What you need:
- four raw eggs
- modeling clay
- phone books or other heavy books
- a board large enough to hold the books
- aluminum roasting pan
What to do:
- Invite your child to shape the modeling clay into cushions for the eggs. First, divide the clay into eight balls. Then flatten the balls into disks. Make an indentation in the middle of each disk with your thumb.
- Place one cushion on top of each egg and one on the bottom.
- Put the eggs in the pan, pointy side up. Place them so that each egg will support one corner of the board. Gently put the board on top of the eggs.
- Have your child predict how many books he thinks the eggs will support.
- One at a time, place books on the board. Center them in the middle of the board. Continue stacking books until one of the eggs breaks.
- How many books were the eggs able to support? Was this surprising? How did it compare with your prediction?
- Explain to your child that an arch is a very strong shape. An egg can support weight because of its round, or arched, shape.