Featuring levers, pulleys, slides, and switches for kids to manipulate, Rube Goldberg® Miracle Machines™ add a touch of whimsy to any playground. These elaborate play panels are designed to thrill and engage the senses for everyone ages 2 and up (CSA 18mo+), helping to develop cognitive and fine motor skills as well as provide insights into cause-and-effect relationships.
To make this series of mechanical chain reaction play panels, Miracle® Recreation collaborated with The Rube Goldberg® Institute for Innovation & Creativity, a family-run, nonprofit organization that uses the legacy of its namesake to promote equity and access in STEAM and STEAM education. A Rube Goldberg Machine® is a delightfully over-complicated contraption that completes a simple task in the silliest way possible.
Rube Goldberg was a Pulitzer-prize winning cartoonist whose depiction of hilariously impractical machines inspires artists, educators, advertisers, and influencers. By partnering with the Rube Goldberg® Institute, Miracle Recreation brings authenticity and delight into recreational play by asking kids to solve three simple tasks: make a cup of tea, feed a cat, and score a goal.

Spin the wheel and guide the tea to the cup using a pencil, a boot—even a fish! With a series of maneuverable elements, My Cup of Tea gives a fast-paced illustration of cause-and-effect to users while providing a number of fun paths for the balls to take. Kids can make as much tea as they’d like, learning how to cooperate with each other and make decisions solo or as a team. Wheels are located high and low for children of any ability to join in the fun, while bells and chimes enhance the sensory experience for all.