Dogwood Elementary students who bid on the 5th grade PTO teacher feature recently completed a Rube Goldberg machine in Mr. Bozeman’s classroom. The machine, which was built over the course of three weeks in the morning before school, used the Engineering Design Process to create a complex chain reaction that ultimately resulted in a salt shaker tipping over to salt a bowl of popcorn.
A Rube Goldberg machine is a machine that performs a simple task in a complex and often comedic way. The machines are named after Rube Goldberg, an American cartoonist who was known for his drawings of complex machines. Goldberg's machines often involved a series of simple devices that were linked together in a chain reaction. Rube Goldberg machines are often used to teach students about engineering and problem-solving. They can also be used to create art and entertainment.
In the case of the Rube Goldberg machine that was built by Mr. Bozeman's students, the final outcome was to salt a bowl of popcorn. The machine started with a student pushing a car down a ramp. This action triggered a series of events, including a ball rolling down a ramp, dominos falling over, and a block sliding down a zip line and hitting a salt shaker. The salt from the shaker then fell into a bowl of popcorn, which was then enjoyed by the students.
"I enjoyed seeing the students' enthusiasm, deep thinking, and creativity in this project," said Mr. Bozeman. "They were really engaged and they worked hard to make sure their machine worked perfectly."
The students started the project by brainstorming ideas for their machine. They then created a design plan and gathered materials. Once they had everything they needed, they began building their machine. The students faced a few challenges along the way. One challenge was that they had to make sure their machine was safe. They also had to make sure that their machine worked smoothly and didn't break down.
Despite the challenges, the students were able to complete their machine on time. They were proud of their accomplishment and they enjoyed showing it off to their classmates and teachers.
The Rube Goldberg machine was a great way for the students to learn about engineering and the Engineering Design Process. It was also a lot of fun!