Move over slime! The hottest trend now among kids is making oobleck. What is oobleck?
It’s an odd name isn’t it? When my 10-year-old son told me he wanted to make oobleck, I was baffled – I hadn’t heard of this name before.
What is Oobleck?
Oobleck is a non-Newtonian fluid; it has properties of both liquids and solids. Oobleck is neither a liquid or a solid. The cornstarch-and-water mixture creates a fluid that acts more like quicksand than water. When you apply force, like squeezing or tapping the oobleck, it will become thicker.
How do you make oobleck?
- Place 1 cup of cornstarch in a large bowl.
- Stir about 1/3 cup of water to the cornstarch, adding a little more if needed (to about ½ cup)
- Add 4-5 drops of food coloring to 1/2 cup of water if you want a colour
- Keep stirring with your hands until it has a gooey consistency
- Test the oobleck by grabbing a handful and trying to form a ball.
Why do kids like oobleck?
It makes a great science project or is just fun to play with. You can slowly dip your hand into it like a liquid, but if you squeeze the oobleck or punch it, it will feel solid.
Kids will have a ton of fun playing with oobleck. Make sure to lay out some newspaper or wax paper on a table before starting – the corn starch will get everywhere!
