Transcript Describing a Process with Rube Goldberg

Describing a Process with
Rube Goldberg
All Rights Reserved. RUBE GOLDBERG ® is a
registered trademark of Rube Goldberg Inc. All
materials used with permission.
www.rubegoldberg.com
Mark Dorr
United States Department of State English Language Specialist
Kazakhstan, 2016
www.MarkDorr.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 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?
Use the illustration. Example:
A
B
First, he brings the spoon to his mouth pulling the attached
string.
•C
•E
•G
•I
•K
•M
D
F
H
J
L
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