Rube Goldberg Machine!

Hello Everyone!

Using our knowledge of simple machines, we will be building a Rube Goldberg machine in class!

Before we begin, please do some investigation over the next few days about Rube Goldberg.

  • Google “Rube Goldberg” and “Rube Goldberg machines” and “Rube Goldberg cartoons” to get more information. Write down some notes in your journal.
  • Then answer the following questions in an e-portfolio entry before you are allowed to start thinking about your own Rube Goldberg machine.
  • Two websites to try are the biography of Rube Goldberg, and the official Rube Goldberg website.
  • EPORT Title:  Rube Goldberg Research
  • EPORT Questions:
    • Who was Rube Goldberg?
    • When was he born?
    • What did he do (his profession/job)?
    • What is a Rube Goldberg machine?
    • What was Rube Goldberg trying to communicate to the world through his machines (hint: something more than just making a fun machine)?
    • What kind of contests are there for Rube Goldberg in the world?
    • Any other cool facts about Rube Goldberg machines you discovered as you read online?

After you do research, NOW consider the DESIGN PROCESS as you create your own contraption!

  1. Ask a question – What task will your machine complete?
  2. Imagine what you would do – Brainstorm ideas and watch videos of Rube Goldberg machines on YouTube.
  3. Your contraption must use at least three simple machines.
  4. Plan and consider materials – Make a drawing in your journal and a list of supplies.
  5. Create something based on your plan (Friday, January 19th all morning)
  6. Reflect, make adjustments to improve, and document changes to your plan with some notes, drawings, or diagrams in your journal.
  7. Present final product – Show your final product and documentation in your journal of the process of building it to Ms. D
  8.  Take a picture of your product and post it in a new e-port called “My Rube Goldberg Machine.” Tell me which simple machines were used, what went well, what you would do differently, and what competencies you had to use as you were working on this ADST task (communication, personal awareness and social thinking, critical thinking, creative thinking, social responsibility, identity)

Even if the machine doesn’t work, you need to show evidence of having considered simple machines and be able to explain your process to me in person and/or in your e-port. Marks will be given in socials/science, as well as ADST.

Begin looking for ideas and materials from home. I have a lot of building supplies here, but if you need something specific, then please look at home. You shouldn’t need to buy anything new, so please focus on recyclables and toys you already have.

The contraption does not need to be big, either, so consider we will have 12 groups working in our space at the same time!

One way to make your machine more interesting is to consider how it might tell a story. When you watch the OK Go video on Rube Tube, it is based on a song. How does it tell a story or have a message? Or is it a funny task it will complete?

Have fun! While it would be great if your machine is successful, I am more interested in how you used the design process and simple machines to complete this task.

Ms. D