What is oobleck and how do you make it? This preschool activity is a fun cornstarch slime substance that can be made into any theme including Easter! Easter oobleck is a classic science activity that anyone can try. Perfect for all ages, it’s easy to make, cheap to set up, and non-toxic. We head to the kitchen cabinet for simple science every day.
HOW TO MAKE OOBLECK WITH CORNSTARCH
Let’s get right to making oobleck, or goo as it’s sometimes called. Oobleck with cornstarch and water is a classic science activity every kid needs to try. This two-ingredient recipe works for toddlers and adults. It’s perfect for borax-free fun.
Head to the kitchen, open the cupboards or pantry, and be prepared to get messy. Your hands are the best mixing tools!
This Easter oobleck experiment explores the question: What are the properties of a non-Newtonian Fluid?
EASTER OOBLECK RECIPE
You may want to keep extra cornstarch on hand all year round. Oobleck is the perfect simple science activity to transform into many unique holiday and season themes. If you like slimy textures, we have plenty of Easter slime recipes, too.
YOU WILL NEED:
- 1-1.5 Cups of Cornstarch
- 1 Cup Water
- Food Coloring (optional)
- Tray, Bowl, and Spoon
- Measuring Cups
- Plastic Eggs
HOW TO MAKE OOBLECK:
Oobleck is a combination of cornstarch and water. You will want to keep additional cornstarch on hand if you need to thicken the mixture. Generally, the oobleck recipe is a 1:1 ratio, so one cup of water and one cup of cornstarch, but I will often add an additional 1/2 cup of cornstarch.
Since this rainbow oobleck activity calls for quite a few colors, you can also make smaller batches!
STEP 1: Add the cornstarch to your bowl or baking dish. If you prefer, you can start mixing the oatmeal in a bowl and then transfer it to a baking dish.
STEP 3: You can start mixing up your oobleck with a spoon, but I guarantee you will need to get your hands in there at some point during the mixing process.
STEP 4: Transfer the mixture to a tray and add the plastic eggs for play!
GET THE RIGHT CONSISTENCY
There is a gray area for the right oobleck consistency. First, you don’t want it to be very crumbly, but you also don’t want it to be very soupy either. If you have a reluctant kiddo, hand them a spoon to start! Let them warm up to the idea of this squishy substance. Never force them to touch it though.
The perfect consistency for oobleck is when you can pick up a clump in your hand, form it into a ball of sorts, and then watch it flow like a liquid back into the pan or bowl.
Once you have your oobleck mixed to the desired consistency, you can add your accessories as desired and play!
CLASSROOM TIPS
This oobleck activity can get pretty messy so be prepared with appropriate clothing and cover tables if necessary. If you have kiddos who like to taste their materials, oobleck is a great alternative to traditional slime for taste-safe play.
Can you make oobleck with baking soda or flour? This would be a great way to experiment with different materials, make comparisons, and draw conclusions!
WHAT IS OOBLECK?
Oobleck is a fun substance to play with which is made from cornstarch and water. It’s a bit messy too!
It is a great example of a mixture! A mixture is a material made up of two or more substances combined together to form a new material and that can be separated again. Do you think the oobleck mixture could be separated into cornflour and water again? How?
Try leaving a tray of oobleck out for a few days. What happens to the oobleck? Where do you think the water has gone?
This oobleck activity is also a great way to explore the properties of liquids and solids, know as the states of matter. Here we are combining a liquid and a solid, but the mixture doesn’t become one or the other. A solid has its own shape whereas a liquid will take the shape of the container it is put into. Oobleck is a bit of both!
That’s why oobleck is called a non-Newtonian fluid. This means it is neither a liquid nor a solid but has properties of both! You can pick up a clump of the substance like a solid and then watch it ooze back into the bowl like a liquid. Touch the surface lightly and it will feel firm and solid. If you apply more pressure, your fingers will sink into it like a liquid.
Is oobleck a solid?
Or is oobleck a liquid?
Did you know that cornstarch is a polymer? Polymers have long chains that make them up (like the glue used in slime). When these chains get tangled up, they create more of a solid!
MAKE IT AN EXPERIMENT
Want to experiment with viscosity? Change the ratio of water to cornstarch! Viscosity is the physical property of fluids, including how thick or thin they are and how they flow.
- What happens when you add more cornstarch? Does the oobleck become thicker or thinner?
- What happens when you add more water? Does it flow faster or slower?
Can you make oobleck without cornstarch?
You could try making oobleck with flour, powder, or baking soda and compare the similarities and differences.
We tried an oobleck experiment of our own using just cornstarch and glue. Find out what happened —> OOBLECK SLIME
i loved your project!!! And your idea to to make it Easter themed. Therefore, I was wondering where you got the Easter eggs that are shown in your pictures.