesign your safety device? Why?

 

 

BACK

D. Fischer
Modified: September 7, 2010

Credits: National Science Center camp curriculum titled Math and Science: The Totally Cool Combo, Day 4, Activity 4B, developed under contract by Dr. Sam McGaw, November 1995.

National Science Center camp curriculum titled Mission To Mars, Day 5, Activity 6, developed under cooperative agreement with Douglas County School System, Douglasville, GA, September 1999