How To Make Your Own Oobleck
July 13, 2015
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This week for Summer Camp we’re going to be making something that’s fun and entertaining for both kids and adults-we’re going to be making Oobleck. Oobleck is based on the Dr. Seuss book “Bartholomew and the Oobleck” when the King became bored with the weather and commanded a new kind of weather be created.
What ensued was a gooey, green substance, Oobleck which rained down from the sky and wreaked havoc on the kingdom Here at Kid’s Korner, our Oobleck won’t wreak havoc with your kingdom or on your budget because you’ll be able to make it right now with items that you already have in your kitchen cupboards but you will have a fascinating substance where it is up to you to decide-is Oobleck a solid or a liquid or both?
Materials:
1 Cup Water
1.5-2 Cups Corn Starch (One box)
A few drops of food coloring (Traditional Oobleck is green)
Bowl and Spoon
o Start by pouring the water into a bowl. Add the cornstarch a bit at a time
o Keep mixing until it has a gooey consistency. We found it was easier to mix the Oobleck with your hands, pulling from the bottom.
o When the Oobleck is just right, slowly add in the food coloring. It can be a bit challenging to get it mixed in properly.
o Now comes the fun-playing with your Oobleck.
Things to Try With Your Oobleck:
- · Grab a handful and squeeze it. Let it ooze and pour through your fingers
- · Quickly poke it with your finger-it’s hard and you won’t be able to poke through. Poke slowly with your finger and it melts into the Oobleck
- · Make a puddle with your Oobleck and drag your fingers through it.
- · Roll the Oobleck into a ball. Notice that it is solid, but what happens when you stop moving it? Does it stay solid or turn into a liquid?
- · Put it into a plastic container and shake it or bump it quickly against a table-what happens to your Oobleck?
- · Put some of the Oobleck on a cookie sheet, place it on top of a speaker, and watch it dance.
Now the only question remaining is Oobleck a Solid or a Liquid. The answer is Oobleck is neither-it is a non-Newtonian fluid. In other words, Oobleck acts like a liquid when being poured, but acts like a solid when a force is acting on it. You can grab it and then watch it in turn ooze out of your hands. If you make enough Oobleck, you can even walk on it.
Tips:
- · Store Oobleck in an airtight container or Ziplock bag and stir occasionally.
- · If you do use food coloring, you may notice a little color left on your hands. Don’t worry, the color goes away in a day or two.
- · To dispose of the Oobleck, mix it with a lot of hot water to make very loose slurry and pour a small bit at a time down the drain with the hot water continuing to run or just put into the garbage.
- · If you spill Oobleck, it eventually dries and turns back into Corn Starch and can be easily be vacuumed.
