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  • EXPLORE Art MAKING
    • PAINTING STUDIO >
      • ACRYLIC
      • WATERCOLOR
      • TEMPERA
      • Oil Pastel
      • chalk Pastels
    • CLAY PLAY
    • ANIMATION STUDIO >
      • Action Art + Science
      • Kinetic Art Simple Machines
      • SIGN LANGUAGE
    • BOOKMAKING STUDIO
    • PRINTMAKING STUDIO >
      • MONOPRINTING
      • WOODCUT
    • PAPER STUDIO
    • CONNECT & CREATE
  • BY GRADE
    • Kindergarten Studio >
      • KLEE CASTLES
      • 2D Paper Collage
      • 3D Paper Sculpture
      • ICE CREAM CONES
      • ROCK GARDENS
      • About KINDERGARTEN
    • FIRST GRADE STUDIO >
      • KLEE CATS
      • MIRO LANDSCAPES
      • about GRADE 1
    • SECOND GRADE STUDIO >
      • GRADE 2
    • THIRD GRADE STUDIO >
      • Simple Machines
      • Optical Illusions
      • about GRADE 3
    • FOURTH GRADE STUDIO >
      • SOIL LAYERS
      • RED ROCK LANDSCAPE
      • NARRATIVE ESSAYS >
        • 50 ESSAY TOPICS
      • water cycle
      • tall tales
      • about GRADE 4
    • FIFTH GRADE STUDIO >
      • MATTER
      • CONCRETE POETRY
      • LAKE LANDSCAPES (geology)
      • VENETIAN PAPER MASKS
      • GRADE 5 ROBOTS
      • about GRADE 5
    • SIXTH GRADE STUDIO >
      • ZENTANGLES
      • The Middle Ages Architecture
      • about GRADE 6
  • SMARTSY STUFF & UPDATES
  • Contact Me

art that moves 

simple machine scavenger hunt

learn & explore

Watch Ok Go's Music Video, 'This Too Shall Pass' -Rube Goldberg Machine
FUN FACT: Ok Go's amazing video is based on the Rube Goldberg Machine. A Rube Goldberg machine uses chain reactions to perform a simple task in a complicated way. Watch the next video to learn more about the simple machines used in the video.

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teacher instruction

go on a scavenger hunt!

simplemachinesscavengerhunt_worksheet.pdf
File Size: 38 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

  • Watch 'This Too Shall Pass' one more time using the Simple Machines Scavenger Hunt worksheet (If you're unable to print the worksheet, just make a list of the 6 Simple Machines on a plain piece of paper)
  • Try to find as many simple machines as you can, and mark them on your worksheet. You can pause and rewind the video as many times as you want to. 
  • Think about all of the ways we use simple machines every day. How can we combine simple machines? Is there any form of art that uses simple machines?
  • When you're finished, Move on to your visual art steps down below...

'kinetic art' is art that uses movement for visual effect
​
​Click HERE to see MESMERIZING sculptures IN MOTION!


Artist Feature

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Untitled, 1943 Alexander Calder, c2020 Alexander Calder Foundation
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Antenna with Red and Blue Dots, Alexander Calder c1953 c2020 Alexander Calder Foundation

alexander calder/

One of the most famous artists known for his kinetic sculptures is Alexander Calder. Calder's mobiles use delicate shapes that are affected by subtle movements and breezes created by the environment, and people within the environment. Calder's sculptures offer the viewer a different sculpture with every turn. Calder also considered the effect light had on each element of his sculptural pieces, and recognized it's importance in the viewer's experience.  


best books!

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You can find both of these books
THE KING'S ENGLISH BOOKSHOP
(open for online orders and delivery during the closure)
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Art project

Build a sculpture that moves out of found materials

Materials to look for around the house:

Paper Tubes
Yarn
String

​Wooden dowels
​Bottle Caps

Old Utensils
​
Wood
PVC Pipes
Office Supplies
​Tape

Foil
Shoe Boxes
Cans
Paper
​Chopsticks
Cardboard
​Glue

Popsicle Sticks
Wire

Teacher instruction

  • Find a shopping bag or basket and gather the materials you will need to create your moving sculpture
  • After you have your materials, decide what types of simple machines/moving parts can be made with the items in your basket (for example, bottle caps can turn into wheels or pulleys, dowels and chopsticks can be axles for your wheels)
  • Decide how you want your sculpture to move, and what type of force you will need to allow for the movement you want (will your sculpture move freely with the breeze like Calder's mobiles, or will you use a lever or pulley to move certain parts of it?) 
  • Decide what direction(s) you want you sculpture to move. Will it move around in a circle, forward and backward, up and down? What simple machines will help you to create the desired movement? (for example, up and down movement requires a lifting action, whereas around in a circle simply needs an axle to hold onto as it turns)
  • Draw up a quick, rough sketch of what you want to create. (remember, the creative process is all about learning from our mistakes and being willing to make changes...don't focus too much on the details yet...leave room for exploration and risk-taking!
  • Build your sculpture and try it out! If it worked, take a video or send me a picture to put up in our gallery!
  • OR when you're finished,  MAKE A STOP MOTION MOVIE HERE!

try these cool projects!

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explore more!

Build your own Toys using simple machines...click on any of the projects below to find tutorials




can't get enough ok go? there's more!

Ok Go tells the story about the creative process behind the making of 'This Too Shall Pass' 

Extend your learning with more fun activities!

Get the Chain Reaction Lesson Resources from Ok Go HERE


A look at inventions...
where do IDEAS come from?
​Watch this INVENTION STORY


Hours

M-F: 8am - 3pm

Email

julie.davidson@slcschools.org