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Easy Rube Goldberg Ideas: Easy Rube Goldberg Machine for Kids

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What is a Rube Goldberg Machine? - Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com

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Rube Goldberg machines our fun illustrations of basic physics principles. Having students create such a machine can be a fun way of teaching these...

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First, we decided to stick a big piece of cardboard onto the wall, since we did not like the idea of sticking seperate items onto the wall by themselves. We thought this would be handy and particularly helpful when transporting our Rube Goldberg Machine.

2. Next we developed the idea of attaching several cardboard ramps on the
cardboard. We constructed these ramps using the materials empty toilet
paper rolls and empty wrapping paper rolls, but decided to cut the in half.
We secured the ramps onto the cardboard with duct/masking tape.
Overall, we attached three ramps onto the surface.

- On the entrance of the third ramp, we realised that the golf ball would roll off the back, so we chose to attach a piece of cardboard to prevent it rolling off and to make sure it would roll down the right ramp, at the right angle.

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Rube Goldberg Machine : How old is turning a page of a book with one flick of the wrist? Well with this device you dont have to be simple, all you have to is connect the string to play the page and roll a golf ball down a ramp.

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If you don't know what a Rube Goldberg is by name, you'd probably recognize one as soon as you saw it. If you've ever seen the part of Steven Spielberg's iconic film, The Goonies, when Chunk does the "Truffle Shuffle" and Mouth finally lets him in the gate using a contraption involving a bowling ball, a balloon, a chicken, and a football, then you've seen a Rube Goldberg machine.

If you've ever seen the dog-food-can-opening machine in the beginning scene of Back to the Future, then you've seen a Rube Goldberg machine. Getting the picture yet? Other notable appearances of Rube Goldberg machines include Pee-wee's Big Adventure, Wallace and Gromit, Chitty Chitty Bang, and Flubber.

As you can see, the phenomenon of the Rube Goldberg machine has had a profound impact on cinema as well as many other forms of media. While they may seem extremely superfluous and extra, I believe that the part of the human mind that's tickled by the Rube Goldberg machine is the same part of the mind that makes us human.

Indeed, it's what separates from cold, unfeeling robots: being able to revel in the unnecessary and the irrational. And no man understood that better than legendary cartoonist Rube Goldberg, the namesake of these wacky machines.

Whether you're old or young, I highly recommend trying to build a Rube Goldberg machine for yourself. It will get you out of the rut of purely rational thinking and allow you to get in touch with the most creative and free-spirited parts of yourself. Yeah, it might be a waste of an hour or two, but I guarantee you'll have fun and build something you can be proud of.

Let's take a look at the mad genius behind the Rube Goldberg machine and how this form of expression has progressed over time.

The Man Behind the Machine

Reuben Garrett Lucius Goldberg was born in San Francisco in 1883 to Jewish parents Max and Hannah Goldberg. And while Rube always loved drawing from a very young age, his parents often discourage Rube from pursuing a career in the arts.

As a youth, his only formal drawing lessons came from a local sign designer who he worked for. Rube eventually went on to get an engineering degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and would later get hired by the city of San Francisco as an engineer.

After working in engineering for less than a year, Rube quit and started working as a sports cartoonist for the San Francisco Chronicle. Not long after, he moved over to the San Francisco Bulletin. But, in 1907, Rube quit that job and moved to New York City where he worked for several different newspapers and earned national acclaim as a cartoon artist. In 1916, Rube married Irma Seeman and the couple would eventually have two children.

Goldberg's comic strip Foolish Questions was his first big public hit and, by 1915, he was earning $25,000 per year and was billed as "America's most popular cartoonist." In 1916, he created a series of eight animated short films that focused on the hilarity of everyday life.

However, the project that would bring him eternal fame was the cartoon series The Inventions of Professor Lucifer Gorgonzola Butts, A.K., which is where he would first publish his illustrations of the convoluted machines that would later bear his name.

The character of Professor Butts was actually based on one of his former university professors named Frederick Slate. Famously, Slate would ask his students to build a scale that could weigh the entire Earth. It was this combination of practicality and absurdity that would ultimately inspire Goldberg to draw his most famous cartoons.

Goldberg seemed to have believed that technological advancement was, in general, oftentimes very unnecessary. In his own words, Goldberg once said, "the machines are a symbol of man's capacity for exerting maximum effort to achieve minimal results."

He thought that many of the tasks that people built machines to complete could be accomplished far easier without machines. This ideology had a heavy influence on the cartoons that would eventually come to be known as "Rube Goldberg machines."

