Design Challenges

Students, use this page to help you learn more. Discover more about simple machines. go through the design process. create a rube goldberg machine.

1. design a rube goldberg machine

A. Read and annotate the The Odyssey by Homer.

Click on the version below you would like to read. When you click the image it will lead you to the PDF document for that version.

The Short Version provides a synopsis and summary of 24 books in The Odyssey and is 5 pages long.
The Medium Version is 42 pages long.

The Textbook Version provides background information before, during and after reading questions and is about 84 pages of text.

THE SHORT VERSION

THE MEDIUM VERSION

THE TEXT BOOK VERSION

B. PRE- DESIGN ACTIVITIES

Now that you have read The Odyssey, its time to start thinking about Rube Goldberg machine, simple machines, the hero's journey, and how the Rube Goldberg Machine may be a physical metaphor or represent or show us the hero's journey that Odysseus experiences. Click the Google document below that walks you through part B. Submit your work to your teacher via Google Classroom.

Rube Goldberg Machine Hero's Journey

Directions: Read and annotate /underline. Write in your own words a 3-5 description for each simple machine. For example, for inclined plane, one may describe it saying, "a diagonal flat surface; ramp. "

Download this KIDS Discover "Simple Machines" PDF here.

C. DESIGN BOARD

Next, take your thinking and learning from the previous step to draft your Rube Goldberg Machine. Each box represents a simple machine and one challenge Odysseus faces on his hero's journey. It doesn't have to be perfect. You can have more than one draft. Work with a partner and just start creating! Have fun! Click the Google document below. Your teacher will also hand you a paper copy. Submit your work to your teacher either in person or via Google Classroom. You can take a picture of the design board and copy and paste it onto your Google doc to submit online.

Rube Goldberg Machine Storyboard

D. MAKER STAGE

Now that you have a a design board of your Rube Goldberg machine, it's time to make things happen! Create. Cut! Tape! Fold! Things like paper, newspaper, toilet paper rolls, balls, marbles, blocks, toy cars, ramps, rocks, glue, wire, fabric, books, scissors, tape, markers, etc. will all help you to bring your Rube Goldberg machine to life. Remember, you can also 3D print one or some of your simple machine using TinkerCAD. Check in with your teacher. Click the Autodesk Tutorials page of this website to learn more about utilizing this software.

2. the Gift Giving experience

Create a gift for odysseus. We know that the hero's journey is not an easy experience. Click the document below to go through the design process and come out with a gift design that truly meets the needs of our hero.

design_thinking_worksheet.pdf

DESIGN THINKING SURVEY

Click on the Google Form below and take the Design Thinking Survey. It's a short survey with 3 questions. On the form, click the button to submit your responses to yourself and then either forward your responses to your teacher or copy and paste your responses onto your Google Classroom assingment and turn it in online. Check in with your teacher to see how they want you to submit your work. It will take you less than 5 minutes. Thanks!

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