Have you ever made Oobleck? It’s a really unusual project that kids will love! Not only is it fun to make and good for sensory play, but it is also a science experiment and can be both a liquid AND a solid!

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What is Oobleck?

Oobleck is a non-Newtonian fluid. What does that mean? That means it 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 it will ooze out of your hands.

The name comes from the Dr. Seuss book “Bartholomew and the Oobleck” where a green and gooey substance, Oobleck, fell from the sky and wreaked havoc in the kingdom.

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How to Make Oobleck

Ingredients:

• 1 cup water
• 1.5-2 cups cornflour (corn starch)
• Food colouring (optional)

What to Do:

1. Put the water in a bowl and start adding the cornflour to it, stirring with a spoon to start with but you’ll need to use your hands to mix it eventually as it gets thicker and thicker.
2. When you have added the 1.5 cups of cornflour, start adding it more slowly. You want a consistency where the oobleck is liquid but solid at the same time.
3. If you add too much cornflour just add some more water.
4. When you’re happy with the consistency add a few drops of food colouring and mix with your hands.
5. Now your child can have a good old play with it!

Things to Try with Oobleck

• Grab a handful, squeeze it and then let it ooze out of your fingers.
• Drag your fingers through it.
• Roll some oobleck into a solid ball but when you stop moving it, it will melt back into liquid in your hand.
• Jab at the oobleck then slowly let your finger sink in.

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