How to Build a Rube Goldberg Machine with Kids: An Easy STEM Activity

Learn how to build a Rube Goldberg machine with your kids using simple household items. It’s a fun, hands-on STEM activity that will keep kids busy for HOURS!

If you’re ever having the kind of lazy day where your kids are bored out of their minds and just CAN’T seem to figure out what to with themselves, I have the perfect idea for you.

Challenge them to make a Rube Goldberg machine!

It’s a no-prep idea that you don’t need any fancy supplies to do. Kids can do it on their own, and it’s likely to keep them busy for a LONG time. (At our house, it lasted almost 4 hours!) Interested?

Well, first things first…

What is a Rube Goldberg Machine

A Rube Goldberg machine is a chain reaction contraption designed to complete a simple task in a very complicated (and fun!) way.

Think: a ball rolls down a ramp → knocks over dominoes → triggers a lever → pops a balloon.

It’s silly and creative and kids LOVE it.

They’re named after the famous American cartoonist Rube Goldberg, who became well-known for his imaginative drawings of these wild, outlandish contraptions.

Here are some amazing examples of Rube Goldberg machines to get your kids excited about them:

OK GO music video (my kids are obsessed with this one)
Sesame Street Rube Goldberg video
Kids Invent Stuff Rube Goldberg machine

These are all pretty elaborate (and amazing!). If you want to see one of our kid-made machines (we’ve done several over the years), you can see it here.

Why Kids Love This Activity (and Why It’s So Good for Them)

This is one of my favorite STEM activities because it builds:

Problem-solving skills
Creativity and imagination
Critical thinking
Basic engineering concepts
Perseverance (because things will fall apart)

It’s a perfect summer time (or rainy weekend) challenge because kids have more time to design and adjust, test and retest, until they come up with their own amazing, functional contraption. It’s learning through play at its best!

Fair warning: this is the kind of project that takes hours to do (a good thing in summer) and very likely will leave your house looking like a tornado went through it. Just remind yourself, “We can clean it all up after we’re done.” For me, it’s totally worth it for all the creativity, engineering, and problem-solving it encourages.

Want to try making your own Rube Goldberg Machine? Here’s everything you need to know…

How to Build a Rube Goldberg Machine

Materials Needed:

You do NOT need anything fancy. In fact, the more random the better. Encourage your kids to use what they can find around the house (just tell them in advance if they need to ask permission).

Here are some ideas to get you started:

Dominoes or blocks (anything stackable)
Balls or marbles
Cardboard tubes (paper towel rolls work great)
Books (perfect for ramps!)
Cups or containers
Toy cars
String or yarn
Tape (I recommend painter’s tape)
Cardboard
Scissors

Step-by-Step Guide:

Start with a Goal: First, decide what your machine will do. Choose something simple, like knocking something over, turning on a light switch, or ringing a bell. This gives your kids a clear end goal to work toward.
Brainstorm the Steps: If you have older kids, you might be able to just set them loose. Younger kids or those who have little experience with this type of challenge might need a nudge in the right direction. Try asking, “What could happen first?” Your kids can sketch it out or just talk through it, but think in terms of cause and effect:
- If this rolls… what will it hit?
- If that falls… what will it trigger?
Gather Materials: Now send your kids on a mini scavenger hunt around the house. Look for objects that can roll, fall, push, or create motion. You’ll be amazed at what they can create with a pile of random items!
Choose Where to Start: Decide where you’re going to start your machine. Pro tip: Start high. The top of the stairs, on the kitchen counter or table, or on a bookshelf are all good options. When you start high up, you can use gravity to help create momentum for your machine.
Build the Machine: You’ve got a plan, you’ve got a location and a goal, now it’s time to bring it to life! Start with something simple. For example, you could use a ramp or a stack of books to create a sloping surface for a ball or toy car to roll down. Continue building your Rube Goldberg machine, connecting each object or mechanism to the next, until you reach your end goal!
Test and Troubleshoot: Encourage your kids to regularly test the machine as they build. This is where the real learning happens! Things will fall over too soon, not move at all, completely collapse, and go off track. It’s going to be frustrating at times. And that’s okay! Remind kids that every failure is just more data that helps move them toward the solution. They can learn from it, and try something else.
Celebrate Success: I guarantee your kids are going to want to video their amazing machine in action. You might have to do 20 takes (or more!) to capture their success, but you can always delete the epic fails later, right? Kids LOVE watching their creation in action, and it’s a great way to celebrate and remember their achievement.

Want to watch a video of our Rube Goldberg machine from a few years ago? It took more than 50 tries to get it right, but the look on my son’s face when it FINALLY worked was so worth it!

Tips to Keep It Fun (and Not Frustrating)

Creating a Rube Goldberg machine is bound to have some bumps along the way. That’s good for kids! It helps them learn patience, grit, perseverence, problem-solving, and a slew of other good qualities. BUT, we don’t want them to get so frustrated that they just quit. So, from one mom to another, here are a few suggestions to keep from crossing that line:

Start small. You can always add more, but try out a simple machine first.
Work backwards. Start at your end point and add pieces to your machine in reverse. That way you can add as many steps as you want, but you can stop when your kids attention wanes.
Set expectations. From the start, explain to kids that it will take time to get it right, and that failure is part of the process.
Let your kids take the lead. As much as possible, let this be your kids’ project. Step in only when they’re truly stuck. This will allow them to build their creativity and problem-solving skills, and it will give you some free time!
Celebrate mini-accomplishments. Check in on your kids from time to time, and cheer them on. When they get one step to work, give them a high five! Add on another? Cheer like a crazy lady!

Ready to try your own? If you post a video your Rube Goldberg machine on Instagram, tag me. I’d love to see it!