Rube Goldberg Machine Project

For the final project this year, I made my grade 8 students make a Rube Goldberg machine. First, I taught all the simple machines, and then, as a cumulation to the unit, I told them that they had to use all of the machines in their Rube Goldberg machine project - Objective: to build a Rube Goldberg machine with at least 10 steps to light a candle. It had a few restrictions: but mainly the size of 6 feet by 6 feet by 6 feet. (The outline of the project is attached.)

Of course I had to inspire them with a "The Best Rube Goldberg Contraption Ever" You Tube video:

My grade eight students had some really great projects. And then my grade 11 physics class got jellous so I got them to do it also. Here are some pictures and videos from my actual classes.

A group of grade 11 students created a machine, and it was 6 feet by 6 feet by 6 feet. But then they couldn't get it out of their basement (the doors were too narrow). So they had to film it, and here it is:

These guys completely ignored the size restriction of 6X6X6 feet, but it was really cool:

And here are some of the grade 8 students proud of their contraptions:

What a fun and great project (even though it was a lot of work... the students complained just a bit)!