Get Free Access for 10 Days!
Lesson Plan

Rube Goldberg and the Meaning of Machines

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet
This Rube Goldberg and the Meaning of Machines lesson plan also includes:

A Rube Goldberg machine does not really look like it would make work easier. Introduce your class to Rube Goldberg with a resource that shows how his inventions make simple tasks harder to complete. 

1 Collection 62 Views 60 Downloads NGSS: Designed
Concepts
satire, machines, work, rube goldberg, simple machines, compound machines, humor, cartooning, design, engineering design, technology resources
Show More Show Less
Additional Tags
machine, satire, work
Show More Show Less
Instructional Ideas
  • Research some of the other Rube Goldberg cartoons and have the class identify the simple machines
  • Divide the class into groups and have them draw a compound machine that uses all six simple machines
Classroom Considerations
  • The activity assumes pupils have an understanding of the six simple machines
  • The ninth in a 10-part series
Pros
  • The plan comes with a graphic to explain a Rube Goldberg machine
  • The resource includes assessments 
Cons
  • The lesson plan does not spell out the instructional method
NGSS
MS-ETS1-2