From Peoria, take I-74 west to exit 82 for Kickapoo/Edwards Rd. Turn left onto the Kickapoo/Edwards road, travel a quarter of a mile. Turn right onto Smith Road and travel approximately one mile to the Edwards Demonstration & Learning Center.
Dear Parents,
The Society of Manufacturing Engineers, Peoria Chapter 31 in conjunction with the Engineer In The Classroom group has organized a Rube Goldberg Machine competition for your area fifth grade classes. The local SME chapter is made up of engineering professionals who are reaching out to young students to explore the basic principles of engineering.
Each class will design and build one complex machine to perform a simple task. This year’s theme is to “Build a Better Mouse Trap”. One engineer from the SME chapter will work with a class and their teacher to design and build a Rube Goldberg device. Each class will keep a journal describing their daily activities as they design and build their Rube. A contest will be held on Saturday March 6th, 2010 from 8:30am-11am at Caterpillar’s Demonstration and Learning Center located in Edwards Il. The winner of the local competition will go to the University of Illinois for the regional competition that is held in conjunction with the U of I Engineering Week March 12th 2010 from 9am-12pm. If your child’s group is chosen for U of I then more information will be made available at a later date.
The following pages will provide insight to how each Rube will be judged and the rules and regulations for the program. The last sheet is a list of “Stuff” that each student needs to gather and bring to the class after Christmas break. Search your room, house, and garage for any old “junk/treasures” that coincides with the handbook guidelines. Please do not send anything of personal value. All items will be used for the project and not returned. Please help your student gather as much “Stuff “ as possible.
To learn more about Rube Goldberg and U of I Engineering Week explore the following websites.
http://eoh.ec.uiuc.edu/
Thank you for your effort in making this program a success.
Rube Goldberg Competition
Goal (0-5 points for achieving goal): Build a better mousetrap
*Trap must successfully capture a moving object
* “Object” may be anything the team selects – within the rules of the program
* Journal must detail the use of energy transfer for any one step of the Rube
* Journal must list all simple machines and how they are used in the Rube
* Journal must show three (3) mathematical or scientific calculations/principles used in the Rube
* Journal must begin with a one-page research report on how engineering is used in making a “Trap”
* Journal must describe one challenge that was resolved while building the Rube
Judging Criteria:
1. Number of steps in the Rube (10 points max)
2. No Stops (2 points)
3. Restart (lose 1 point for restarts, max of 3 points lost)
4. Able to repeat in 10 minutes (5 points)
5. Unique Features (0-3 points)
6. Student Involvement (2 points)
7. Student Presentation (2 points)
8. Aesthetic Value (2 points)
9. Journal (10 points max)
10. Judges Discretionary Points (9 points max)
11. Illegal interaction or use of any illegal materials (lose 1 point for each infraction, max of 10 points lost)
Rube Goldberg Competition Rules and Regulations:
Rubes must fit within a 36” X 36” X 36” volume
Rubes may contain plastic jars, action figures, toys, nails, screws, lids, marbles, ball bearings, packing pieces, strings, spools, tubes, yarn, oatmeal, boxes, PVC pipe, rope, vacuum or outdoor hose, scrap wood, rubber bands, sports equipment, cans, cereals, plastic containers, gum, rice, beans, silverware, kitchen utensils, dog food, baggies, sand, paperclips, all types of tape, boxes, bags, pulleys, liquids (must be contained),
Rubes may not contain glass, weapons, pieces professionally manufactured specifically for the Rube, any type of electrical source (this includes batteries, lasers, lightening, satellite activity) sharp edged pieces, anything with any intrinsic value (ie. watches, jewelry, collectables), any other items deemed inappropriate or unacceptable by the School, Teacher, or Engineer.
* No hazards/danger can be involved in the Rube
* No violence can be involved in the Rube
* No open flame
* No cruelty or pain to animals
The engineer will be responsible for tools and the use of tools. Tools shall not be left at the school and the students will not be allowed to use them (ie. hammer, saw, power tools).
Kitchen Items:
Jars
Lids
Juice Cans
Utensils
Bowls
Food Containers
Grains
Plastic Bags
Plastic Silverware
Canned Food
Refrigerator Magnets
Pots & Pans
Bottles, Caps, Cans, etc.(avoid sharp items and breakables)
Work Shop Items:
Wood Scraps (boards, dowels, paneling, etc.)
PVC Pipe
Tools
Wire
Chain
Tape (all kinds)
Old Equipment parts (wheels, pulleys, gears, etc.)
Nails
Screws, Nuts, Bolts
Belts
Scrap building materials (bricks, pipe, electrical, etc.)
Hose & Tubing
Kids Stuff:
Toys
Old Trophies
Pet Cage Parts
Aquarium Tubing
Building Blocks
Office/School Items:
String
Scissors
Paper Clips, Clasps
Pens, Pencils
Paper
Cardboard
Books
Glue
Old Telephone Parts
Old Computer Parts
Ribbon
Erasers
Thumb Tacks/Pins
Garage Items:
Funnels
Parts off anything broken (Check with parents first)
Old yard tools
Old camping gear
Old car parts
Old house repair items
Sporting Goods:
Balls
Gloves
Pucks
Shoes
Rackets
Golf Tees
Fishing Gear (barbs removed)
Other Building Materials:
Sand
Water
Clay
Play-Doh
Caulk
Dough