Make a Rube Goldberg machine - Fun at-home activities for Kids.

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Make a Rube Goldberg machine

Design and build a simple Rube Goldberg machine using household items to complete one small task, testing cause and effect, creativity, and teamwork.

Table of contents

Step-by-step guide to make a Rube Goldberg machine

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How To Build a Rube Goldberg Machine | STEM Lesson Plan

What you need

Cardboard boxes or cardboard pieces, marbles or small balls, dominos or small blocks, tape, string, toy car or small toy that rolls, plastic cups, books or wooden blocks for ramps, cardboard tubes or paper towel tubes, clothespins or small clips, scissors, adult supervision required

Step 1

Choose one small task your machine will do like knock a cup over or drop a marble into a cup.

Step 2

Clear a flat workspace on the floor or table to build your machine.

Step 3

Gather all the materials listed and bring them to your workspace.

Step 4

Draw a simple plan showing which piece will trigger the next piece in order.

Step 5

Set up a row of dominos or small blocks to act as the first trigger.

Step 6

Build a ramp using a book and a cardboard tube so a marble or toy car can roll down.

Step 7

Attach a piece of string between two elements so motion from one will pull or move the next.

Step 8

Place the final target item (the cup or object to be moved) where the last part of the machine will hit it.

Step 9

Test just the first section by pushing the first domino or releasing the marble to see what happens.

Step 10

Fix one problem you saw by moving a piece, changing an angle, or adding tape to make it more reliable.

Step 11

Run the whole machine from the start and watch each step cause the next one.

Step 12

Share your finished Rube Goldberg machine on DIY.org

Help!?

What can we use instead of dominos or a marble if we don't have them?

If you don't have dominos, use small wooden blocks or LEGO bricks, and if you lack a marble you can use a ping‑pong ball, bead, or small toy car while keeping the book-and-cardboard-tube ramp setup.

What should we do if the dominos stop or the marble keeps getting stuck on the ramp?

If the dominos stop or the marble/car stalls on the book-and-cardboard-tube ramp, make the ramp steeper by shifting the book, add tape to keep the tube from rolling, and move domino spacing closer so the first trigger reliably hits the next.

How can we change the activity to suit different ages?

For younger kids, simplify by using larger blocks, very short domino lines, and parental help when tying the string, while older kids can draw a detailed plan and add more steps like extra ramps or pulleys.

How can we improve or personalize our Rube Goldberg machine after it works once?

To enhance the machine, add branching domino paths, decorate the cardboard tube and ramps, attach a bell or small light to the final cup so the outcome is dramatic, and film the full run to share on DIY.org.

Watch videos on how to make a Rube Goldberg machine

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Here at SafeTube, we're on a mission to create a safer and more delightful internet. 😊

Simple Steps to Create a Rube Goldberg Machine | Kids Teaching Kids

4 Videos

Facts about engineering and physics for kids

🧩 Rube Goldberg (1883–1970) was an American cartoonist whose wildly complicated inventions gave these machines their name.

🤯 Rube Goldberg machines are all about chain reactions — one tiny nudge can trigger dozens of clever steps in a row.

🛠️ Builders often use the six simple machines (lever, pulley, wheel & axle, inclined plane, wedge, screw) to create creative links and movements.

🧪 Teachers and students love these challenges because they turn physics and cause-and-effect into playful teamwork experiments.

🏆 There are contests and festivals around the world where teams compete to build the funniest, most elaborate machine to do a tiny task.

How do you make a simple Rube Goldberg machine at home?

Start by choosing a simple goal (turn on a light, ring a bell, pop a balloon). Sketch a sequence of 4–8 linked steps. Build components—ramps, marble runs, toy cars, domino lines, cups on strings—and connect them so one action triggers the next. Assemble from end to start, then test each link, adjusting angles, spacing and timing. Encourage kids to iterate, troubleshoot, and celebrate small successes with adult supervision throughout.

