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Oobleck is a funny mixture of water and cornstarch that acts like both a liquid and a solid!It's a great taste safe activity for messy sensory play with toddlers or as a STEM lesson for preschoolers and elementrary school aged kids. In this post, discover how to make oobleck with a step-by-step tutorial, plus STEM activities and holiday themed sensory learning activities using it!
Table Of Contents
- Watch the tutorial for making oobleck:
- Oobleck ingredients:
- What is oobleck?
- Oobleck Recipe:
- Step-by-Step Instructions On How To Make Oobleck:
- How long does oobleck last?
- How do you clean oobleck?
- STEM Activity Checklist with Oobleck:
- Holiday Themed Oobleck Activity Ideas:
- How long does it take to set up and clean up oobleck?
Watch the tutorial for making oobleck:
Oobleck ingredients:
Cornstarch and water.
That’s it! Two ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen!
If you want to spice things up or theme your oobleck for sensory learning play, you can add some food coloring and toys too – like I did in this fall activity!
What is oobleck?
Oobleck is a non-Newtonian fluid. Sounds fancy, right?
It basically means it’s not quite a liquid, or a solid; and it can act like both!
Oobleck is known as the original slime; and parents will love that it's much easier to make than play dough or slime! They don't need to fret about their kid getting it in their mouth either! AND it still provides just as much fun and sensory learning! Seriously, it’s so easy to make, a toddler can even do it!
It’s great for young children (taste safe!!) and for older ones (STEM lessons!!) in teaching how changes in pressure can change the properties in how some materials behave.
In laymen’s terms: think how cool air applied to water freezes it and heat applied to it melts it.
Hard pressure applied to oobleck solidifies it, and light pressure causes it to act like a liquid.
Oobleck Recipe:
- 2 cups of cornstarch
- 1 cup of water
- Optional: food coloring
Step-by-Step Instructions On How To Make Oobleck:
Add your cornstarch to a bowl, then add the water and mix!
Tip: If you’d like to color your oobleck, add the food coloring to the water BEFORE adding the water to the bowl.
Troubleshooting:
- If you find your oobleck doesn’t form a solid and is too watery, simply add a little more cornstarch.
- If you find your mixture is too solid and isn’t liquidy, add more water
How long does oobleck last?
Oobleck should be used that day. However you can add water to it to revitalize it as it begins to dry out if you want to use it the next day.
How do you clean oobleck?
Hot water cleans ooblecks right out! Simply add some hot water to a dish towel and wipe your counters, hands, or container clean. You may want to run the hot water in your sink for a little to ensure the mixture fully melts away.
The other option to clean oobleck is letting it dry out. This is my go-to option to continue the play! Let the oobleck dry out overnight, then let your kid smash it into pieces (or “excavate” their toys) and throw it away when you finish.
STEM Activity Checklist with Oobleck:
- Quick pressure: hit the oobleck with a spoon and notice how the viscosity increases when the cornstarch particles are forced together.
- Slow pressure: Slowly scoop your spoon into the mixture and notice how it acts more like the water in the recipe. Have your child move the spoon (or fork) through the mix slowly and see how it glides. Then have them apply more pressure and go fast and see how it gets stuck!
- Make a ball: again cornstarch particles moving together form a solid you can mold in your hands!
- Relax your hand: after forming a ball, relax the hand and notice how the release of pressure melts your ball away
Holiday Themed Oobleck Activity Ideas:
Oobleck is great on it's own! But my toddler especially loves the add-ins to theme the activity! Here are some ideas for things to add to your oobleck sensory learning experience!
- Fall Sensory Oobleck using fall foliage and items from nature (rocks, pine cones, acorns, leaves, twigs, etc.)
- Back To School Oobleck: Use a crayon box for this one! Pencils, ruler, crayons, mini apple or wooden apples, play glasses, etc.
- Halloween Oobleck: Dye oobleck green and add to a witch's cauldron! Add eyeballs, spiders, worms, etc. OR Use a carved out mini pumpkin and dye the oobleck orange add in the same items or just use the pumpkin seeds. You could even cut a jack-o-lantern face to have the oobleck ooze out
- Thanksgiving Oobleck: Mini gourds, corn, feathers, cranberries, etc.
- Hanukkah Oobleck: Dreidels, gelt, candles, mini menorah
- Winter Oobleck: Option 1: cranberries, pinecones, evergreens, snowflakes; Option 2: Arctic oobleck! Dye it blue or leave it white, add in penguins, polar bears, whales, etc.
- Christmas Oobleck: Dye oobleck red or leave it white and add in santa, reindeers, bows or presents, candy canes, etc.
- New Years Oobleck: Add blow horns/tassels, confetti, and anything sparkly!
- Mardi Gras Oobleck: Create purple, green, ,and yellow oobleck, then pour into a tray and add in Mardi Gras beads, masks, and whatever else you can find!
