At 10:00 a.m. on Friday, October 30, 2015, 229 Southside School costumed students shivered single-file around and around the playground in the annual Halloween Parade. It was a blustery, chilly morning at 100 Academic Drive, Morrison, IL.
After seeing everyone else’s attire, teachers and children went inside to change and/or put on coats and hats. They returned to sit and view the scientific method in action. They would assess the results of their preparations for the 2nd Annual Pumpkin Drop.
Sullivan’s Foods, IL Route 30 and Madison Street, Morrison, had donated several pumpkins and 13 same-sized cardboard boxes, for a collaborative science project. Each class had devised a way to cushion its pumpkin inside the box and taped it shut. So did the “Report to the Office” adult crew. Nothing could be attached to the outside, except artwork and written messages. Some groups inserted rubber toys, ribbon, cottonballs, and feathers–for cushioning or good luck? One added several good behavior Star Cards. Pillows, blankets, and bubble wrap were put to the test. The goal was to protect each pumpkin, after it was dropped from a bucket truck.
Custodian Bob Stone, at right, prepared the target with a large sheet of plastic. Randy Nelson, left, of Nelson’s Electric, 101 E. Market Street, Morrison, began by standing inside the bucket. He received a rotted “victim” pumpkin (shown on the playground at bottom, left); elevated the bucket; dropped the unprotected fruit to the ground, 30 feet below. Imagine the sound of that!
Last year was the first pumpkin drop, initiated by former employee Dan Eyrich. Duct tape was an approved item to protect the orange orbs. Many students wrapped their pumpkins securely to avoid splits on impact. Only the pumpkin of Andrew Tenboer‘s fifth graders broke, so the tape was an effective technique.
This year, duct tape was banned, and the success rate plummeted like the pumpkins.
Each class sent two or three students to the microphone before their box hit the asphalt. They described how they chose to mitigate damage then began the group countdown with “five,…!” Third grade teacher Heather Waninger served as announcer. After Stone cut open each box and removed the wrapping material, she reported the results. On several occasions, the impact caused the stem to plunge into the body of the pumpkin. “That one is pie,” she stated.
Of 13 test pumpkins, only four survived the 30′ descent intact:
- Carla Cruse‘s fourth graders
- Tammi Johnson‘s fifth graders (foam rubber was covered by bubble wrap)
- Susan Keime‘s third graders
- Korby Paul‘s fifth graders (plastic pool noodles were cut and taped, making rigid circles atop and under the pumpkin.)
Two final pumpkin drops ended the fun with a splat, splat.
Next year, current third and fourth grade students will put their collective research to use, saving pumpkins from a smashing defeat. Expect lots of pool noodles to be in the plans.