The Rube Goldberg Legacy

On top of the numerous appearances of Rube Goldberg machines in film and television, there are also many competitions for building Rube Goldberg machines, evidence of the lasting impact of the cartoonist's career.

The most famous of these competitions, the Rube Goldberg Machine Contest, originated at Purdue University in 1949 as a competition between two fraternities. The competition went on between the fraternities until 1956 and then got revived in 1983 as a university-wide competition.

The Rube Goldberg Machine Contest was brought to the national stage in 1989 and is now run by Rube Goldberg Inc., a non-profit founded by Rube's son George W. George. All entries into the contest must have a minimum of 25 steps and a maximum of 75 and be built in the style of Rube Goldberg.

Amazing Rube Goldberg-Inspired Machines

Over the many years that the Rube Goldberg Machine Contest has been running, there have been many incredible entries that all deserve their proper recognition. If you're interested in seeing some of the spectacular machines that have been entered, you can find videos of many of them on YouTube. But, for convenience's sake, here are a few of my personal favorites:

This Rube Goldberg machine was the winning entry in the 2018 Rube Goldberg Machine Contest, and it's easy to see why it took the crown. Just the way that it starts is incredible: you place a metal mug down and suddenly an electrical current creates a vortex in the water.

In actuality, this is pretty much three Rube Goldberg machines in one since it rotates twice to reveal news walls full of wacky moving parts. I also have a soft spot for the part of the machine that involves dumping out a box of Lucky Charms cereal.

If anyone's going to shatter the Guinness World Record for the longest Rube Goldberg machine, it's only right that it's the kooky folks at Purdue University that started the Rube Goldberg Machine Contest in the first place.

Since the machine that broke the record involved a grand total of 244 steps, it was not eligible to be entered in the national contest. However, if it had been entered, I think it's safe to say it would have won.

Not only is this machine extremely impressive and complicated, but it also has an educational theme, teaching anyone who watches it work a thing or two about nature and evolution.

While many Rube Goldberg machines look like they've been thrown together with random household items found in someone's kitchen, this particle machine that won the Rube Goldberg Machine Contest in 2010 is unique in that it has a very succinct theme to it.

The pyramid, boat, and tiny palm trees make this machine look like a children's toy that could actually be manufactured and sold in stores. This Rube Goldberg machine is also educational as it tells the story of the events that immediately followed the death of King Tut in ancient Egypt.

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The History of Rube Goldberg and His Magnificent Machines

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If you don't know what a Rube Goldberg is by name, you'd probably recognize one as soon as you saw it. If you've ever seen the part of Steven Spielberg's iconic film, The Goonies, when Chunk does the "Truffle Shuffle" and Mouth finally lets him in the gate using a contraption involving a bowling ball, a balloon, a chicken, and a football, then you've seen a Rube Goldberg machine.

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List of resources ideas - depends on what the group design

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List of resources ideas - depends on what the group design

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* mini class whiteboards
* balls
* rolls
*cardboard
* paper
* fabric
* toys
* plastic sheet
* dominoes
* books
* boxes
* marbles
* pipes
* steps
* tables
* playing cards
* lego
* duplo
* wooden blocks or jenga
* chairs
* magnets
* something that vibrates
* string
* plastic or foam cups
* rope

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All About Rube Goldberg | Nat Geo Kids Cool Inventions Playlist

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One of the best things on the internet is the series of videos showing Joseph Hercher and his creations. Like any well-designed Rube Goldberg machines, they are functional, but make us laugh at the use of an over-engineered machine to complete a simple task. You don't need his stamp-licking machine, but you'll be glad you watched the video.

In the interview, he gives us some insight into what designing these crazy contraptions can do for the mind. He says he has become good at visualizing whether an idea will succeed or fail. In other words, spatial skills.

What better way to build those skills than with practical know-how blended with light-hearted fun? Your kids, too, can create and build their own little absurd inventions that can pour a box of cereal, drop a ball into a cup or pop a balloon. Videos and resources abound on the internet, but here are a few places to get your budding kinetic artists started.

Draw from the originalWhen you're getting inspired, be sure and drop in on the official Rube Goldberg website, which offers a wealth of information including a gallery of the original cartoons, a teacher's curriculum and, if you're ambitious, contests. Here's one idea from the classroom curriculum you won't find posted on a video or blog: Have the kids draw their own Rube Goldberg contraption.

