Photo by Drew Parker Washington Lands students await the annual Pumpkin Drop Wednesday morning.

Washington Lands Elementary School students joined forces Wednesday in an attempt to protect 33 pumpkins from a fateful fall.

The Washington Lands Parents Teachers Kids Association hosted the third-annual Pumpkin Drop near the school’s playground before a crowd of more than 150 students. Washington Lands began its own Pumpkin Drop in 2013, modeling the event after a West Virginia University-sanctioned activity of the same name, that will be held Friday in Morgantown.

The goal of the competition is to design an enclosure or apparatus to protect a pumpkin from damage when dropped from a lofty height. At WVU, the roof of the 11-story Engineering Sciences Building is used, but in Marshall County, Washington Lands Principal Michael Berner dropped pumpkins 25 feet while using a bucket lift provided by ICR.

At Washington Lands, the pumpkin enclosures are judged on creative design, environmental friendliness and extent of damage to the pumpkin.

Participating second- through fifth-graders supplied all materials and pumpkins could not be altered by freezing or adding chemicals. Hard materials like wood, metal and glass were banned, along with food and oily substances during production, which began earlier this month and took place during recess and other moments of free time.

Winners will be treated to a pizza party.

Principal Michael Berner said the activity required students to work together among peers and parent volunteers.

“They see the creativity aspect and are trying to build ships and boats. Some were environmentally friendly and used marshmallows, while others used bubble wrap,” Berner said. “This time of year it’s fun to try it. What’s neat is watching them work together and building team skills, while actually finding time to do it. … That’s probably the biggest skill that they don’t realize they gain, is working together and collaborating.”

Teacher Tena Stricklin said the project allows students to explore various creative and traditional academic skills.

“All the kids learn leadership and working together  by giving each other different roles,” Stricklin said. “They also sharpen science and math skills.”

Third-grader Hayden Johnson said his group worked through several designs before picking a successful device for their pumpkin, which successfully survived the fall.

“We picked a paper bag to put on top and make a parachute,” he said.