Middle school egg drop teaches Goochland students STEM, problem solving

On December 4, students in Mr. Tate's class at Goochland Middle School took part in a classroom egg drop that asked each team to protect a raw egg from falls at increasing heights. Designs were required to include a 3D printed element, and the winning entry protected the egg with memory foam and sponges. The event was captured on the school's live feed at https colon slash slash gms.goochlandschools.org slash o slash gms slash live feed.

The exercise was simple in setup and rich in learning outcomes. Students practiced measuring and testing, adjusted designs after failed drops, and learned basic concepts of impact force and energy absorption. The constraint to include a 3D printed part added another layer of design thinking, connecting computer aided design and fabrication to a tangible classroom outcome.

Beyond the classroom moment, the activity underscores broader issues for Goochland County. Hands on STEM projects build critical thinking, resilience, and collaboration skills that are tied to school engagement and future employment opportunities. They also have implications for health equity because access to technology like 3D printers can vary between schools and neighborhoods. Ensuring equitable access to tools and maker space resources supports not only science education but also community wellbeing by opening pathways to higher paying jobs and reducing educational disparities.

There are modest public health gains linked to project based learning as well. Engaging students in interactive, physical tasks can reduce sedentary time and improve mental health through social connection and accomplishment. For families and educators, the egg drop is an example of low cost, high impact programming that could be expanded to after school programs, libraries, and community centers.

As Goochland considers budget priorities and partnerships, the success of this classroom event points to opportunities. Investing in shared fabrication resources, teacher training, and community maker programs would extend the benefits witnessed on December 4 to more students county wide. For footage and details about the classroom activities visit the Goochland Middle School live feed at https colon slash slash gms.goochlandschools.org slash o slash gms slash live feed.