Sculptures That Move Lessons 8-15:
Rube Goldberg Machines
exploring cause and effect of kinetic sculpture
Grade Level Focus: 5th Grade
School: Barack Obama School of Leadership and STEM
Teaching Artist: Michael Lopez
Classroom Teacher: Dorothy Jones, Anita Meskil, Chrissy O’Malley
Materials: Dowels, hot glue guns, gloves, hot glue sticks, cardboard, color/patterned duct tape, electrical tape, aluminum foil reflective tape, magnets, mini mirrors, paper plates, wind-up motors, dominoes, metal washers, Twisteez wires, masking tape, duct tape, pencils, straight pins, string, springs, rubber balls, screw eyes, plastic cups, tubes, pliers, foam core board, magnetic hooks, styrofoam balls
Lessons: 8
Unit: Sculptures That Move
Summary:
Collaborate as a team to create Rube Goldberg Machines.
Lesson Sequence: Lesson 8-10: Observe the work of Rube Goldberg. Connect to kinetic sculpture artist such at Fischli & Weiss. Create collaborative teams.
Lesson 11-13: Design, create, test, and improve machines.
Lessons 14-15: Record and present machines at work.
4-PS3-2
4-PS3-3
4-PS3-4
5-PS2-1
3-5-ETS1-1
3-5-ETS1-2
3-5-ETS1-3
National Arts Standards:
CREATING
Anchor Standard 1: Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.
VA:Cr1.1.4a, VA:Cr1.1.5a
Anchor Standard 2: Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.
VA:Cr2.1.4a, VA:Cr2.1.5a, VA:Cr221.4a, VA:Cr2.2.5a
Anchor Standard 3: Refine and complete artistic work.
VA:Cr3.1.4a, VA:Cr3.1.5a
PRESENTING
Anchor Standard 5: Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation.
VA:Pr5.1.4a, VA:Pr5.1.5a
RESPONDING
Anchor Standard 7: Perceive and analyze artistic work.VA:Re.7.1.4a, VA:Re.7.1.5a
Artist Connections:
Fischli & Weiss
George Rickey
Chris Burden
Fischli & Weiss
Alexander Calder
Roman Signer
Paul Showers
Theo Jansen
Anthony Howe
Samson Young
Jean Tinguely
Bernie Lubell
Arthur Ganson
Joyce Hinterding and David Haines
Kinetic Sculpture video - On the Move
Sarah Sze
George Rickey
Beatriz Cortez
Additional Resources:
Rube GoldbergSculptures that Move Number Stories
Collaborate as a team to create Rube Goldberg Machines.
Lesson Sequence: Lesson 8-10: Observe the work of Rube Goldberg. Connect to kinetic sculpture artist such at Fischli & Weiss. Create collaborative teams.
Lesson 11-13: Design, create, test, and improve machines.
Lessons 14-15: Record and present machines at work.
The Way Things Go
Fischli and Weiss
Next Generation Science Standards:4-PS3-2
4-PS3-3
4-PS3-4
5-PS2-1
3-5-ETS1-1
3-5-ETS1-2
3-5-ETS1-3
National Arts Standards:
CREATING
Anchor Standard 1: Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.
VA:Cr1.1.4a, VA:Cr1.1.5a
Anchor Standard 2: Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.
VA:Cr2.1.4a, VA:Cr2.1.5a, VA:Cr221.4a, VA:Cr2.2.5a
Anchor Standard 3: Refine and complete artistic work.
VA:Cr3.1.4a, VA:Cr3.1.5a
PRESENTING
Anchor Standard 5: Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation.
VA:Pr5.1.4a, VA:Pr5.1.5a
RESPONDING
Anchor Standard 7: Perceive and analyze artistic work.VA:Re.7.1.4a, VA:Re.7.1.5a
Artist Connections:
Fischli & Weiss
George Rickey
Chris Burden
Fischli & Weiss
Alexander Calder
Roman Signer
Paul Showers
Theo Jansen
Anthony Howe
Samson Young
Jean Tinguely
Bernie Lubell
Arthur Ganson
Joyce Hinterding and David Haines
Kinetic Sculpture video - On the Move
Sarah Sze
George Rickey
Beatriz Cortez
Additional Resources:
Rube GoldbergSculptures that Move Number Stories
Work examples:
Lesson 8-10: Observe & Connect
![Rube Goldberg]()
![Fischi & Weiss]()
Lesson 11-13: Design, Create, Test and Improve Machines
Lesson 14-15: Record & Present Machines at Work
Lesson 8-10: Observe & Connect
Lesson 11-13: Design, Create, Test and Improve Machines
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Lesson 14-15: Record & Present Machines at Work
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