Wood, marbles and magnetsThis contraption is really a series of smaller, interconnected marble runs. It demonstrates that elegant design can emerge from the simplest of materials: slender pieces of wood, marbles, magnets, and yes, gravity. If your child is very young, a "run" built with cardboard tubes mounted on the wall with painter's tape is an engaging but easy Rube Goldberg machine.

Simple machinesWhat better way to internalize those lessons about pulleys, incline planes and wheels and axels than to build and use them? Begin with a review of the six simple machines, and your child has an excellent launching point when it comes to building an easy Rube Goldberg machine.

LEGO BricksEvery year, various groups gather to build elaborate contraptions using LEGO Bricks and robotics. There are plenty of kits on the market that help kids design and build a Rube Goldberg-inspired chain reaction, including LEGO Bricks, but toys and household objects that you already own can actually be repurposed in fun ways.

Building with LEGO Bricks in a social setting can give your child some fresh ideas on solving problems that come with testing new designs. Visit www.Bricks4Kidz.com to learn more about our programs, which are built around a STEM-based curriculum (science, technology, engineering and math) designed by teachers, engineers and architects.

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Rube Goldberg for kids | Bricks 4 Kidz - Kids Franchise

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One of the best things on the internet is the series of videos showing Joseph Hercher and his creations. Like any well-designed Rube Goldberg machines, they are functional, but make us laugh at the use of an over-engineered machine to complete a simple task.

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Teach Kids Engineering | Bringing up the Next Generation of Engineers

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Rube Goldberg Machines | Teach Kids Engineering

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Rube Goldberg Machines and the Art of Over-Engineering

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How to Make a Rube Goldberg Machine | easy Rube Goldberg machines for kids | my school project |

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Entertaining just one kid cooped up in a house is no easy task, let alone your entire family for an extended period of time with no set end date. But a "new" trend is taking short-form video app TikTok by storm: Rube Goldberg machines.

The concept of a Rube Goldberg is nothing new; the term was coined in 1928 by an American cartoonist whose illustrations involved completing simple tasks in overly complicated ways.

What is new is Tiktok; as of April 2020, the app had already amassed over 1 billion users worldwide. Currently, #rubegoldberg has over 401,000 views from people intrigued by the homemade contraptions moving through people's homes, often involving ping pong balls.

However, creating a Rube Goldberg is often much easier seen than done; the machine involves lots of planning and testing to make sure the task it sets out to accomplish actually gets done.

So, instead of picking up a new Netflix show for your kid, why not get them involved in an interactive project using household objects that could even teach some physics along the way?

Here are 11 different household objects you can use to create a Rube Goldberg Machine with your kids, and just maybe keep them occupied for a few hours.

Toilet Paper Rolls or Toy Train Tracks

Ultimately, building a Rube Goldberg actually starts at the end of the machine; you'll need to figure out what kind of goal you'd like to accomplish with your machine. After that is figuring out how you'll get from point A to point B, which is usually going to involve some type of track. If you don't have train tracks sitting around your house, you can build your own!

Odds are with your new toilet paper stockpile, you'll also have a solid stockpile of the leftover rolls. They're perfect for a rube Goldberg machine; they can transport a marble or ping pong ball just about anywhere with enough tape. Cut off the top half of the toilet paper roll if you'd like to see the action; it will also double your amount of usable stock.

If you're using something small like a marble or even a tin foil ball, a tape measure is another option for a smooth roll. Some machines even use chopsticks or slinkies.

Old Building Blocks, Tissue Boxes, or Books

If you want your Rube Goldberg track to actually make things move, you'll need to set the track on a slope. A great way to do this is by using old building blocks, tissue boxes, or even a pile of books to stack up a decline for the track.

In this TikTok, the creators actually used the stairs in their house to lay the track down on, but if you're not looking to build your machine on that type of scale, anything you can pile up to build a slope should work just fine. Other designs have also set up a track to roll off a tabletop, a dresser, or even the banister on your staircase.

The options are virtually endless.

Baseballs, Ping Pong Balls, Marbles, or Just About Anything that Rolls

After you've built your track, put it to the test! You're going to need something to roll through it, and might want to test a few options to see which moves the smoothest. Hot Wheels cars have proven to be a very effective contribution to a Rube Goldberg Machine, but you don't need to limit yourself to just one!

You can use a ping pong ball for the first half of the machine to trigger dominoes, then move on to a tennis ball if you're looking for something to move faster and hit your next point a little harder; it's really all about planning.

