Monday, September 15, 2014

Ruby Goldberg Makes Science Fun for Kids

If you had told me a few weeks ago that you could give my daughter a book to get her excited about entering the science fair I would have checked you for a hallucinatory illness.  Well, if I wasn't proven wrong by this lovely story that brings an unparalleled level of excitement and enthusiasm to constructing a Rube Goldberg machine!  Imagine that!

I have included the most amazing Rube Goldberg machine I have ever seen from a Chicago band OK Go.  For those of you unfamiliar with these contraptions you can see the gold standard!  If your kids had any apprehension about entering one of these in a science fair, this video might just change their minds. Check for this video at the end of the post.

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Title:       Ruby Goldberg’s Bright Idea

Author: Anna Humphrey

Target:  Grades 3-6

Series:   No

What this book is about: 
Ruby Goldberg is named after Rube Goldberg, the cartoonist who invented machines that would perform a complicated series of movements to complete a simple task.  When the science fair rolls around, Ruby is inspired to create a Rube Goldberg machine to get her grandfather’s slippers and paper - tasks that his recently deceased dog used to do.  However, can she beat her science fair archnemesis, Dominic Robinson, who happens to have some skills she needs to complete her own machine, while not forgetting about her best friend and grandfather who are her biggest fans?  Got you hanging by a string now don’t I?

Why I love this book: 
This book got my daughter thinking science.  My daughter would much rather enter a writing contest than ever consider entering the science fair, but after one read of this book she and her friends where busy drawing their own Rube Goldberg machines to enter into our science fair which is in April!.  Any book that gets kids interesting in inventing machines is a big win in my book.

The book also has nice messages about supporting your friends and not judging other people, but the best part by far is getting kids to think about how things work.

Who this book is for: 
Great book to get kids interested and excited in science without feeling forced.

Final thoughts: 
This book should be a staple in any school classroom or library to get kids interested in entering their own science fairs.  Book talking this one or giving it to your child a few weeks before the fair will get their creative juices flowing!

To purchase this book:
Click on the following link to connect to Amazon: Ruby Goldberg's Bright Idea  A portion of each purchase will go back to support this blog at no cost to you.  Thank you for your support.




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