8th Grade Integrated Science

Standard IV, Objective 3

Title: Rube Goldberg Device

Description: Students will design a complex machine to do a simple job. The activity can be done at home or in the classroom.

Time Needed: Students should have two weeks to do it at home. It would take 2 or 3 50 minute periods at school.

Materials: Entirely up the student. Student Project Sheet (below)

Procedures:

1. Read the introductory page with students.

2. Go over the directions and requirements for the project.

3. If you access to a model to demonstrate, show students what it should look like. (The Mouse Trap Game is a pre-made Rube Goldberg device.)

4. Have students demonstrate their devices or show their videos to complete the projects.

Scoring Guide

See student rubric

Student Sheet Name______

Title: Rube Goldberg Project

Introduction:

Rube Goldberg was an artist, inventor, engineer, author and

sculptor. He is best known for his comical drawings of crazy

contraptions and inventions. His artwork appeared in newspapers

throughout the United States from the early 1900's to the 1960's.

Today, the term Rube Goldberg is used to signify anything done

in an overly compicated or round-about manner.

Rube Goldberg's cartoons are incredible displays of ingenuity,

detailed logic, physics and satire. He poked fun at the many

complicated inventions that were available at the beginning of

the century, and at the round-about methods people devised for

solving their problems.

Automatic Parachute Opener

Materials: You can use anything you have available at home. If you bring things from home, it is your responsibility to take them back home. They will not be stored forever.

Procedures:

1. You may work alone or with a partner.

2. You must submit a 1 page picture of your device. It must include a written description of each type of simple machine being used.

3. The machine must contain a minimum of 5 steps. There must be 2 different types of simple machines.

4. Final projects must be brought to school or filmed. You may video tape on VSH tape, DVD, CD or computer files.

5. If you bring your project to school, it can be no larger than 2 ft x 2 ft x 2 ft. If you film the project, it can be any size.

6. You may choose the purpose of the machine or choose from this list of tasks:

a. fill a cup with water

b. put toothpaste on a toothbrush

c. pop a balloon

d. crush a grape

7. This project is due: ______

Scoring Rubric:

Requirement / 0 / 1 / 2 / 3
Picture shows steps and explanations of steps
Project has at least 5 steps
Project uses at least 2 machines
Project accomplishes the task
Project is brought to school or video taped in action.