Momentum

Momentum is an inventive team building event where each sub-team will be tasked with designing and building a Rube Goldberg-style chain reaction machine to accomplish a simple task, like popping a balloon. Team members must collaborate and strategize together to not only create a successful contraption but also to out-design other teams and ultimately be declared the Momentum champions!

The program begins with a fun and challenging kickoff activity, which will energize and inspire teams for the latter stages of this competitive event.

Teams will then be provided with a standard set of supplies to start their machine build which may include board game pieces, plastic piping, toy car tracks, dominoes, marbles, and more. Some members of each team take on the role of machine design and must be sure to include the correct amount of reactions throughout their machine as well as find creative ways to accomplish simple transitions to receive the most innovation points possible. Other teammates will be tasked with completing mini-challenges to support the designers’ creativity by earning points for use at the supply store where they can acquire a variety of additional materials and unique items to enhance the build.

The tension builds as teams begin to assemble their designs and test the various reactions to see if they work as imagined. As the building stage comes to a close, the official testing phase will begin where teams are each given the opportunity to trial run their entire chain reaction machine in front of the group. Teams with a successful test run may choose to be scored based on this first attempt, or use a brief revision period to add complexity or creativity to their design. Teams whose machines don’t perform as expected during the trial phase will get a chance to make adjustments before the final round of judging.

To ensure a great experience, aspects of these activities may be modified for your group size, group makeup, time available, and other variables.