Rube Thursday

Happy Rube Thursday, a day to celebrate Rube Goldberg machines, the over-engineered contraptions that perform a very simple task.

Have you ever seen a Rube Goldberg machine in action? They are beautiful contraptions, so you can be almost certain to find one at a museum near you. In case you want to try to build your own or get a better understanding of what goes into building one, here’s a handy reference article on Wikihow

The over-engineered complexity of these machines is part of their attraction, but it can be very intimidating as well. Fortunately, many of these contraptions are built around marble runs. So let’s practice building a marble run. Bonus – it can be built for free out of recycling items, such as toilet paper tubes, empty bottles and rubber bands. Here’s one idea from the Clan of Parents blog:

Sure, this is Christmas-themed machine, but it’s never too late for Rube Goldberg fun. Just watch this Mythbusters video with your child and get inspired.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCYg_gz4fDo