Engineering From the Rooftop: The Great Chicken Drop Challenge: November 20, 2025

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In one of the most memorable engineering challenges of the year, Mr. Lamb’s class combined creativity, physics, and a bit of humor in a chicken drop challenge. The task was simple in concept but complex in execution: to design a structure capable of protecting a whole boneless chicken when dropped from the school roof.



Students worked in teams to brainstorm protective designs, considering principles such as impact force, momentum, shock absorption, and material strength. They experimented with a wide range of supplies—cardboard, bubble wrap, foam, parachutes, and cushioning layers—testing how each could reduce the effect of gravity on their airborne poultry.



Once designs were finalized, the real test began. From the rooftop, chickens were released one by one, and students eagerly evaluated whether their engineering triumphed… or whether their chicken met an unfortunate (but educational) end. Both outcomes offered valuable learning moments.

Throughout the challenge, students:

  • Practiced the engineering design process

  • Applied physics concepts in a hands-on way

  • Collaborated in teams

  • Reworked ideas after real-time results

  • Approached failure as an opportunity to learn



What made this project especially powerful was the combination of rigorous STEM thinking with a playful twist. Students were highly engaged, invested in improving their designs, and excited to see the impact (literally) of their work.



The Great Chicken Drop Challenge was more than just a fun activity—
it was an unforgettable lesson in problem solving, experimentation, and resilience.



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