Heritage Middle School Scholars Create Machines to Complete Task

As a class, scholars looked at the six different types of simple machines. The class looked at how they worked and their purpose. Scholars were asked to know vocabulary such as fulcrum, force, gravity, work, effort, efficiency, lever, pulley, wheel and axle, screw, inclined plane, wedge and motion. Students were then tasked with making a Rube Goldberg Machine. A Rube Goldberg Machine takes a simple task and makes it much more complicated. Students looked at the history of these machines and even watched and studied how they are made. Once they were tasked with building one, students had to engage in the Engineering Design Process to design and build their machine. They were tasked with using household items to build a Rube Goldberg Machine with at least 5 steps and one that contain at least 3 simple machines. They had to make sure their machine either poured a bowl of cereal, rolled dice, or raised a flag.

Story and video submitted by Mr. Carl Wilms, substitute teacher for Heritage Middle School

ATTENTION: Are your scholars or colleagues doing something great? Please contact the district Communications Team at communications@necsd.net. We’d love to visit your class or event and/or post your pictures and recap to highlight the amazing accomplishments throughout our district!