Teaching science is easier when you incorporate physical or tactile learning for your students. One way to help students understand the scientific properties of solutions is to make Oobleck. Oobleck can be made with ingredients found in most kitchen cupboards. Oobleck helps kids explore properties of liquids, solutions and solids by creating a colloid or a mixture of two or more substances which appears solid, but are not. To further the experiment, and the fun, add different substances to help children understand colloids better.
Ingredients:
- Newspapers
- Measuring spoons and cups
- Small cups, bowls or small zipper storage bags
- 1 ½ cup Corn starch for each participant
- 1 cup Water for each participant
- Wooden sticks or spoons for stirring
- Food coloring (optional)
- Flour (optional)
- Powdered Sugar (optional)
- Baking Powder (optional)
Basic Directions
- Lay out newspaper on a table since making Oobleck can be messy. Give each student something to measure ingredients into such as paper cup or small bowl and something to stir with like a wooden stick. You can also use a zipper storage bag and have students measure into the bag if you would like to have a little less mess. You will not need wooden sticks if you choose to use zipper bags.
- Let each child measure out 1 ½ cups of cornstarch into their bowl. Let students explore the cornstarch. Ask them for a description of the plain cornstarch-what does it feel, smell, and look like.
- Ask the students to measure out 1 cup of water. Ask them to slowly add the water to the cornstarch and to stir the two substances together. Let the students explore the colloid with a spoon or wooden stick and with their fingers. Ask them to describe what happens to the mixture when they touch or smack it. What happens if they put it on the newspaper or try to pick it up. Can they make it into something like a ball or line? Ask them what they could make out of Oobleck?
- Have the students add food coloring to the mixture. Ask the children to explain the changes they see in the solution. Explain the science of Oobleck to the students such as what is a colloid. Ask them if they can think of any other colloids. Explain that quicksand and gelatins are both colloids.
- Ask students to guess (make hypotheses) about different substances such as powdered sugar and flour. Have the students experiment with other substances to see if they can get the same or a different effect. According to David Crowther and Ryan Ross from the University of Nevada, you can then explain the science of solutions, suspensions, emulsions and immiscible liquids to students.
Tip
Read the story of “Bartholomew and Oobleck” by Dr. Seuss before starting the experiment to prepare students. Have them hypothesize how to make Oobleck before you begin experimenting.