What household materials do I need to build a Rube Goldberg machine?

You'll need everyday items: cardboard, books, ramps or inclined surfaces, marbles or small balls, toy cars, dominoes, cups, string, clothespins, rubber bands, tape and scissors (adult use), and lightweight household objects like plastic containers or wooden blocks. Optional items: balloons, paper towel tubes, and small bells. Choose safe, sturdy pieces and avoid sharp objects. Collect extras so kids can experiment and replace parts that fail during testing.

What ages is building a Rube Goldberg machine suitable for?

This activity suits different ages with supervision and adaptations. Preschoolers (4–6) enjoy simple cause-and-effect builds with adult help on cutting or balancing parts. Elementary kids (7–10) can design multi-step chains, practice measuring and testing, and work in small teams. Tweens and teens (11+) can plan complex sequences, problem-solve, and lead projects. Always supervise tool use, and adapt complexity to the child's attention span and fine motor skills.

What are the benefits of building Rube Goldberg machines?

Building Rube Goldberg machines boosts creativity, spatial reasoning, and understanding of cause-and-effect relationships. It teaches engineering basics—planning, iteration, and troubleshooting—while strengthening teamwork and communication when done in groups. The trial-and-error process promotes patience and resilience, and simple builds reinforce fine motor skills and measurement concepts. For safety, keep scissors and hot glue for adults, clear work areas, and discuss safe testing practices

Ready to create?

All Activities

Make a Rube Goldberg machine

Design and build a simple Rube Goldberg machine using household items to complete one small task, testing cause and effect, creativity, and teamwork.

Table of contents

Step-by-step guide to make a Rube Goldberg machine

0:00/0:00

Here at SafeTube, we're on a mission to create a safer and more delightful internet. 😊

How To Build a Rube Goldberg Machine | STEM Lesson Plan

What you need

Step 1

Choose one small task your machine will do like knock a cup over or drop a marble into a cup.

Step 2

Clear a flat workspace on the floor or table to build your machine.

Step 3

Gather all the materials listed and bring them to your workspace.

Step 4

Draw a simple plan showing which piece will trigger the next piece in order.

Step 5

Set up a row of dominos or small blocks to act as the first trigger.

Step 6

Build a ramp using a book and a cardboard tube so a marble or toy car can roll down.

Step 7

Attach a piece of string between two elements so motion from one will pull or move the next.

Step 8

Place the final target item (the cup or object to be moved) where the last part of the machine will hit it.

Step 9

Test just the first section by pushing the first domino or releasing the marble to see what happens.

Step 10

Fix one problem you saw by moving a piece, changing an angle, or adding tape to make it more reliable.

Step 11

Run the whole machine from the start and watch each step cause the next one.

Step 12

Share your finished Rube Goldberg machine on DIY.org

Help!?

What can we use instead of dominos or a marble if we don't have them?

What should we do if the dominos stop or the marble keeps getting stuck on the ramp?

How can we change the activity to suit different ages?

How can we improve or personalize our Rube Goldberg machine after it works once?

Watch videos on how to make a Rube Goldberg machine

0:00/0:00

Here at SafeTube, we're on a mission to create a safer and more delightful internet. 😊

Simple Steps to Create a Rube Goldberg Machine | Kids Teaching Kids

4 Videos

Facts about engineering and physics for kids

🧩 Rube Goldberg (1883–1970) was an American cartoonist whose wildly complicated inventions gave these machines their name.

🤯 Rube Goldberg machines are all about chain reactions — one tiny nudge can trigger dozens of clever steps in a row.

🛠️ Builders often use the six simple machines (lever, pulley, wheel & axle, inclined plane, wedge, screw) to create creative links and movements.

🧪 Teachers and students love these challenges because they turn physics and cause-and-effect into playful teamwork experiments.

🏆 There are contests and festivals around the world where teams compete to build the funniest, most elaborate machine to do a tiny task.