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REAL CRACK UP
Egg drop offers lesson in science, technology
GECAC EGG DROP2-5-23-14
Students watch as Lathrop-Manteca firefighter Anthony Scarper drops their egg projects from atop the ladder. - photo by HIME ROMERO

Anyssa Ayala and Alondra Basulto were the first ones up to if their chicken egg could stay intact in one piece from a two-story fall.

After all, the two first-grade students of the Give Every Child a Chance After School Program at Lathrop Elementary school spent an hour designing a cushion to protect their egg consisting of drinking straws, feathers and cotton.

Lathrop-Manteca firefighter Anthony Scarper had the honors of releasing the “packaged” eggs. He was perched high above, using a ladder truck extended out to a height equivalent to that of a two-story building.

From there, he dropped the STEM project – it stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math program, according to Samantha Shephard of GECAC – belonging to the two girls.

The next sound they heard was a ‘plop’ as their egg struck the asphalt playground.

“We were disappointed that our egg didn’t make it,” said Ayala.

Most eggs didn’t make it. But that didn’t spoil the fun.

Some of the site coordinators had a chance to be creative. One example included cushioning an egg using 197 drinking straws – at least that’s what Marisol Munguia counted – shaped in a manner reminiscent of a Christmas ornament.

Shephard, who was grateful for the support of the Lathrop-Manteca Fire Department, praised the youngsters for their efforts.

“They’ve been doing an awesome job this year,” she said.

Shephard grew up in Tracy, where some of her fondest memories included doing egg-drop experiments in high school and elementary school.

The GECAC site manager was thrilled to do likewise for this After School Program.

“Our kids were excited about it,” she said. “They couldn’t stop talking about it.”

Youngsters such as Ayala and Basulto are looking forward to next time.

“The good thing is that the kids are learning,” Shephard said. “They’ll know what to do the next time (with the egg drop).

“More importantly, they’re enjoying it – I think that’s what really matters.”