Eighth-grade students from Chicago Heights School District 170's Greenbriar School recently completed their annual "Egg Drop," an event that traditionally closes out the academic year's junior-high Science curriculum.
Before the event, the students built a container designed to house an egg while keeping it from breaking when dropped from on high.
The students also wrote a paper detailing their hypothesis, materials used, data/results, conclusions, a reflection, and the science behind the egg drop experience.
The event took place at the school's ball field and was coordinated by Laura Wolframski, Greenbriar's junior high Science teacher.
Representatives from the Chicago Heights Fire Department's Station Three joined in the activity, providing a truck that allowed the students to drop their eggs from the vehicle's extension ladder.
"I am thrilled that the Chicago Heights Fire Department once again supported our egg drop activity," Wolframski said.
"Seeing the satisfaction and excitement on the students' faces and hearing the roar of the crowd as each container was dropped acknowledged the participation of the CHFD and helped make the event a great success," she added.
On behalf of herself and her students, Wolframski extended sincere thanks to Captain Frank Enright, Engineers Joe Chapleau, and Don Dantezurzi, and Firemen/Paramedics Greg Ingram, Jewell Johnson, and Mike Marshall who came out to help us take science to 'new heights.'
"The CHFD representatives were just great with the students," Wolframski said.
"After the drop, all of the members of the department were talking with the eighth-graders about their containers, looking at them, asking if the egg had broken or not, and questioning why the experiments succeeded or failed," she continued.
"It was a fabulous example of a sense of community and caring between both the students and the firemen that made this an amazing experience."
Principal Joe Taylor and teacher Anthony Narcisi joined Wolframski in acclaiming the event.
"I would like to thank Ms. Wolframski, the students and staff of our school, and, especially, the Chicago Heights Fire Department for their commitment to making this year's Egg Drop a truly memorable experience," Taylor said.
"Once again, the Greenbriar School family, students, and staff had a great time embracing a fun learning activity that supplemented the usual classroom learning experience," Narcisi added.