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University of South Florida

Rube Goldberg® Machines: Inventive Engineering + Sports Adventures for Grades 4-5

Rube Goldberg® Machines: Inventive Engineering + Sports Adventures for Grades 4-5

Embark on a journey of innovation and activity with Rube Goldberg® Machines: Inventive Engineering + Sports Adventures!

In this unique course, students will unleash their creative potential by engineering imaginative machines that accomplish simple tasks in delightfully complex ways. They'll dive into the world of Rube Goldberg® machines, applying innovative thinking and fundamental physics principles to design and construct these whimsical and intricate contraptions. This process emphasizes creativity and mechanical understanding and sharpens their problem-solving skills. Furthermore, the course offers a practical application of physics concepts in engineering, providing hands-on experience in understanding forces, motion, and the mechanics of simple machines. Alongside these intellectual pursuits, students will engage in various sports activities, focusing on physical development and fitness and fostering essential social skills like teamwork and communication. Rube Goldberg® Machines: Inventive Engineering, + Sports Adventures, provides a well-rounded experience, blending technological creativity with physical and cooperative play for a summer filled with learning, fun, and teamwork.

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  • Camp Hours: 9AM-3PM
  • After Camp, M-TH: 3PM -6PM*
  • Friday Family Showcase: 2PM-3PM

*Location Dependent. This option will appear after selecting a camp week if this location has it available.

$650.00
$650.00
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  • About Rube Goldberg® Machines: Inventive Engineering + Sports Adventures for Grades 4-5

    Set off on an exploration of creativity and motion with Rube Goldberg® Machines: Inventive Engineering. This distinctive course invites students to unlock their creative genius by constructing imaginative machines designed to perform simple tasks through delightfully intricate and complex processes. Students will delve into the fascinating universe of Rube Goldberg machines, harnessing innovative thinking and basic principles of physics to devise and build these elaborate and whimsical devices. The journey fosters not only creativity and mechanical insight but also hones their problem-solving abilities. Additionally, the course serves as a hands-on introduction to physics in engineering, offering tangible experiences with forces, motion, and the mechanics of simple machines.

  • Topics Covered

    • Introduction to Rube Goldberg® Machines and simple machines.
    • Storytelling through machine design.
    • Advanced machine building and team collaboration.
    • Testing, debugging, and refining machine designs.

Learning Outcomes

  • Creative Engineering and Problem-Solving

    Students will develop the ability to engineer imaginative machines that perform simple tasks in complex ways. They will apply innovative thinking and basic physics principles to design and construct whimsical, intricate Rube Goldberg machines, emphasizing creativity, mechanical understanding, and problem-solving skills.

  • Application of Physics Concepts in Practical Engineering

    The course will enhance students' understanding of basic physics principles as they apply them to their machines. They will gain hands-on experience in how forces, motion, and simple machines work, fostering a more profound comprehension and appreciation of scientific principles.

  • Physical Development and Team Collaboration

    Students will participate in various sports to develop physical coordination, fitness, and social skills like teamwork, communication, and sportsmanship. This holistic approach supports physical education and social-emotional learning, balancing technological skills with physical and cooperative play.

Sample Schedule

Here’s a sample of what a week in this course could look like. Keep in mind, our experienced instructors will build the camp that is right for your student, and this outline demonstrates some of the key materials and the overall camp experience.

Monday: Discovering Rube Goldberg Machines

Introduction to Rube Goldberg® machines with a video, simple machine design thinking, and brainstorming a machine to pop a balloon.

Tuesday: Building and Story Development

Explore ways machines work together, start building from the end machine backward, and begin narrative development.

Wednesday: Advanced Design and Teamwork

Gathering inspiration from studying awesome Rube Machines, students will dive into design thinking and problem-solving as they start the main build day.

Thursday: Integration and Refinement

Starting with a junk build challenge, students explore ways to link standalone and big machine builds together before testing and polishing the final machine and narrative presentation.

Friday: Unveiling the Rube Goldberg® Machine

Final machine testing and tweaking, decorating the machine, dress rehearsal for the narration alongside the machine operation will pull students through a final flurry of Rube Goldberg® fun.

Course Format

This course is part of a weeklong summer camp running Monday through Friday. Your child will learn in a small group setting on an inspiring university campus from an experienced instructor. An exciting daily schedule balances learning and exploration of this topic with a variety of outdoor and recreational activities within the larger camp setting. Lunch and aftercare options are available based on location.

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Our Instructors Are Our Top Asset

At BAM!, our vision for innovative K-8 education extends beyond just curriculum; it encompasses the educators who bring that curriculum to life. Selecting & training our educators is a continuous and meticulous process, ensuring they are not just equipped with subject matter expertise but also the skills to inspire and connect with students on a personal level.

  • 100% adult educators recruited from prestigious universities ( No CITs at BAM!)
  • Highly refined interview and background check process 
  • Extensive training that goes well beyond curriculum & classroom management
  • Ongoing year-round opportunities to teach in our summer camp. After-school, and structured recess programs.

We celebrate your success!

Upon the conclusion of your child's program, they will be presented with an official Brains & Motion Education certification.

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