For the love of Oobleck....

More and more, we are finding that our children need more opportunities for sensory exploration and play.   We have learned that they never grow out of our playdough, the sand and water table and we have recently purchased tactile balls for Recess.  But an oldie but goodie is Oobleck.

Oobleck makes for a dynamite science lesson and can be introduced in an average 30-45minute classtime.  It can help follow-up any lesson about liquids -vs- solids.   We tend to read the Dr. Seuss book, Bartholemew and the Oobleck and use it to jumptart a discussion about whether oobleck is a solid or a liquid?  Make a prediction chart. Let the kids measure out the recipe and make it themselves.  i promise you a great time!! Our kids love learning about solids and liquids in this hands-on manner.  if you wantt o make ahead of time, you can always have them explore first and ask them what they noticed about the substance.

Kids tend to notice that:

• Oobleck is both a solid and a liquid.

• If you squeeze it, you can make a shape iwth it but when you release it the substance will melt all over.

• Oobleck will not bounce

• If it sits out in direct sunlight, it will harden on top and stay goopy down below.

• Oobleck can e forced to take a shape but if released will melt.

Oobleck Recipe

2 cups of corn starch
3/4 cups of water (pour just enough to make a thick mixture then play with your amount of water)
8-15 drops of food coloring

Materials: Plastic bin, Spoons, Measuring cups & Towels (for cleanup time)
Mix it all together and have a blast!!!

Comments

[john]

I love the Oobleck experiment. I did it with my 4 year old son this weekend. He learned about non-newtonian fluids, polymers, and molecule chains. Cool stuff! We found a fun site with neat science experiments like this. I will put the link below for anyone interested.

http://weirdsciencekids.com/FunExperiments.html

[Ann]

I do the same experiment in my K classroom during the week of Dr. Seuss's birthday. I put it in individual bags so the kids can take it home with them. They absolutely love this science experiment!

[kb]

I never thought of sending it home with them. I usually put it into our sand bin and let them go at it. I guess a ziplock would work pretty well.
Thanks for the tip!!

[Naomi - KB]

John,

THanks for the handy website.
I love it!!!

Naomi

[Carmen Sanchez]

I have used oobleck many times with my students. One time, I had a Science night for the parents of my students and did the oobleck with them. They couldn't stop playing with it!
What I usually do, is read the book Bartholomew and the Oobleck until I get to the part where the oobleck sticks to everything. I then produce my batch of oobleck and tell them I was able to gather some. They are supposed to tell if it is a liquid or a solid. Of course, it behaves like both (it is a colloid) and they have fun with it. When I did it with 5th graders, I assigned them to figure out the ingredients for homework. I told them I had used water, green food coloring and a white powder that their mothers used for cooking. Their task was to test different cooking powders to see which one behaved like oobleck.
I also have done it as a lab. I have different powders, (sugar, salt, talcum, baking soda, etc.) in small containers. They are supposed to test them until they find what I use for oobleck.