Decision Package

The problem: Create a package that will prevent an egg from breaking when it is tossed into a large box.

First, divide students into teams; then provide each team with the following:

• an egg
• an envelope containing:
• 1 mailing label or computer label
• 1 piece of 8 1/2" x 11" paper
• 1 rubber band
• a 12" piece of string
• 1 paper clip
• a 1" piece of tape to keep the envelope closed
• 1 box, approximately 18" square.

Students can complete their packaging design in about 10 minutes, using good teamwork. Testing and discussion will fill the rest of the period.

After the students complete their packaging, have each team toss their "package" into the box. The box should be on the floor about 8 feet from the tossing line. If the package misses the box, it must be tossed again. Once the package is in the box and there is no evidence the egg broke, put it back into the box and have the students drop the box, with the package in it, onto the floor from a height of 5 feet.

Many adaptations of this problem can be used and scoring systems can be devised for each. For example, students may wish to use some of the "packaging materials" on the egg and some on the box; the "dropping height" can be changed, etc. Each change allows for new discussion of why the eggs did or didn't break.

(Variation of activity by Odyssey of the Mind. Glassboro, New Jersey. 1988.)



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Last Updated: 02/16/03
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