Howard Co. Science Classes Take Rube Goldberg Challenge
ELLICOTT CITY, Md. (WJZ)—Teachers are always looking for new ways to enhance students' skills. Some Howard County instructors found a unique teaching method, and as Kai Jackson reports, it appears to be very hands-on.
It looks like a gizmo or a contraption, maybe even a scientific experiment.
"One of the best things is cooperative learning. They have to learn how work as a group," said David Adelman, Illchester Elementary.
And that's exactly what they did.
"We know that you've been getting up early and doing a lot on your end," said Kim Kettering, teacher.
"Once this came to me I felt like this would be a very interesting project," said Colin Hewett, student.
These are students at Illchester Elementary in Ellicott City. They entered a Rube Goldberg competition. Goldberg was a 20th century inventor and cartoonist known for creating complex machines that perform simple tasks.
"They took simple machines. They figured out how to make them all work together, and the goal was actually watering a plant," said Amy Reece, teacher.
The big picture here, by making the device by hand, students were becoming better readers, which was the ultimate goal of the project.
The device finally worked and watered a plant.
The Rube Goldberg competition was offered to fourth- and fifth-grade students in Howard County. Seven other schools are taking the challenge.