This TikTok uses a ping pong ball to bounce off the bottoms of kitchen pots and pans; which makes a pretty satisfying sound if that's something you're looking for. Another user made himself a part of the equation.

The beauty of a DIY machine is that you can make it as simple or complicated as you'd like, or tailored to safety and learning level of your kids.

Dominoes, a Toaster, or a Fan

One of the most important elements of a successful Rube Goldberg machine is constant movement. How you trigger the movement is totally open, but creators are using everything from loaded toasters to household fans and robot vacuums.

Others have used string to either create a swinging motion (formally known as a pendulum if we're making this project educational) or a see-saw type of motion (a counterweight system). One user even mailed a ping pong ball to his friend to keep the movement going.
Did this article inspire you to make your own Rube Goldberg machine? Show us your innovation on social media: Image Credit: Getty Images
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Rube Goldberg (1883-1970) was a scientist and cartoonist who produced satirical work on people's overly complex problem solving methods. In his comical cartoons, he linked together chain reactions with simple machines to complete basic tasks, like turning on a lamp or frying an egg. Designing and building a Rube Goldberg machine requires innovation and patience. While every machine is different, many builders include versions of other people's ideas, tweaking them or linking them in exciting ways.

1. Understand the rules. If you're building a Rube Goldberg machine for a class or official competition, you will get a packet of information and rules. Before you plan or build your machine, read through this material carefully. While you read, identify the goal, requirements, and restrictions.

If the material is unclear, ask your teacher, parent, or an official to clarify.

If you don't follow the rules, you may get a poor grade or be disqualified from the competition.

2. Select a basic task for your machine to accomplish. Rube Goldberg machines are complex structures that rely on chain reactions to execute one simple task. Before you design your machine, determine what you want the machine to do. If you are competing in a Rube Goldberg competition or completing an assignment for school, you may not have the freedom to choose this task. If can pick, consider some of the following options:

Open or close a door

Turn on a light

Turn off an alarm

Pour a bowl of cereal

Turn on a faucet

3. Look for inspiration. Developing a zany, complex machine is not an easy task. Before you create your own Rube Goldberg machine, you may find it helpful to see some examples. While you should use these examples as a source of inspiration and direction, do not copy someone else's machine. Instead of replicating these machines, make it your goal to improve, alter, or modernize them. Potential sources of inspiration include:

1. Collect your materials. Rube Goldberg machines transform traditional building materials, everyday items, and unique objects into functional pieces of equipment that work together to execute a simple task. Spend time gathering items from around your house, purchasing materials from stores, and/or hunting for unique objects at flea markets. Possible building materials include:

2. Experiment with the materials. Lay out all of your materials on your work surface. Once you're organized, start playing with the items. As you experiment, combine the materials in unexpected ways to form chain reactions. While you work, keep a record of what combinations worked.

Ask yourself questions throughout the process. What object can you use to send a car down a wooden ramp? What materials will you need to make a pendulum? What can you make with a lever, a marble, and an action figure?

3. Develop a building plan. Rube Goldberg machines complete a simple task with a complex chain reaction. You can break down the chain reaction into several different steps, or phases. The steps are connected together by a link. When you design the machine, it is helpful to start with the last step and work your way to the first step. You can create the building plan by listing these steps or drawing the machine. For example:

Task: Pop a balloon.

Step 3: A tack will pop the balloon. The tack will be attached to the front of a toy car.

Link 1: The toy car will slide down a wooden ramp.

Step 2: A pendulum will swing into the car and push it down the wooden ramp.

Step 1: I will send the pendulum towards the car at the top of the wooden ramp.

4. Build a prototype. Sit down at your workspace with your notes and building plan. Quickly construct a prototype of your Rube Goldberg machine. This version of your machine doesn't have to be perfect. You'll build a final product later after you test it.

If you run into an issue, don't panic. Return to your notes and see if you can combine the materials in a different way.

If you are using tools, ask an adult for help.

1. Test your machine for feasibility. Once your prototype is complete, test the machine. This first test is to determine if your machine works. If the machine completes the task, proceed to the next step. If the machine doesn't complete the task, rethink-don't scrap-your design.

Can you quickly fix the problem?

Do you need to replace an entire step?

Are you using the best materials?

Is your task possible to achieve?

2. Build your final product and test its repeatability. When your machine has passed the feasibility test, you can construct a sturdier version of your Rube Goldberg machine. Assess the machine's repeatability-its ability to complete the task several times in a row. A test is successful if the machine operates on its own. Test and adjust the machine until it completes the task five times. If the test is successful, make minor alterations and continue on to the final test. If you the machine doesn't produce five successful tests within an hour, redesign your machine.

