directions for designing a rube goldberg
directions for designing a rube goldberg
directions for designing a rube goldberg
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Title:<br />
Overview<br />
Content<br />
Standard(s):<br />
Local/National<br />
Standards:<br />
Primary<br />
Learning<br />
Objective(s):<br />
Designing a Rube Goldberg Machine<br />
In this lesson, students will apply their knowledge of complex and simple<br />
machines to <strong>designing</strong> a Rube Goldberg Machine. Students will calculate the<br />
mechanical advantage of 3 of the simple machines in their design. Students<br />
should also relate Newton's 3 Laws of Motion to their machine.<br />
Relate velocity, acceleration, and kinetic energy to mass,<br />
distance, <strong>for</strong>ce, and time.<br />
National Academy of Science NS.8-12.1 SCIENCE AS INQUIRY As a result<br />
of activities all students should develop • Abilities necessary to do scientific<br />
inquiry • Understandings about scientific inquiry NS.8-12.2 PHYSICAL<br />
SCIENCE As a result of their activities in grades 8-12, all students should<br />
develop an understanding of • Structure of atoms • Structure and properties of<br />
matter • Chemical reactions • Motions and <strong>for</strong>ces • Conservation of energy<br />
and increase in disorder • Interactions of energy and matter<br />
Students demonstrate their understanding of simple machines by <strong>designing</strong> a<br />
Rube Goldberg machine. This design will be presented to the class along with<br />
a poster.
Materials and<br />
Equipment:<br />
Technology<br />
Resources<br />
Needed:<br />
Background/Pre<br />
paration:<br />
What is needed by teams to build their Rube Goldberg Contraption, Poster,<br />
markers, examples of Rube Goldberg machines, hand-out.<br />
Computer, Internet access<br />
Students should already be exposed to Newton's 3 Laws of Motion. The<br />
students should also know the six simple machines. The students should have<br />
already practiced working mechanical advantage problems.<br />
Procedures/Acti<br />
vities:<br />
1. Student will be <strong>designing</strong> a complex machine based on the work of Rube<br />
Goldberg.<br />
2. Students should be divided into groups of 3 students. These groups could<br />
be organized so that peer helpers are available <strong>for</strong> students requiring<br />
additional help.<br />
3. Students are handed pictures of 2-3 Rube Goldberg machines. These could<br />
be found at www.<strong>rube</strong><strong>goldberg</strong>.com. as well as a variety of other websites.<br />
The students should brainstorm and identify examples of each of the six<br />
simple machines. In addition, see if students can find examples of Newton's 3<br />
Laws of Motion.<br />
4. Students are to design their own Rube Goldberg machine. Groups will<br />
identify a job <strong>for</strong> their machine to per<strong>for</strong>m. This will then be broken down<br />
into at least 20 steps to make an easy task look difficult.<br />
5. Students will draw their Rube Goldberg machine. Students should number<br />
each of the 6 or more steps in their machine.<br />
6. At least one example of each of the six simple machines should be<br />
identified.<br />
7. On the back of the poster, students need to describe the 6 or more steps<br />
used in their machine.<br />
8. Students need to identify the mechanical advantage of 3 of the simple<br />
machines used in their project.<br />
9. Students will present their project to the class.<br />
(Rube Goldberg official website; Goldberger to go -<br />
http://www.<strong>rube</strong><strong>goldberg</strong>.com/%20%20;%20%20%20%20http:/www.donpixe<br />
l.com/play/en/060302124616/?page=home)<br />
Rube Goldberg site. This site contains some examples of Rube Goldberg
machines. There are numerous others available online. Goldberger to go-This<br />
site has an interactive game that allows students to modify a Rube Goldberg<br />
machine.<br />
Attachments:**<br />
Some files will<br />
display in a new<br />
window. Others<br />
will prompt you<br />
to download.<br />
Remediation:<br />
Designing a Rube Goldberg Machine.rtf<br />
Students could play an interactive game to modify a Rube Goldberg machine.<br />
http://www.donpixel.com/play/en/060302124616/ Students can refer to<br />
pictures or notes <strong>for</strong> help.<br />
Each area below is a direct link to general teaching strategies/classroom accommodations <strong>for</strong><br />
students with identified learning and/or behavior problems such as: reading or math<br />
per<strong>for</strong>mance below grade level; test or classroom assignments/quizzes at a failing level; failure<br />
to complete assignments independently; difficulty with short-term memory, abstract concepts,<br />
staying on task, or following <strong>directions</strong>; poor peer interaction or temper tantrums, and other<br />
learning or behavior problems.<br />
Presentation of<br />
Material<br />
Time Demands<br />
Attention<br />
Assisting the<br />
Reluctant St<br />
Environment<br />
Materials<br />
Using Groups and Peers<br />
Dealing with Inappropriate Behavior