Pumpkin Drop

We had a great Pumpkin Drop this year!! So many came so close.  Every class used a parachute, and all but one deployed.  Did they help to slow the boxes down?  You decide!  Congratulations to Ms. Bellinger's class for winning the Golden Pumpkin!!

Pumpkin Drop Action!!

The Columbia Fire Department came out and helped us set up the  viewing area and landing zone.  They took up each box and dropped it from 50 ft!

The Supplies:

Each class started with a pumpkin.  We tried to get them as close to the same size.  We did a random draw to determine which class picked first. Each class also had the same size box, a roll of duct tape, a supply of newspaper, extra cardboard boxes and balloons.   Each class also got to choose a special item from the STEM Lab supply to use in their PPD.  Those items included : Toliet paper rolls, egg crates, cereal boxes, grocery bags, single use plastics, and water bottles.  They were also allowed to bring recycled items from home.  No new items or commercially designed packing materials, like bubble wrap or pack peanuts, were allowed. 

Ms. Nettles 2nd Graders

These students used cereal boxes stuffed with paper to cushion their pumpkin. They used grocery bags and balloons on top, and added recycled   poptart boxes on the outside of the box for cushion.

Ms. Taylor 3rd Graders

These guys got first pick of pumpkins and last pick of supplies!! They chose  cereal boxes which they stuffed with newspapers.  They also brought in  plastic bottles from home which they taped on the bottom for cushion.  They also used a trash bag as a parachute. Their design was different from the others.  They chose to attach the bag with string and keep it un-opened. 

Ms. Adams 4th Graders

This class chose egg crates as their special item.  They used the egg crates on the outside bottom, a layer on the inside bottom, as well as making a "shoe" for their  pumpkin.  They  used  extra cardboard to make smaller carboard shapes to fill the space around the pumpkin, as well as newspaper.  They used a trash bag as a parachute and extended the string with duct tape.

Mr. Sweeper 4th Graders

This class chose toilet paper rolls and  had two layers inside their box.  A student brought in an old pillow from home and cut it open to reveal stuffing, which they used to wrap the pumpkin with.  They also added grocery bags to each corner to use as parachutes.  On the bottom they used the pillow cover and stuffed grocery bags, brought in from home, to add cushion.

Ms. Scott 5th Graders

This class chose grocery bags as their special item and stuffed them with newspaper and recycled paper from class to create "pillows".  They also used a supply of single use plastics.  They used a trash bag as a parachute.

Mr. White 5th Graders

This class chose water bottles as their  special item, and used them on the bottom of their box.  A student also brought in an old pillow from home, which they cut open and used to wrap the pumpkin in.  Newspaper was also used to cushion the pumpkin.  They made a parachute out of a trash bag.