What steps are working?

What steps are preventing the machine from working?

Is your task achievable?

3. Test the machine's reliability. After your machine passes the repeatability test, determine if it is reliable. You will test the machine a total of four times. A reliable machine will complete the task at least three out of four times. If your machine passes this test, you've created a working Rube Goldberg machine.

Before you present the machine, practice taking it apart and putting it back together several times.

Use materials that you can easily adjust, like peg boards, building blocks, etc.

Before you construct your entire machine, you may want to test each step and link.

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Be cautious and work under adult supervision if you are using potentially dangerous items.

This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 990,285 times.

A Rube Goldberg machine is a machine that's made out of building materials and everyday items that performs a simple task through a complex chain reaction. For example, the machine could turn on a lamp by rolling a ball down a slope to press a button. To make one, choose the materials you want to use, which can be anything from CDs to wooden boards, balls, pins, or fans. Once you have your materials, combine them in a unique way to perform your chosen task. For instance, if your machine is going to pop a balloon, you might pull a lever to send a car down a ramp so it pushes a pin into the balloon. You'll probably want to build a simple prototype of your machine first out of less expensive materials so that you can make changes easily if something doesn't work as planned. If your tests work, build the final version of your machine. For tips on how to troubleshoot your prototype, read on!

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 990,285 times.

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How to Build a Homemade Rube Goldberg Machine

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Download Article Download Article Rube Goldberg (1883-1970) was a scientist and cartoonist who produced satirical work on people's overly complex problem solving methods. In his comical cartoons, he linked together chain reactions with simple machines to complete basic tasks, like turning on a lamp or frying an egg.

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Simple Steps to Create a Rube Goldberg Machine | Kids Teaching Kids

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Learning how to make a Rube Goldberg Machine can be a fun activity for the whole family, especially on a rainy day.

What is a Rube Goldberg Machine?

You're probably saying to yourself, "What the heck is a Rube Goldberg Machine?" While the name is long the answer is very simple, its a complex contraption designed to achieve a simple task.

While this might sound overwhelming most kids ages 6 and up will love this activity and the older they are the more elaborate the machine will be. Watch the video below to see a great example of a Rube Goldberg Machine.

Yours does not have to be this long or complicated as long as there are multiple steps involved to complete the task.

Pin it for Later!

Rube Goldberg Machine Materials List

It doesn't matter what you use to build your Rube Goldberg Machine. All that matters is you get creative and have fun. Here is a Rube Goldberg Machine materials list. I've used all of these items when creating Rube Goldberg Machines in the past.

I repeat you do not need all these things! Just search around the house for things you have and think up creative ways to use them.

Dominos

Action figures

String

Tape

Recyclable Materials (paper towel tubes, paper bags, milk jugs, etc.)

Buckets

Marbles

Legos (of any size)

Balls (tennis ball, basketball, baseball, etc.)

Pot and Pans

Boxes

Cups

Tinker toys

Erector sets

Board games

Matchbox Cars

I'm sure there are other things around your house that you'll find during your search for materials too.

Like I've been saying, get creative! There is no such thing as a Rube Goldberg Machine that is too big or too small!

How should I start?

Before you start building a Rube Goldberg machine, you need a task for it to accomplish. What simple action should your machine do? Here are some examples:

Put a ball into a bucket

Turn off a light

Pop a balloon

Water a planet

Put toothpaste on a toothbrush

None of these ideas appeal to the kids? No worries, have them come up with something, just make sure it's a simple task.

Building your Rube Goldberg Machine

Now that you've gathered all your materials together and picked a task it's time to start building.

Grab a piece of paper and a pencil and sketch out what you want your machine to look like. The building will go easier, and more smoothly, this way.

With a sketch completed, if you're working as a team to build the R.G. Machine assign a part of it to build to each kid. If you have one child or each kid is making their own have then start from the end and work towards the beginning. That way you know your spacing will work.

A word of caution when using dominos, I recommend adding them last. Getting them all in place and having them fall because what you were building next to it fell apart or some other mishap happened, is the WORST!

Need some inspiration? Here is a mega R.G. machine designed by the guys at Mythbusters. Their machine is really intricate, so don't feel you need to go crazy like this, but you might get some inspiration, and it's really fun to watch!

