Our Primary 5/6 class had an exciting and engaging Mad Scientist Day as they explored the work of local scientist James Martin, who was originally from Crossgar.
The children learned that James Martin is famous for inventing the ejector seat used in aeroplanes—a life-saving innovation inspired by the tragic loss of his friend in a plane crash. This powerful story helped bring science to life and showed how ideas can make a real difference in the world.
The Challenge
Our young scientists were set an ambitious task:
Design and build a shock-absorbing system to protect their pilot (an egg!) when dropped from a height—ensuring it landed safely without cracking.
Throughout the activity, pupils explored key scientific concepts, including:
- Gravity
- Air resistance
- How different forces affect motion and impact
Working in groups, they carefully planned their designs and selected from a variety of materials to create some incredibly innovative egg-protective devices! The children were fully engaged, showing amazing teamwork, creativity, and enthusiasm. It was wonderful to see their problem-solving skills in action—and plenty of eggs survived the landing!
Well done, Primary 5/6—our future engineers and inventors in the making!
Menu
