Michael Kaiser, a sixth grade teacher at Pine View Elementary School in New Albany, Indiana, came up with this great learning project. "Mr. K's Eggsperiments" teach a powerful science lesson: Nature does not always get it right the first time and adaptation is the key to survival.

In the classroom, Kaiser's students get four chances to improve on an egg's natural packaging. Each attempt is more difficult than the last: Students must protect one egg, then two, then three and finally four eggs in a fall from a second-floor window. The kids' rate of success demonstrates that they get the point: On the first Drop Day, only 10 to 15 percent of the eggs survived; but by the fourth try, 70 to 95 percent make it down unbroken.

PROJECT:
Engineer a structure that will protect an egg from a fall from a second-story window

GOAL:
To teach kids how organisms adapt to survive

AGES:
Seven to 12

MATERIALS:
• 25 drinking straws (not the flexible kind) per person
• Masking tape
• Plastic wrap
• One large egg per person
• A second-story window
• Plastic drop cloth (optional)

STEP 1 Give each person 25 straws and set out a roll of plastic wrap, masking tape and scissors to share. Before the kids start building their adaptations, explain the ground rules:

• You're limited to 25 straws but you may cut them up.
• You can use as much plastic wrap or tape as you want, as long as you use them structurally (you can't use them as cushioning!).
• Your egg must slip into your contraption and be held securely in place without taping it to the structure.

STEP 2 On Drop Day, you might want to spread out a plastic drop cloth beneath the window where you'll be launching your eggs. No matter what, be sure that you have an adult supervising any kids at an open window. Tell the kids to drop the contraptions one at a time or all at once and watch the results. Cheer the survivors and observe a moment of silence for the less fortunate. Then, analyze what went wrong, modify your contraption and try again!