In this elementary age lesson, students will identify patterns in motion that can be used to predict future motion by creating Rube Goldberg machines. The teacher and students can first learn about what Rube Goldberg machines are by reading the book “Just Like Rube Goldberg” by Sarah Aronson or watching some videos about Rube Goldberg. They will then have a lesson where they build a chain reaction machine together as a class, then build them in smaller groups with each group sharing their contraption at the end. Items from around the classroom can be used but there are also toys and kits that are helpful in creating chain reaction machines. Some suggested items are toy car tracks, dominoes, marbles, blocks, ping pong balls, string, and popsicle sticks. The attached lesson plan uses dominoes, keva planks and a Picasso Tiles marble run track.
3.3.2 Analyze and interpret data from observations and measurements of an object’s motion to identify patterns in its motion that can be used to predict future motion.
