Rube Goldberg Contraptions

Inventing gives students an opportunity to use higher level thinking skills, problem solving techniques, and multiple intelligences. As part of the SAGE (Supplemental and Gifted Education) program at Woodside School, the fifth grade students worked hard to create Rube Goldberg inventions. These small group projects challenge the students to design and build a contraption with ten steps that will complete a task. In addition to the above requirements, the students must use at least four of the following simple machines, lever, inclined plane, wedge, pulley, and wheel and axle, in their construction. They keep a log book, create diagrams and make presentations as part of the process. After exhibiting their contraptions in their own classrooms, the most successful ones proceeded to the next level and presented to several grades within our school. Then the top four teams went with Mrs. Meryl Wolf to represent Woodside School at an interschool exhibition on June 6^th. The tasks those teams chose to complete were turning on a stereo, watering a plant, feeding a fish, and feeding a dog, In addition to the actual contraption many teams created skits, designed T-shirts, and/or sang and played music. All students were awarded gold, silver, or participant certificates based on their accomplishments.

Inventing stimulates creative and critical thinking, strengthens problem solving skills, promotes divergent thinking, provides students reasons to focus on their writing skills as they keep a log, teaches responsibility in carrying a project to completion, improves presentation skills, and increases self-esteem. These children are our future designers and inventors.