Ages 5-7: Rube Goldberg’s Simple Normal Humdrum School Day

Description

If Rube's inventions are any indication, "normal" means something very different in the Goldberg household. For Rube, up is down, in is out, and the simplest path to accomplishing an everyday task--like brushing his teeth or getting dressed--is a humorously complicated one. Follow Rube as he sets out on a typical school day, overcomplicating each and every step from the time he wakes up in the morning until the time he goes to bed at night.

This book features fourteen inventions, each depicting an interactive sequence whose purpose is to help Rube accomplish mundane daily tasks: a simple way to get ready for school, to make breakfast, to do his homework, and so much more.

What is the most indirect way to complete a task? Well, that’s a question you might ask yourself while reading Rube Goldberg’s Simple Normal Humdrum School Day. Jennifer George, granddaughter of the cartoonist/inventor Rube Goldberg, celebrates his zany, invention-themed comics by imagining him as a kid running through an average school day. The illustrations of Ed Steckley bounce and rumble along, allowing readers to follow George’s cause and effect descriptions.

Activity

Explore simple machines by building Rube Goldberg machines. Identify a task you want to accomplish (e.g. turn on a light, pop a balloon, pour water in a cup). Fill a bin with a variety of materials from around your home (blocks, toy cars, tops, etc.), then use those items to create a machine that completes your task. After your first attempt, try making your machine more complex. Take your tinkering further by making an art machine.