These dynamic, interactive sessions combine learning with hands-on fun as participants explore the principles of Rube Goldberg Machines and apply them to create their own unique designs. Participants will embark on an exciting journey into the world of creativity, engineering, and STEM as internationally recognized Rube Goldberg world expert Zach Umperovitch (that's me!) shares his secrets to success!
Learn everything you need to both enter & WIN the Rube Goldberg Machine World Championship - Not only a former World Champion, I'm now the National Contest Director too!
Educational Goals:
- Provide general background information on who was Rube Goldberg.
- Educate what exactly these machines do and why they're important to understand.
- Tips, tricks, and examples on how to build your own.
- Introduction to Problem-Based Learning & STEM principles.
- Having FUN engaging in hands-on builds
Suggested Ages: 6 and up
Workshops duration: Variable! Sessions can last 1, 2, 3+ hours, or even multi-day if interested in creating larger contraptions.
- Materials are fully provided
- 10-30min informative lesson prior to hands-on building
- Perfect for any level of build experience!
Presentations & School Assemblies: tailored to suit any desired age group from Kindergarten to College students, and certainly entertaining for adults too!
- Live demonstrations
- 30-60 minute informative interactive lesson
- Impromptu machine building with nearby objects
Whole school assemblies are excellent for introductions, as it certainly doesn't have to be just the class(es) learning about Rube Goldberg. My presentations are sure to leave your entire school buzzing and excited to study the subject in the future!
Presentation Hosts:
Edinburgh School of Engineering - Scotland, UK
Liberty Science Center - Jersey City, NJ
NASA Goddard Center - Greenbelt, M
Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium - St. Johnsbury, VT
ECHO Leahy Center - Burlington, VT
Laramie County Library - Cheyenne, WY
Children's Museum of NH, MakerFest - Dover, NH
Wicked STEM Northern New England STEM Expo - Milford, NH
Young Inventors Program: Invention Convention - SNHU
Get Tech Smart - Hudson, NH
Woodland Community School - Bethlehem, NH
Fun Factory Camp - Newtown, PA
50+ New England elementary schools & growing!
Presentation & Workshop Components
Rube Goldberg Machine Walkthroughs
Discussion of the intricacies of the machines often missed in the videos (via walkthroughs and never-before-seen videos)
Design & How To's
Walk students through the process of how these machines are created, as well as explain why understanding the Rube Goldberg process can expand their problem-solving abilities,
Team Building Exercises - Problem Based Learning
Team Building Exercises - Problem Based Learning
Whether it be simply a writing activity, or a full hands-on activity, both are designed to challenge students to first think individually on how to solve a problem, then later work collaboratively with their peers to enact the solution.
Real World 6-Simple Machine Demonstrations
Team Building Exercises - Problem Based Learning
Demonstration of real world examples of the 6 simple machines (used in my own projects), as well as examples of different types of energy transfers. Hands-on experience with a working Tesla Coil featured in several of my videos is available, along with a portable Rube Goldberg machine!
Rube Works - The Official Rube Goldberg Video Game
Introduce students and educators to the Rube Works video game where students can build their own machines in the same style as Rube himself (but without the mess)!
Help Students Build Their Own Machines
Organize a building exercise where students get to build their own mini-machines.
Task, materials and instructions fully provided to achieve the best chance of success!