At Brains & Motion, we believe learning should be fun, creative, and hands-on! That’s why we’re thrilled to partner with Rube Goldberg®—the masterminds behind the Mouse Trap board game and other whimsical contraptions that transform simple tasks into elaborate adventures—for our 2024 and 2025 enrichment offerings. It’s a journey of invention, teamwork, and discovery!
What is a Rube Goldberg® Machine?
A Rube Goldberg® machine is a complex contraption designed to perform a simple task in an elaborate, roundabout way. Think of a chain reaction that involves marbles, pulleys, dominoes, and levers, all working together to complete something as simple as flipping a light switch or popping a balloon.
The whole point of this kind of machine is to solve a problem using the most wacky, inefficient method possible. Its engineering meets whimsy—filled with moving parts, surprises, and endless fun!
Students love building these machines because they can let their imaginations run wild while learning real-world concepts like forces, motion, and the mechanics of simple machines. Whether the goal is to pour cereal or catch a toy mouse, the journey to get there is filled with invention, creativity, and lots of laughter.
Why Rube Goldberg® Machines?
The Rube Goldberg® Machines offer a fun, hands-on approach to learning that is perfect for sparking creativity and interest in STEM fields. Students don’t just learn science and engineering; they apply these principles in fun, interactive ways.
Rube Goldberg® Machines helps students learn about fundamental engineering and physics concepts while giving into their silliest desires. These machines teach students about the conversation of energy, exploring ideas of kinetic and potential energy, momentum, work, forces, and much more.
Building Rube Goldberg® machines allows students to:
- Build creative contraptions that merge imagination and engineering.
- Learn fundamental physics principles like energy transfer, forces, and motion.
- Work through exciting challenges that encourage critical thinking and problem-solving.
- Foster a love for engineering and innovation by experimenting with materials, tools, and designs.
Most importantly, students gain the confidence to turn ideas into reality, learning from successes and failures.
Why Hands-On Learning Matters
At Brains & Motion Education, we know that hands-on learning is crucial for truly understanding complex concepts. You can read more about the importance of hands-on learning in our blog, Experiential Learning Explained: Enhancing Education Through Hands-On Experience. When students can physically build, experiment, and see their designs in action, they retain knowledge in ways that lectures and textbooks can’t achieve.
By allowing students to work with materials, tinker with machines, and solve problems in real time, they:
- Enhance their problem-solving abilities.
- Learn to adapt and innovate when things don’t go according to plan.
- Build confidence in their ideas and their ability to tackle challenges.
This approach nurtures the next generation of engineers, inventors, and creative thinkers.
BAM! + Rube Goldberg® Machines = Inventive Engineering!
Ready to give your students a one-of-a-kind learning experience? At Brains & Motion Education, we’re thrilled to announce our Rube Goldberg® Machines: Inventive Engineering course, designed to blend STEM education with hands-on learning to excite young minds and foster creative problem-solving.
It’s the perfect blend of creativity, engineering, and problem-solving, ensuring every student has the chance to build, innovate, and succeed. In this engaging course, students will have the chance to design imaginative contraptions that transform simple tasks into incredible sequences.
This hands-on experience sparks their creativity and aligns with important STEM principles, allowing them to explore physics and engineering concepts in a fun and interactive way.
Rube Goldberg® Machines: Inventive Engineering will help students:
- Enhance Creativity: Students will build a strong grasp of core physics concepts, including forces, motion, and the mechanics behind simple machines. By engaging in hands-on construction, they’ll discover how to practically apply these principles in designing effective and efficient gadgets.
- Discover Physics: Students will gain a deep understanding of fundamental physics concepts related to forces, motion, and the mechanics of simple machines. Through hands-on construction projects, they will learn how to apply these principles in the design of practical and functional gadgets.
- Expand Engineering Skills: Students will gain a clear understanding of essential physics concepts related to forces, motion, and how simple machines work. Through hands-on building projects, they will learn how to use these principles to create practical and functional contraptions.
BAM!’s Rube Goldberg® Course Structure
Our Rube Goldberg® Machines course is structured to promote creative problem-solving while introducing students to key STEM principles. The course follows the 5E instructional model, ensuring students are immersed in learning through active participation and reflection.
Here’s what each phase involves:
- Engage: Students are drawn into the world of Rube Goldberg® with exciting visuals and videos showcasing the whimsical machines they’ll soon be building.
- Explore: They brainstorm their own ideas, experiment with different tools and materials, and discover the endless possibilities for their machines.
- Explain: We introduce the scientific concepts behind their designs, teaching them about forces, motion, and how to use simple machines like levers and pulleys.
- Elaborate: Students bring their machines to life, designing complex sequences that solve simple tasks like trapping a mouse or popping a balloon.
- Evaluate: At the end of each session, students reflect on their designs, assess what worked and what didn’t, and showcase their machines in a dramatic presentation to their peers and family.
This hands-on approach ensures students retain STEM knowledge while having fun with their projects. Each lesson is packed with opportunities to experiment, innovate, and refine their ideas, pushing them to think like engineers.
Let’s Get Whimsical: Partner With BAM! Today
Don’t miss this opportunity to encourage your students’ curiosity and creativity. Invest in their futures by bringing our Rube Goldberg® Machines courses to your campus so they can embark on a thrilling journey of discovery that combines learning with laughter! Partner with us today, and watch as they transform simple ideas into extraordinary creations.