Activity: Rube Goldberg Machines

Rube Goldberg Machines are chain-reaction contraptions designed to complete a simple task in a complicated and impractical way.  They are named after American cartoonist Rube Goldberg who often drew cartoons of people performing simple activities in complex (and often impossible in real life) ways.  Challenge your friends or family with this fun Rube Goldberg inspired activity.

Objective: Turn off a light

Materials (These are all suggestions.  Challenge players to think of supplies they think might be useful.): Aluminum foil, cardboard, water bottles, paper towel tubes, books, cans, dominoes, string, marbles, golf balls, batteries, small motors, cups, Lego blocks, buckets, sticks

Activity: Create a Rube Goldberg device that uses at least ten chain-reaction steps to turn off a light switch.  Take a video testing your device and share it with us!

Here's a hint that might help if you're running into difficulties.  More complex or small and fiddly parts of your machine should usually go toward the beginning.  It's generally much easier to reset the first part of a complicated machine than the end of it.

Check out this video by the band OK Go to see an awesome example of a huge Rube Goldberg Machine!