Rube Goldberg Machine Easy Ideas

Building a Rube Goldberg Machine doesn't have to be difficult. Here are a few Rube Goldberg Machine easy ideas I've come up with to help you get started. These Rube Goldberg machine examples will still take a while to put together, but won't take as long as the Myth Busters one in the video you just watched.

Easy Rube Goldberg Idea #1 - Getting a tennis Ball in a Bucket

The task this machine will complete is getting a tennis ball in a bucket. While the directions are simple and there is only a small sequence this will take you several tries to get the bucket and lego wall in the correct position. You should build this Rube Goldberg Machine on a table to the bucket can sit on the floor

1. Take a matchbox car and have it either go through a tube or, if you have one handy on a matchbox car track.

2. The matchbox car should bump into the first of several dominos in a fun design that you choose.

3. The dominos should fan out from a single line to about 5 across. These dominos will knock over a small lego wall that has a tennis ball balanced on top.

4. The lego wall will get tipped over and the ball will fall into the bucket. Rembmer to place the bucket on the floor.

Easy Rube Goldberg Idea #2 - Put toothpaste on a toothbrush

This Rube Goldberg Machine will put toothpaste on a toothbrush. Again, remember that this might take several tries to complete the task as small adjustments might need to be made to complete the task. Just like the one before, build this on a table with the last step on the floor.

1. Use a matchbox car and push it down a ramp made out of an old cereal box.

2. The matchbox car will run into line of dominos, you can put this is a fun design if you'd like.

3. The final domino will bump into a marble or bouncy ball which will go down a tube or hanging off the edge of the table.

4. At the end of the tube a cup is covering the end. The ball will enter the cup and fall off the end.

5. The cup will fall to the floor and hit the first of several books sittung upright like dominos. The first book should be a lightweight magazine or book and they should get heavier as they go.

6. The last book in light should be the heaviest and should fall on top of the tube of toothpaste, which will put the paste right on the tooth brush. Use the matierals of your choice to hold the toothbrush in place.

Have you built a Rube Goldberg Machine? How did it turn out? Let me know in the comments!

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How to Make a Rube Goldberg Machine: Fun & Easy Rube Goldberg Machine Ideas " Roaming Nanny

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Learning how to make a Rube Goldberg Machine can be a fun activity for the whole family, especially on a rainy day. You're probably saying to yourself, "What the heck is a Rube Goldberg Machine?" While the name is long the answer is very simple, its a complex contraption designed to achieve a simple task.

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Steve Price (aka "Sprice") Shows Off His Complex Rube Goldberg Machine - America's Got Talent

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Provocation videos
Form & function - What is it? Discuss
Ideas videos

Aim - to make a machine with 5 stages
Get into teams
Plan on paper a sequence of stages
Decide on resources needed for next week ready to build

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Trying to build with different resources

X5 stages

Can more if successful

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Review where teams are up to:
have they made 5 stages?
Were there any challenges?
Do you want to make changes?

Next step - 5 MORE stages that continue from the previous 5

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Now for the ultimate challenge:

You will decide on an overall goal that you want to achieve.

You will then design a machine with x15 stages that completes a challenge

For example:
* pours a drink
* rings a bell
* opens a book
* starts a fan
* pushes a car
* football into a goal/box
* draws a line with a pen
* switches something on
* empties a container
* splashes something
* bursts a balloon

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Please wait a few minutes before you try again.

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Giant Kids' RUBE GOLDBERG Machine! | Kids Invent Stuff

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Build a Rube Goldberg Machine with Kids

So, are you interested in building a Rube Goldberg-style machine with little kids? This post will give you a few tips and ideas to make your own complicated machine.

This project has long been on my to-do list with my kids. We are long-time fans of marble runs (see the resources page for recommendations), and extending our love for rolling balls and ramps into the world of Rube Goldberg was a no-brainer. And triple hurrah for projects that celebrate STEM and STEAM learning. We were on the hunt for easy Rube Goldberg ideas, watched a few videos, and came up with this fun solution that works for young children.

About Rube Goldberg

For the uninitiated, Rube Goldberg was an American Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist, sculptor, author, engineer, and inventor, and his work is a classic example of the melding of art and science. Goldberg began his career as an engineer, and later became a cartoonist who drew elaborate illustrations of contraptions made up of pulleys, cups, birds, balloons, and watering cans that were designed to solve a simple task such as opening a window or setting an alarm clock. Interestingly, Goldberg only drew the pictures, and never built any of his inventions. However, these pictures have since served as inspiration for makers and builders who want the challenge of making wild inventions to solve everyday problems.

