Playful Engineers teaching artist Jay Mankita presents a hands-on event at the Weaver Library in which kids and families design, build, test, and play with Rube Goldberg style "Machines" - complicated chain reactions accomplishing simple tasks. Participants learn through demonstration, and then through self-directed play, to make kinetic 'machine' parts, exploring force and motion, scale, and cause and effect, including catapults, zip-lines, domino towers, and gravity-powered carousels. Jay brings his chain reactions kit from his Traveling Makerspace, packed full with tracks, balls, blocks, cars, action figures, gears, pulleys, tinkertoys, k'nex, and literally thousands of dominoes. Trial & error-focused activities generate multiple opportunities for participants to learn from their success and their failures. We'll hear groans and cheers, as the machines run their course!
This event was funded by the Learn365RI Math Matters Grant, a state funded program that requires youth participant registration including name, date of birth, grade level, and school.
Registrations open at 3:30 PM Tuesday, June 17, 2025. Register at: https://eplib.libcal.com/event/14633860