Online Stem Challenge
Hello St Andrews - I have a STEM challenge for you!
There is still time to register for the iSTEM challenge which finishes up on the 8th of September, across Year 7-10, with one winner chosen from each grade.
What is the competition?
This competition will be based on Rube Goldberg - Cartoonist, Sculptor and Engineer. You will be tasked with creating your very own Rube Goldberg machine using a range of materials. A Rube Goldberg machine is a chain reaction-type machine or contraption intentionally designed to perform a simple task in an indirect and overly complicated way. A Rube Goldberg machine utilises a range of simple machines to form one compound machine (2 or more simple machines in one).
I have linked some video resources at the end of this article for you to view some existing Rube Goldberg machines for inspiration!
What do you need to do?
Identify a simple task that you would like your machine to do, such as:
Brushing your teeth
Turning a light on
Watering a plant
popping a balloon
Turn off an alarm
and build a machine using a variety of simple machines with materials around your home. Some materials you can use include:
Plastic cups
Cardboard
Paper
Dominos
Wood
The options are endless! (As long as you have parental permission to use materials that your parents own!)
You will need to record your machine in action and submit your video via a Google Classroom post which will be posted closer to the due date by the 8th of September at 8pm.
The winner will be featured in the school newsletter, the next Junior Assembly and possibly on our school's Facebook page!
Register your interest in the competition by filling out the Google Form below!
Inspiration Links:
Google Form Sign Up:
Shanai Mifsud
Technologies Teacher