Breaking Eggs
A quick and simple activity which will surprise pupils; why are eggs so strong?
Age Group: 9-12 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Biomimicry Connection:
In nature, we hardly find a square shape - this is because nature tries to avoid fractures by using curved shapes. By observing stable formations such as trees, we can learn from them what forms they use.
Activity Details:
Tools and Materials
- Some eggs - check to ensure the eggs have no cracks. Take more eggs to the classroom and replace them after every few pupils, just in case of hairline fractures.
- Sink or waste bin
Description
- Ask pupils to remove any rings from their fingers of one hand.
- Place a raw egg in the palm of a pupil’s hand and hold their hand over a sink or a garbage can.
- Instruct pupils to close their fingers over the egg and squeeze it as hard as they can.
- Repeat this process with as many pupils as would like to try it (replace the egg after every few students, just in case of hairline fractures).
- What happened? Why do you think this is? Are white eggs stronger than brown eggs?
- Where can we find the same shape in nature? And in the human body?
- Where can we find similar shapes in buildings, constructions?
