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Engineering · Grades 6–8

Protect the Package

Which padding best reduces the impact on a dropped package?

The lesson

What students do

A shipping team needs light padding that protects a fragile item. Compare padding designs using the same package and drop height.

  1. Put the same amount of clay in each test package.
  2. Add one padding type around the clay.
  3. Drop the package from 1 meter onto a clear floor.
  4. Measure the widest dent in the clay and repeat three times per padding type.

For teachers

Standards connections

This short investigation supports parts of these standards. It does not cover the full standard by itself.

MS-PS2-1Connect impact forces to a package-protection design.

MS-ETS1-2Compare padding designs with the same test.

MS-ETS1-3Use results to find useful features of each design.

PracticeAnalyze and interpret test results.

Big ideaCause and effect

Included results

Where the results came from

Classroom model results included with ConductClass

These are model results, not a product safety rating.

Science source: NGSS Middle School Engineering Design

Included

Ready for one class period.

Student instructions Included results Chart choices and calculations Teacher notes and review guide

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