NGSS.3-5-ETS1, NGSS.MS-ETS1
Egg cartons, ribbon, string, tape, rubber bands, wide popsicle sticks, flat foam pieces
There are eight steps to get eggs from the farm to the grocery store: laying, collecting, washing, candling, storing and packing, shipping, selling and storing, and enjoying. Female chickens, hens, lay their eggs in either a hen house or outside. Larger chicken farms can have thousands of eggs to collect in a day, so they rely on automated gathering belts which help them collect eggs. Some smaller farms still gather eggs by hand.i It’s important to collect eggs in a timely manner to lower the risk of them getting broken. If the eggs are cracked or broken, they can’t be sold.
Share the background information with the students, then share the puzzle to be solved. Determine constraints (e.g., time alotted, space, materials provided, etc.) and divide students into small groups.
Ask a series of questions to help students brainstorm solutions to the puzzle. Encourage students to list all ideas – don’t hold back! Before moving on, make sure each group selects a solution that fits within the contraints.
Students diagram the prototype, identify the materials needed to build the prototype, and write out the steps to take. Students describe the expected outcomes.
Students follow their design plan and build their prototypes. Monitor their progress and remind them about how much time they have.
Students evaluate their creation and compare it with the expected outcomes. Students seek areas of improvement and make changes where needed.
Students share their solution to the puzzle and communicate lessons learned.
Put eggs or rocks outside on a lawn. Time students to see how well and efficient their egg-carriers work.
