Created
Jun 13, 2025 4:12 PM
Remix of
Paper Circuits RemixBeautiful Symmetry RemixScratch+micro:bit Remix
By whom
by PLIX Intern Kailey Bridgeman, and PLIX Ambassador Katelyn Turner, Roswell, NM
Description
In this co-designed workshop, multiple STEAM challenges are chained together into a giant Rube Goldberg contraption room.
Remix Type
Passive ProgrammingCollaborative PlayPhysical MaterialsFor TweensFor TeensFor AdultsFor Older Adults
super:Link
In this activity share-out, PLIX Intern Kailey Bridgeman thoughtfully details and reflects on a Rube Goldberg STEAM Contraptions workshop co-designed with PLIX Ambassador Katelyn Turner, Roswell, NM, to engage library learners of all ages in a variety of STEAM challenges.
What remix strategy did you choose? | passive programming |
Why did you choose this remix strategy? How does it address a challenge or opportunity in your context? | Passive programming allowed participants in the activity to engage in a way that met their interest, comfort, and confidence levels. This met the need of being flexible to a wide variety of ages and backgrounds of participants that came and went from the library space during the day. (Younger children, middle school aged kids, etc.) |
Brief description of your remix: | Design a Rube Goldberg contraption to complete a simple task in an interesting way! Come up with a chain of events to accomplish that task. |
Number of patrons this remix is designed for: | Any number (1-20+ at once depending on amount of supplies and space) |
Number of facilitators needed: | Any (0 if sufficient instructional signage, though having a couple facilitators present to explain the concept of a Rube Goldberg machine and the provided materials and to provide assistance if they’re stuck or confused may be helpful.) |
Supply Kit
- PLIX Zine(s) for relevant activities
- Explanation signs for relevant materials
- Remaining materials are very flexible depending on what is available, this includes:
- Dominos
- Marble run + marbles
- Construction Paper
- Scotch Tape
- Scissors
- Colored markers
- OzoBot
- Catapult
- Knex Building Set
- Wooden block set
- PLIX Inflatables Kit
- Snap Circuits
- Paper circuit activity supplies
- micro:bit
- Miscellaneous trinkets borrowed from the library’s miniatures museum consider thrifting or using donated items
Activity Prompts
Complete this section if you changed the activity prompt or added a new prompt.
What prompt(s) did you use to frame the activity | Gave a quick verbal overview to participants as they arrived in the space, adapted for different age groups/backgrounds. Some participants already understood what a Rube Goldberg machine was, while others needed more guidance from the examples or additional verbal explanation. All supplies were organized by type (e.g. Paper circuits, marble run, etc.) on their own tables and had corresponding explanation sheets next to them. |
Did you create any example projects for this prompt? Please describe (and share photos of your creations in the example showcase!) | We had a youtube playlist of creative Rube Goldberg machines playing on a TV in the space: Easy Rube Goldberg Machine |
Running Your Activity over multiple stations
Our Prompt: Come up with a creative way we can use the supplies we have to cause a chain reaction. The goal of the chain reaction is to turn a page in a book.
This prompt was provided verbally and modified slightly depending on the specific individual’s preexisting understanding of what Rube Goldberg machines were. Some participants also needed clarification to only add onto, but not remove, what previous participants had made.
Stations included:
- Marble run
- Dominoes
- Paper Circuits
- Micro:bit
Reflections on Remix Design and Facilitation
What went well? What was challenging? | Challenges: Was sometimes a bit challenging to prevent some participants from feeling overwhelmed when they entered the space and saw multiple tables worth of supplies. Additionally, preventing younger participants from not destroying things created by other participants and instead constructively building was a bit tricky. In general, guiding participants to think about how their creations fit into the collaborative chain reactions of those that already exist rather than just building a stand alone creation was difficult, but especially so with younger children.
What went well: This activity is very flexible to different ages and lengths of engagements. Some participants stayed for multiple hours while others just hopped in for a couple minutes. Most participants were quite willing to engage once they found the sorts of supplies they were interested in using. Many were excited to try out new things they had not used before. |
What did you celebrate? | Creativity and working collaboratively with peers |
Which of the PLIX facilitation techniques did you use or think about while planning this remix activity, if any? | Frame prompts to open up possibilities, Encourage peer learning |
Are there any activity-specific facilitation tips that you used with patrons? | There’s so many different moving pieces (literally) that participants are encountering when walking into the room, it’s very important to focus on making language accessible to each individual |
What advice would you give facilitators planning to do this remix at their libraries? | You may need to reemphasize the collaborative nature of the project and remind participants to connect what they have worked on with what others have already made. Also be open to unconventional uses of materials. |
Showcase
