Egg & Stone experiment for children
This experiment trains the children’s ability to work together. The exercise can be used in a setting with both SEN children, neurotypical children or a mixed group. “Egg & Stone” is an experiment which trains teamwork but it also makes you reflect about the aspect of sensitivity in regards to inclusive education.
The experiment can be carried out with both a group of children as well a group of adults. You can find the recipe for using it with adults further down in the text.
Quick facts about the experiment:
| Target group |
Children from 9-14 years old |
| Facilitator |
Teacher |
| Time frame |
30 minutes |
| Location |
Classroom or outdoor |
| Goal |
Training cooperation skills |
| Materials |
Newspapers, textiles, scissors, tape, cords, plastic bags, eggs and stones (appr. same size as eggs) |
How to:
- Make groups of 5 children.
- Each group receives an egg and a stone.
- The task is to wrap the egg and the stone together into one package, so the egg doesn’t break when you drop the package from the air. They can use any material from the table.
- After they finished wrapping, the teacher drops the package from about 2 meters height. What happened to the stone and egg? Why did it happen? How was it working together on this task?
Egg & Stone experiment for adults
The goal of the Egg & Stone experiment for adults is to visualize the need for sensitivity when bringing SEN children and neurotypical children together in one class. The exercise will provide the participating adults with a visual understanding of why it is important to create an including learning environment that takes equal care of both the children with and without special needs.
Quick facts about the experiment:
| Target group |
Adults (parents, teachers) |
| Facilitator |
Teacher or special education teacher |
| Time scale |
30 minutes |
| Location |
Classroom or outdoor |
| Goal |
Sensitivitation |
| Material needed |
Newspapers, textiles, scissors, tapes, cords, plastic bags, eggs and stones (appr. same size as eggs) |
How to:
- Make groups of 5 persons. Each group receives an egg and a stone. The egg represents an autistic child, and the stone represents a neurotypical child.
- The task is to wrap the egg and the stone together into one package. The groups can use any material from the table.
- After the groups have finished wrapping, the teacher drops the package from about 2 meters height. The stone should not break the egg and the egg should not flow over on the stone.
- Talk about what happened. Why did/didn’t it work out? What does the exercise symbolize? What does it make you reflect upon? What is your thought on how to create an inclusive learning environment that ‘cushions’ both the neurotypical children and the children with special needs?
its a good way to visualize/materialize challeges in group dynamics. perhaps a way to train empathy. very playful.
this is a very spectacular and instructive task