Rube Goldberg Machine

Construct a multi-step Rube Goldberg machine using just things you find around the house to perform a simple everyday task.

Materials

(these are just some ideas - feel free to use anything you want around your house!)

• Ping pong balls

• Fan

• Books

• String

• Tape

• Dominos

• Toy cars

• Ramps

• Pipes

Procedure

Step 1

Gather your materials.

Step 2

Figure out what you want your machines to achieve in the end.

Step 3

Work on building your Rube Goldberg machine! Have fun, get creative!

Step 4

Test your Rube Goldberg machine. Keep making design improvements until you are satisfied!

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Science Explanation

Kingergarten - 2nd Grade . . .

• What does it mean to push or pull something? (Answer: you are causing movement on an object when you push or pull it)
• What does movement have to do with your Rube Goldberg machine? (Answer: each step in the machine results in the movement of another step)
• NGSS K-PS2-1
  

3rd - 5th Grade . . .

• Ever heard of Isaac Newton? He developed the laws of motion! Do you know how many laws of motion there are? (Answer: 3)
• The first law states that an object will remain in motion unless changed by an external force. For example, when a football flies through the air, it’s in motion. Once you catch it, you are the external force stopping it.
• How will Newton’s first law of motion affect your Rube Goldberg machine? (Answer: your Rube Goldberg machine relies on external forces each step to complete the task in the end.)
• NGSS MS-PS2

Math Extensions

Kingergarten . . .

• Use your counting skills to find out how many materials you decided to use.
• How many steps make up your Rube Goldberg machine?
• CCSS.MATH.MC.K

Written by Taylor St. Clair

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