Abstract
The elaborate Rube-Goldberg machine used in the band OK Go's "This Too Shall Pass" music video can be used as a jumping off point for a NGSS based exploration of Simple Machines and Chain Reactions. This curriculum includes an explanation of the types of Simple Machines, and an interactive scavenger hunt using the music video. The students are then given the chance to pick a music clip of their choice to design a Chain Reaction machine too. Using prompts (video) from the band, the students are also asked to explore the aesthetic and sonic choices they make in designing their machine.