Describing a Process with Rube Goldberg Mark Dorr United States Department of State English Language Specialist Kazakhstan, 2016 www.MarkDorr.com All Rights Reserved. RUBE GOLDBERG ® is a registered trademark of Rube Goldberg Inc. All materials used with permission. www.rubegoldberg.com

Stephen Hawking’s Machine of Life https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtK7bGXddD8

Who was Rube Goldberg? Rueben (Rube) Garret Lucius Goldberg was born on July 4th, 1883 in San Francisco, California and lived until December 7th, 1970. Mr. Goldberg was as an inventor, engineer, sculptor, author, and cartoonist and made his mark in history with his achievements. He is most famous for drawing “Rube Goldberg Machines.” These are extremely complicated devices that do very simple tasks in complex ways. A “Rube Goldberg Machine” is now used as an expression to describe any system that is confusing, complicated, or absurd. Also see https://www.rubegoldberg.com/about/ https://www.rubegoldberg.com/

What Is the Legacy of Goldberg’s Work? Among other things: Rube Goldberg was the first cartoonist to have an exhibition of his accomplishments was shown in Washington, D.C. at the National Museum of American History. His drawing of the Self Operating Napkin was put on some USA postage stamps. There are Rube Goldberg contests in schools and universities worldwide that challenge students to create intricate machines to do easy tasks.

Describing a Process

Why Learn How to Describe a Process? The ability to describe a process is necessary in STEM. Clear instructions are needed so that procedures can be replicated. For example, with clear descriptions of processes: experiments can be repeated well machines can be copied easily mathematical reasoning can be more effective computers can run properly

What does this machine do What does this machine do? What things (nouns) can you see in the picture? If you are not sure, can you guess? All Rights Reserved. RUBE GOLDBERG ® is a registered trademark of Rube Goldberg Inc. All materials used with permission. www.rubegoldberg.com

To which letters in the picture above do these verbs apply? Pull(s,-ing) Flip(s,-ing) Spill(s,-ing) Open(s,-ing) Cause(s,-ing) Allow(s,-ing) Wipe(s,-ing) All Rights Reserved. RUBE GOLDBERG ® is a registered trademark of Rube Goldberg Inc. All materials used with permission. www.rubegoldberg.com

Some language to describe the cause and effect of a process What are some ways you could teach helpful vocabulary like this? Before Prior to First, Second, Third, etc. Subsequently After Which + SP verb (causes/moves/flips, etc.) the Verb+ing (jerking, flipping, completing, etc.) the Then As a result, the Once Step Finally

Can you explain the cause and effect for each process Can you explain the cause and effect for each process? Use the illustration. Example: A B First, he brings the spoon to his mouth pulling the attached string. C D E F G H I J K L M N All Rights Reserved. RUBE GOLDBERG ® is a registered trademark of Rube Goldberg Inc. All materials used with permission. www.rubegoldberg.com

Raising the spoon to your mouth (A) pulls the string (B) thereby jerking the ladle (C) which throws the cracker (D) past the parrot (E). The parrot jumps after the cracker, and the perch (F) tilts, upsetting some seeds (G) into pail (H). The extra weight in pail pulls cord (I) which opens and the automatic cigar lighter (J) setting off skyrocket (K) which causes the sickle (L) to cut string (M) and allows the pendulum with attached napkin (N) to swing back and forth, thereby wiping off your chin. All Rights Reserved. RUBE GOLDBERG ® is a registered trademark of Rube Goldberg Inc. All materials used with permission. www.rubegoldberg.com

Describe a Process with a Rube Goldberg Machine You Can Try It! All Rights Reserved. RUBE GOLDBERG ® is a registered trademark of Rube Goldberg Inc. All materials used with permission. www.rubegoldberg.com

Some Examples from Students https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFWHbRApS3c

What Have We Explored? Rube Goldberg-United States History and Culture Rube Goldberg Machines-Imagination, Creativity, Engineering Process Describing a Process Working together in small groups Listening, Speaking, Reading A little American English slang Verbs Vocabulary