And apparently, Rube Goldberg is a now an adjective in the dictionary! You can read more about Goldberg here.

Step 1: Get Inspired

First things first, you'll want to watch some Rube Goldberg contraptions in action to get inspired. My kids and I LOVE this video from OK Go. It's incredible complicated, but oh-so-amazing, so don't think for one hot second that you'll be able to replicate this with little kids. I'll add more inspiring videos below.

Step 2: Solve a Problem

Next, come up with a simple problem that you're trying to solve. For example:

Once you have a problem sorted out (and don't worry - you can change this later if you want), gather supplies...

Step 3: Gather Supplies
You can print out the following list here.
Collect a bucket-full of supplies and then lay them out so they're easily seen. These can largely be found in your home or classroom - start with what you have! You will most likely start with some of these basics, and then forage your home or classroom for more supplies as you go. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Things that Roll

Marbles

Balls: Tennis, Baseball, Bowling, etc.

Toy Cars

Dominoes

Skateboard

Roller Skate

Mousetrap

Things that Move

Ramps

Recyclables

Household Materials

Step 4: Build Your Machine!

Once you have the supplies ready, start building. While the OK Go video (and others like it) includes some pretty complex machines and concepts, keep this simple for preschoolers. The basic concept that we're exploring is that of a chain reaction, so anything that tips something else over (and so one) is what you're going for. Don't worry too much about building things like pulleys and levers for young children.

Take a look at our machine to get a sense of what's possible.

Our Rube Goldberg Machine in Action

5 Tips for Success

1. Success breeds enthusiasm, so keep the steps to a minimum. You can always add more as you go.

2. Keep your expectations low

3. Ask your child for ideas and input

4. Work collaboratively

5. Aim to have fun

A Note on Failure

As you test and try out different set-ups, you'll undoubtedly fail a few times. I could have filled a 20 minute video with outtakes from all our misses (the balloon is a good example of that). But this is great news! Failure is an intrinsic piece of the invention process, and without these mistakes we won't learn how things really work. So embrace failure and celebrate it as part of the learning process.

Next Steps: Full STEAM Ahead

Ask: What other simple problems could we solve?

Ask: What materials could we use?

Ask: Why didn't that work? How could we fix it or try it again?

Encourage your child to problem solve by seeking out materials and moving objects.

Did you enjoy this project? Join the semi-secret Club TinkerLab on Facebook to swap and share more ideas like this.

Inspiring Rube Goldberg Machines

Watch this one light up a Christmas tree

Learn about Rube Goldberg Machines on Sesame Street

Easy Rube Goldberg Example

More Projects like this one
DIY Paper Tube Marble Run Fort Building Kit DIY Water Wall, it's like a marble run, but with water! Build an easy light table Make Gumdrop Sculptures
Activate Learning with STEAM

If you've been a loyal TinkerLab fan (thank you! you mean the world to me.) you'll know that I'm happiest sharing projects that live at the intersection of disciplines. Too often we're quick to separate science from writing or math from art, but when we seek out ways to make interdisciplinary connections, learning can be more meaningful and novel discoveries can be made.

In that vein, you may also enjoy these projects that circle around STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) ideas. This week's theme is REACT, and you can see the other reaction-related ideas here:

Stixplosions | Babble Dabble Do

Smoosh Painting | Meri Cherry

Color Changing Chemistry Clock | Left Brain Craft Brain

Zoom Ball | What Do We Do All Day?

Glowing Hands | All For The Boys

Rainbow Reactions | Lemon Lime Adventures

Colorful Chemical Reaction | Frugal Fun for Boys

STEAM on Pinterest

You might also enjoy following my STEAM + STEM Activities board on Pinterest for more ideas like this.

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Engineering Kids | Rube Goldberg Machine - TinkerLab

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How to build a Rube Goldberg machine with little inventors, ages 4 and up.

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Learning how to make a Rube Goldberg Machine can be a fun activity for the whole family, especially on a rainy day.

What is a Rube Goldberg Machine?

You're probably saying to yourself, "What the heck is a Rube Goldberg Machine?" While the name is long the answer is very simple, its a complex contraption designed to achieve a simple task.

While this might sound overwhelming most kids ages 6 and up will love this activity and the older they are the more elaborate the machine will be. Watch the video below to see a great example of a Rube Goldberg Machine.

Yours does not have to be this long or complicated as long as there are multiple steps involved to complete the task.

