Oobleck

Oobleck

Skills

measuring

observation

communication

comparing

Materials

(per person)

corn starch

water

resealable quart size plastic bags

measuring spoons

optional - food coloring

Adult Alert - this activity can be quite messy! You will want to cover the table top with newspaper and provide for hand washing.

Doing the Activity

Open your plastic bag and add 1 tablespoon and one teaspoon of water.

Measure 2 tablespoons of corn starch and add to the water in the plastic bag. If you would like, add two drops of food coloring to the bag before sealing the bag.

Seal the plastic bag and mix the corn starch and water. Try shaking and kneading the plastic bag.

Look at the substance in your bag and make some observations about it. What do you see? What does it look like?

Open the top of your bag and touch the substance. What does it feel like? Does it feel like anything that you have touched before?

Talking it over

What uses do you think there could be for this substance?

What would you name this substance?

What's Happening

Some materials don't quite fit our normal notions of solid, liquid, and gas. A suspension such as Oobleck is one. It behaves like a liquid in some ways, but it also has properties of a solid. Silly putty, quick sand, and glass are some other exampl es of strange substances. The molecular bonds are stronger than in a normal liquid, but not as strong as in a solid.

More Challenges

Read the story Bartholomew and Oobleck by Dr. Suess.

Activity Source

Sneider, Cary L. (1985). Oobleck: What Do Scientists Do? Great Explorations in Mathematics and Science Curriculum: Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California at Berkeley.

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
University Extension

Site contact
E-SET ISU Extension Extension Sites Search

NNST CYFERNet

	Oobleck
	Skills measuring observation communication comparing
	Materials (per person) corn starch water resealable quart size plastic bags measuring spoons optional - food coloring
	Adult Alert - this activity can be quite messy! You will want to cover the table top with newspaper and provide for hand washing.
	Doing the Activity Open your plastic bag and add 1 tablespoon and one teaspoon of water. Measure 2 tablespoons of corn starch and add to the water in the plastic bag. If you would like, add two drops of food coloring to the bag before sealing the bag. Seal the plastic bag and mix the corn starch and water. Try shaking and kneading the plastic bag. Look at the substance in your bag and make some observations about it. What do you see? What does it look like? Open the top of your bag and touch the substance. What does it feel like? Does it feel like anything that you have touched before?
	Talking it over What uses do you think there could be for this substance? What would you name this substance?
	What's Happening Some materials don't quite fit our normal notions of solid, liquid, and gas. A suspension such as Oobleck is one. It behaves like a liquid in some ways, but it also has properties of a solid. Silly putty, quick sand, and glass are some other exampl es of strange substances. The molecular bonds are stronger than in a normal liquid, but not as strong as in a solid.
	More Challenges Read the story Bartholomew and Oobleck by Dr. Suess.
	Activity Source Sneider, Cary L. (1985). Oobleck: What Do Scientists Do? Great Explorations in Mathematics and Science Curriculum: Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California at Berkeley.