A Rube Goldberg machine is a contraption or apparatus that is deliberately over-engineered to perform a simple task in a complicated fashion, generally including a chain reaction. Students will work together to create a chain reaction machine that will do something awesome in the most complicated way!

During this class we will learn about the power of the sun! Some of our activities will include building a solar oven, a solar-powered car and creating solar art.

In Tinkering, students explore materials, supplies, tools and concepts in an open-ended, adult-guided way. Past Tinkering sessions have involved making custom Minecraft controllers, exploring linkage mechanisms with cardboard and brads, testing out paper circuits to make light-up cards and pictures, and taking apart consumer electronics and toys to see what’s inside.

Students will learn about the tradition and art of hand and loom weaving in a variety of cultures. We will then complete several weaving projects using recycled materials, natural materials, yarns, string, and hemp. We will also explore French knitting and macrame.

Students will explore the Four Orders of Architecture and will drawing designs and create their own 3d structures while having fun learning about art history, architecture and math. We will have a variety of building challenges and STEM-related problems during the course of this class!