Today I’m going to show you how to make oobleck and 10 awesome ways to play with it!
Say the word OOBLECK (or goop) in my house and my daughter will come running! Oobleck was actually the very first science experiment I tried when I was the science parent at our co-op preschool years ago. I chose it because it’s no fail and always a hit; I mean really, who can resist a slippery, gooey substance that forms a ball when you squish it together but quickly melts into a liquid when you let go?
You are watching: How to Make Oobleck and 10 Cool Things To Do With It!
Oobleck is by far my students’ favorite sensory activity. I have seen kids play with it for long periods of time, fascinated with its texture and consistency. It’s wonderful to engage kids in making the oobleck; it gives them a chance to touch and feel the cornstarch before it’s mixed with the water and then to observe how it changes as water is introduced. I highly recommend making a HUGE batch of oobleck with kids in a large shallow bin. Once it is mixed, introduce kitchen objects like spoons, colanders, and sieves for them to play with.
For kids who don’t like to get messy I recommend having large spoons, aprons, and possibly gloves nearby so that they can participate in the fun at their own pace. I’ve had students shake their heads when asked to dip their hands into this weird substance, but poking and prodding at it with a spoon sometimes gives them the confidence they need to finally dip in a finger into the oobleck.
To get a taste of the fun you can have with oobleck check out this video:
Before we start let’s talk about just what oobleck is. Oobleck is a non-Newtonian fluid, a fancy term for a liquid whose viscosity changes depending on pressure. Viscosity is the measure of friction in a liquid and determines how fast or slow a liquid flows. Most liquids have what we call consistent viscosity, for instance honey and water will always flow the same no matter how you pour or press them. Oobleck on the other hand does not have consistent viscosity. If you apply pressure to it, it forms a solid, loosen the pressure and it melt back into a liquid. Because the viscosity changes, it is classified as a non-Newtonian fluid.
In chemistry oobleck is what is known as a colloid, a substance in which small particles of one substance are suspended throughout another substance but not chemically bonded. If fun hands-on chemistry projects sound enticing hop over here to see 50 more…
It’s actually both! Oobleck behaves like a solid or a liquid depending on the pressure exerted on it. Press it together and it feels solid, let is sit in your hand and it drips like a liquid.
Read more : Alchemy Stone Guide
When most people talk about slime they are referring to glue based slimes made by mixing white or clear glue with sodium tetraborate (found in Borax, liquid starch, and saline solution). You can read all about the science of slime here. That version of slime is also a non-Newtonian fluid with similar properties to oobleck. The difference is that oobleck tends to be more liquid like and doesn’t last long (it will mold) and glue slime tends to be more solid and can last indefinitely in an air tight plastic containers. I consider oobleck and slime to be cousins!
Now enough of the details, let’s get to the making!
Oobleck always requires some fine-tuning. I start with the basic ratio and then add more water or cornstarch deepening on the consistency that I’m getting.
2 parts cornstarch to 1 Part water
What is the right consistency?
If you’ve never made oobleck before one of the hardest things to figure out is just what you are looking for in terms of texture and consistency. I use this as my guideline: When mixed you should be able to press a handful of oobleck into a ball in your hand; when you release the pressure the ball should “melt” back into a liquid.
Try using strawberry baskets and sieves! Place a handful of oobleck in a strawberry basket, collinear, or sieve and watch it drip through the bottom!
Make batches of oobleck in different colors then drizzle the colors together onto a large shallow tray. My daughter even made a heart with her oobleck.
Read more : Sundae worship: the best ice-cream recipe books
This was a hit at a recent event! This is the coolest impromptu activity for a group. Make a TON of oobleck, add in some baskets, colanders, buckets, splatter guards and sieves and build!
This was a hit at Camp STEAM!
A fantastic sensory play experience that glows! See three different ways to make oobleck glow here:
You read that right, make oobleck dance using sound waves!
A fun sensory activity on a hot day.
Turn oobleck into lesson on color mixing like this and this.
Perfect for events or parties!
Add a little baking soda and turn it into a fizzing experiment!
If you enjoyed this be sure to check out Wizards’ Brew, another favorite in our house!
Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Recipe
This post was last modified on 11/10/2023 23:05
For all my beauties with dark inner thighs, armpits, bikini area and spots, etc, this…
Are you a passionate cook aspiring to embark on a rewarding culinary journey? Whether you're…
Discover the perfect wall colors to complement your grey kitchen cabinets, creating a harmonious and…
Generally, a 10×10 kitchen remodel ranges from $15,000 to $45,000, but several factors could cause…
Sleek and durable, quartz countertops are the latest trend in kitchen and bathroom renovation. Comparable…
IKEA kitchens are designed to be as simple as possible to assemble and install yourself.…