Rube Goldberg Machines
Rube Goldberg was an engineer and a cartoonist. He became famous for his cartoons that illustrated wacky cause and effect inventions.
Here is a link to the official Rube Goldberg website where you can see some of his cartoons.
Sample Rube Goldberg Challenges: draw a straight line, turn off a light, pop a balloon, make time fly, blow a bubble with bubble stuff.
A note on behavior: We are here to have some fun, and experiment with engineering, but appropriate respectful school behavior is expected.
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2018 Day 1
Objective: To learn about Rube Goldberg.
To experiment with objects and their inherent properties.
Activator: Look at Rube Goldberg Cartoon. What is the purpose of the machine?
Mini Lesson: Watch this Honda Commercial. Introduce activity.
Student Engagement:
Discuss the commercial
In small groups, brainstorm, experiment and build.
Wrap-up: Show what you did. Put everything back in the bins.
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Objective: To create a Rube Goldberg Machine, in groups of 2 or 3, that rolls dice. We will have one class period to complete this task.
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Objectives: To learn about the 6 simple machines.
To learn the difference between kinetic and potential motion.
Activator: Six Simple Machines Video (2 minutes)
Mini Lesson: Discussion and introduce work.
Student Engagement: Simple Machine Worksheet (2 sides)
Draw and label a Rube Goldberg Machine with at least 5 steps. It should include at least two simple machines.
Wrap-up: Put your work in the bin.
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Objective: To get inspired and come up with ideas for Rube Goldberg.
To learn how to set a mouse trap.
Activator:
Nice Intro to Rube Goldberg Competition
Jimmy Kimmel Rube Goldberg
Mini Lesson: Mousetraps
Student Engagement: Create a machine that sets off a mouse trap.
Wrap-up: Clean up:
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Make it go slow, and set off a mouse trap.
Pictures
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Objective: To find a fun way to get your machine to draw a straight 5 inch line.
Activator: The objective of your machine will be to draw a 5 inch straight line.
Mini Lesson:
-Create a team notebook with your team# and all your names on the front. You will use this notebook to document some of your work. One team member will be the recorder for your team.
-Discuss today's objective.
Student Engagement: At your tables, brainstorm two possible ways to draw a straight line with your materials. Write your ideas in the notebook. Experiment with your materials.
Wrap-up: Clean up
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Objective: To understand the expectations for this project.
Activator: Share 2018 Rube Rubric
Mini Lesson: Discuss Rubric, Individual help as needed
Student Engagement: Assign jobs, Work on Rube Goldberg Project
Wrap-up: Record progress in notebooks, clean up
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Objective: To learn about cantilevers. To design a cantilever. To learn about leverage.
Activator: Look at Cantilever Pictures
Objectives: To design and make two cantilevers. To experiment with different types of materials.
Mini Lesson:
Discuss Cantilevers
Introduce Cantilever Activity
Student Engagement:
Build a cantilever with one kit.
Build a cantilever with the second kit
Wrap-up: Clean up and Discussion
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Objective: To analyze a Rube Goldberg Video. To help design a rubric for a Rube Goldberg Machine. To work in teams to solve an engineering design task.
Activator: Watch Honda Commercial.
Mini Lesson:
Create rubric items for grading the machine.
Introduce Engineering Challenge: Goal: Get a ball in the cup.
Student Engagement:
Work in small groups to get a ball in the cup.
See if you can have 2 or more steps.
You may use a chair and the container.
Wrap-up: Discuss Activity. Clean up.
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Objective: To introduce the Rube Goldberg Project.
Activator: How can you make the actions of your steps repeatable?
Mini Lesson:
- Discuss final Goal: draw a straight six inch line.
- Deliverables: machine, video, team photo, machine drawing.
- Talk about materials.
- Talk about workspace.
- Talk about grading/participation.
- Talk about jobs for the project.
- Also each individual will have a written assignment.
Student Engagement:
Choose top 3 jobs from list.
Brainstorm ideas for final task.
Wrap-up: Cleanup
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Objectives:
To work as part of a team.
To build a Rube Goldberg Machine with at least 5 steps, that draws a straight line.
To experiment with materials and simple machines.
To create a drawing, team picture and video.
Activator: Assignments
Mini Lesson:
Look at materials
Student Engagement:
Meet, plan, experiment, build
Wrap-up: Clean up
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Rube Resources:
Watch Bill Nye the Science Guy episodes 10 Simple Machines
Travel through time: Purdue University Rube Goldberg Contest
Zipper: 2014 Contest
Magnets and Marbles
14 Best Machines
Ms Collins & Chuck
Rube Rubric 2016
Will Smith Failure
Ted Talk about OK Go Video
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Used in 2015
Activator: Quick check-in with teams
Mini Lesson: Discuss New challenge: blow a bubble without no one blowing air with their mouth and no one holding the "bubble wand"
Student Engagement: Build machines to meet the challenge. Teams that accomplish the challenge will be awarded an item of their choice from the junk trunk.
Wrap-up: Show machines, cleanup
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High School Rube Goldberg Machines.
Rube Goldberg Video (Sample Judging)
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Jade Video 2016
Emerald Video
Emerald Full Run 2016
Sapphire Video
Garnet Video