Pin it for Later!

Rube Goldberg Machine Materials List

It doesn't matter what you use to build your Rube Goldberg Machine. All that matters is you get creative and have fun. Here is a Rube Goldberg Machine materials list. I've used all of these items when creating Rube Goldberg Machines in the past.

I repeat you do not need all these things! Just search around the house for things you have and think up creative ways to use them.

Dominos

Action figures

String

Tape

Recyclable Materials (paper towel tubes, paper bags, milk jugs, etc.)

Buckets

Marbles

Legos (of any size)

Balls (tennis ball, basketball, baseball, etc.)

Pot and Pans

Boxes

Cups

Tinker toys

Erector sets

Board games

Matchbox Cars

I'm sure there are other things around your house that you'll find during your search for materials too.

Like I've been saying, get creative! There is no such thing as a Rube Goldberg Machine that is too big or too small!

How should I start?

Before you start building a Rube Goldberg machine, you need a task for it to accomplish. What simple action should your machine do? Here are some examples:

Put a ball into a bucket

Turn off a light

Pop a balloon

Water a planet

Put toothpaste on a toothbrush

None of these ideas appeal to the kids? No worries, have them come up with something, just make sure it's a simple task.

Building your Rube Goldberg Machine

Now that you've gathered all your materials together and picked a task it's time to start building.

Grab a piece of paper and a pencil and sketch out what you want your machine to look like. The building will go easier, and more smoothly, this way.

With a sketch completed, if you're working as a team to build the R.G. Machine assign a part of it to build to each kid. If you have one child or each kid is making their own have then start from the end and work towards the beginning. That way you know your spacing will work.

A word of caution when using dominos, I recommend adding them last. Getting them all in place and having them fall because what you were building next to it fell apart or some other mishap happened, is the WORST!

Need some inspiration? Here is a mega R.G. machine designed by the guys at Mythbusters. Their machine is really intricate, so don't feel you need to go crazy like this, but you might get some inspiration, and it's really fun to watch!

Rube Goldberg Machine Easy Ideas

Building a Rube Goldberg Machine doesn't have to be difficult. Here are a few Rube Goldberg Machine easy ideas I've come up with to help you get started. These Rube Goldberg machine examples will still take a while to put together, but won't take as long as the Myth Busters one in the video you just watched.

Easy Rube Goldberg Idea #1 - Getting a tennis Ball in a Bucket

The task this machine will complete is getting a tennis ball in a bucket. While the directions are simple and there is only a small sequence this will take you several tries to get the bucket and lego wall in the correct position. You should build this Rube Goldberg Machine on a table to the bucket can sit on the floor

1. Take a matchbox car and have it either go through a tube or, if you have one handy on a matchbox car track.

2. The matchbox car should bump into the first of several dominos in a fun design that you choose.

3. The dominos should fan out from a single line to about 5 across. These dominos will knock over a small lego wall that has a tennis ball balanced on top.

4. The lego wall will get tipped over and the ball will fall into the bucket. Rembmer to place the bucket on the floor.

Easy Rube Goldberg Idea #2 - Put toothpaste on a toothbrush

This Rube Goldberg Machine will put toothpaste on a toothbrush. Again, remember that this might take several tries to complete the task as small adjustments might need to be made to complete the task. Just like the one before, build this on a table with the last step on the floor.

1. Use a matchbox car and push it down a ramp made out of an old cereal box.

2. The matchbox car will run into line of dominos, you can put this is a fun design if you'd like.

3. The final domino will bump into a marble or bouncy ball which will go down a tube or hanging off the edge of the table.

4. At the end of the tube a cup is covering the end. The ball will enter the cup and fall off the end.

5. The cup will fall to the floor and hit the first of several books sittung upright like dominos. The first book should be a lightweight magazine or book and they should get heavier as they go.

6. The last book in light should be the heaviest and should fall on top of the tube of toothpaste, which will put the paste right on the tooth brush. Use the matierals of your choice to hold the toothbrush in place.

Have you built a Rube Goldberg Machine? How did it turn out? Let me know in the comments!

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How to Make a Rube Goldberg Machine: Fun & Easy Rube Goldberg Machine Ideas " Roaming Nanny

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Learning how to make a Rube Goldberg Machine can be a fun activity for the whole family, especially on a rainy day. You're probably saying to yourself, "What the heck is a Rube Goldberg Machine?" While the name is long the answer is very simple, its a complex contraption designed to achieve a simple task.

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