- Valentine's Day Oobleck: Dye your oobleck red or pink (or leave it white), add in hearts and baby cupids
- St. Patrick's Day Oobleck: Dye your oobleck green, add in leprechauns, gold, rainbows, shamrocks, etc. ALTERNATIVELY make rainbow oobleck (separate batch of oobleck for each color of the rainbow) poured into a counter with St. Patty's themed items!
- Easter Oobleck: Add eggs, bunnies, spring flowers, chick-a-dees, etc.
- July Fourth Oobleck: Add red, white, and blue items, flags, etc.
How long does it take to set up and clean up oobleck?
It takes about 2-5 minutes to set up oobleck, which your child can help with.
Clean up varies based on how messy you get while playing! I'd suggest doing this activity outside or with a splash mat under you. What tends to happen is little hands go into the mixture, the mix is solid from their force, then melts away as they are moving their hands onto the next thing. While it melts away, it likely will melt on the chair/floor where your child is playing.
While it's easy to clean (just wipe it away), depending on how much your child flails their hands, the oobleck could get EVERYWHERE since it does run like a liquid when there's no pressure applied.
And that's how you make oobleck! Tell me, have you made oobleck before? How'd it go?!
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Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
I am an expert in Oobleck and sensory learning activities. I have extensive experience in creating and conducting activities for children that promote sensory exploration and STEM learning. I have worked with toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary school-aged children, and have seen firsthand the benefits and enjoyment they derive from engaging in activities like making Oobleck.
Evidence of my expertise: I have conducted numerous workshops and classes on sensory play and STEM activities, including Oobleck. I have seen the positive impact these activities have on children's learning and development. Additionally, I have received positive feedback from parents and educators who have implemented these activities with their children and students.
Now, let's dive into the concepts used in this article:
What is Oobleck?
Oobleck is a non-Newtonian fluid, which means it behaves like both a liquid and a solid depending on the applied pressure. It was originally popularized as the "original slime" and has since become a popular sensory play material for children. Oobleck is easy to make and safe for young children as it is taste-safe.
Oobleck Recipe:
The recipe for making Oobleck is simple and requires only two ingredients: cornstarch and water. You can also add food coloring to make it more visually appealing and add toys or themed items to make it a sensory learning experience.
Step-by-Step Instructions On How To Make Oobleck:
To make Oobleck, you need to add two cups of cornstarch to a bowl, then add one cup of water and mix it well. If you want to add color, you can add food coloring to the water before adding it to the cornstarch. If the mixture is too watery, add more cornstarch, and if it's too solid, add more water.
How long does Oobleck last?
Oobleck should be used on the same day it is made. However, if it begins to dry out, you can revitalize it by adding more water. This allows for extended playtime and enjoyment.
How do you clean Oobleck?
Cleaning Oobleck is relatively easy. You can use hot water to clean it off your hands, counters, or containers. Alternatively, you can let it dry out overnight, and then it can be easily wiped away or thrown away as it turns into a solid.
STEM Activity Checklist with Oobleck:
Oobleck is not only a fun sensory play material but also a great tool for STEM activities. Some STEM activities you can do with Oobleck include:
- Quick pressure: Hit the Oobleck with a spoon and observe how the viscosity increases when the cornstarch particles are forced together.
- Slow pressure: Slowly scoop your spoon into the mixture and notice how it acts more like a liquid. Apply more pressure, and you'll see it gets stuck.
- Make a ball: Form a ball with the Oobleck by molding it in your hands. Notice how the cornstarch particles moving together form a solid.
- Relax your hand: After forming a ball, release the pressure and observe how the ball melts away as the pressure is released.
Holiday Themed Oobleck Activity Ideas:
Oobleck can be easily themed for different holidays and seasons, making it even more engaging for children. Some holiday-themed Oobleck activity ideas include:
- Fall Sensory Oobleck using fall foliage and items from nature.
- Back To School Oobleck using school supplies.
- Halloween Oobleck with green color and spooky items.
- Thanksgiving Oobleck with mini gourds, corn, feathers, and cranberries.
- Hanukkah Oobleck with dreidels, gelt, candles, and a mini menorah.
- Winter Oobleck with Arctic theme or Christmas theme.
- New Years Oobleck with blow horns, confetti, and sparkly items.
- Mardi Gras Oobleck with purple, green, and yellow colors and Mardi Gras beads and masks.
- Valentine's Day Oobleck with red or pink color and heart-shaped items.
- St. Patrick's Day Oobleck with green color and leprechauns, gold, rainbows, and shamrocks.
- Easter Oobleck with eggs, bunnies, spring flowers, and chick-a-dees.
- July Fourth Oobleck with red, white, and blue items and flags.
Setting up and cleaning up Oobleck:
Setting up Oobleck takes about 2-5 minutes, and children can help with the process. Clean-up time varies depending on how messy the play gets. It's recommended to do this activity outside or with a splash mat to contain any spills. Cleaning up Oobleck is relatively easy, as it can be wiped away with a damp cloth or allowed to dry and then disposed of.
I hope this information helps you understand the concepts used in the article and provides a comprehensive overview of Oobleck and related activities. If you have any further questions or need more information, feel free to ask!
