Students from a Morinville high school tested their knowledge of engineering and aerodynamics by dropping pumpkins 66 feet in the air.

The Pumpkin Drop Challenge showcased the hard work of Year 8 and 9 students in building a capsule to contain and protect a pumpkin from a high drop.

Each team of five students carefully designed the pumpkin capsule over several days with a budget of $20 to spend on padding and a parachute to prevent the pumpkin from shattering upon impact.

Some students chose to cover their capsules with sponges, pillows, cotton balls, balloons and pool noodles, hoping to break the fall and keep their flask safe.

To increase the risk, Four Winds Public School partnered with the Morinville Fire Department to bring in a fire truck equipped with a ladder. The 66-foot drop is certainly no picnic for college students and their capsules.

“We’ve done some calculations with gravity and force, and (the students) are confident that we will have pumpkins that will survive this year,” said Christina Dafoe, assistant principal at Four Winds Public School. “They’ll take all the capsules and drop them one by one… to see if any survive.”

This is both an engaging and educational activity for 8th and 9th grade students.

“I simply present them with a challenge, and then they complete it beyond expectations…we learn a lot about the physics of gravity, as well as different absorptions and materials they can use to protect their pumpkin,” said Dafoe.

“It’s hands-on, and you don’t realize that (students) are learning all these different elements while you’re working and building…you’re really getting a lot of work done while having fun and cooperating as a team.”