How to make Oobleck Recipe for Sensory Play and Hands-On Learning - Kid Activities with Alexa (2024)

FAQs

How to make oobleck step by step? ›

OOBLECK is made entirely out of food products so when a toddler decides to explore by tasting it is perfectly fine! OOBLECK encourages young children to pinch, pour, scrape and poke exercising their fine motor skills using simple tools or by getting their hands dirty!

In small groups, make a bowl of oobleck: a. Put 1 cup of cornstarch in a bowl and add 1-2 drops of food coloring (optional). b. Slowly add up to ¾ cup water while mixing, until all the cornstarch is wet.

Generally, it's a 2 to 1 ratio of cornstarch to water (so 1 cup of cornstarch + 1/2 cup of water). Add in food coloring to your water, but that's totally optional and your preference. Stir to combine and like magic: the oobleck will form before your eyes.

Ask your child to hit the oobleck with a utensil and observe the utensil bounce back as the oobleck hardens appearing solid. Ask your child why they think this happens. Move the spoon slowly and it will dip into the oobleck making the particles move away slowly like a liquid.

Oobleck is a completely mesmerizing material for kids to touch and play with. Since it's just cornstarch and water (plus any color you want to add), it's super easy and inexpensive to make. It's also taste safe and non toxic, making it a great sensory play material for babies and toddlers.

Making Oobleck is really easy– simply mix cornstarch and water in a bowl. Be sure to measure a 2:1 ratio of ingredients. For example, 2 cups of cornstarch and 1 cup of water. Once mixed, experiment by applying different levels of force to the substance!

Learning Goals

Students will understand that solids, liquids are forms of matter. Students will have concrete experiences with solids, liquids. Students will explore and observe Oobleck.

Oobleck lasts for a couple of days – just add a little water to the mixture to reactivate it. It can pick up fluff and dirt, so we wouldn't recommend using it beyond this time or playing with it if it's become grimy.

Oobleck is a non-Newtonian fluid; it has properties of both liquids and solids. You can slowly dip your hand into it like a liquid, but if you squeeze the oobleck or punch it, it will feel solid.

What are some fun facts about oobleck? ›

Oobleck isn't like most solids or liquids—it is a non-Newtonian fluid. Cornstarch is made up of very small particles (try looking at it with a magnifying glass). When you press it quickly, it acts more like solid. But if you press it more slowly or even pour it, it acts like a liquid.

To make oobleck without cornstarch, mix together 1 part room-temperature water with 2 parts arrowroot or tapioca powder. You can also use baby powder if cornstarch is listed as an ingredient, or you can try using potato starch.

Good thing oobleck is taste safe!

Oobleck is taste safe – since it's just corn starch and water, but still keep a close eye on baby during this activity. This easy baby sensory activity was perfect for my baby (and for me).

Oobleck doesn't quite follow the rules, this suspension only behaves as a fluid some of the time. For this reason oobleck is known as a non-Newtonian Fluid. If you apply a force to it by smacking or squeezing it this fluid will become a solid.

All you need then is a packet of cornflour and some water – that's it! It really is that simple. You could add a drop of food colouring too if you'd like to give your gloop a splash of colour. Top tip: You might want to put down a towel or sheet beneath the bowl to catch the splashes before you start mixing!

Made from a basic mix of approximately 2 parts cornflour to 1 part water, Oobleck can teach children scientific skills of observation and prediction. It is also a fantastic way to introduce children to basic concepts of matter.

From ages 12 months old to 12 years old, oobleck is a crowd pleaser. And since it's taste safe, even our tabies can play too! Mix, mix, mix and oh my goodness: you've got oobleck. For this activity in the photos, I made FOUR colors of oobleck.

Making rainbow oobleck

This is one of our favourite things to do with oobleck, and it's so easy to set up. All you need is some food colouring (we recommend using liquid food colouring for this activity) and a bowl or container for the oobleck. To make the rainbow, simply use this easy rainbow oobleck recipe.

While kids are playing with oobleck, we like to have a large bowl of warm water nearby for the fickle types who are completely entranced with it one second, and convulsing for you to get it off their hands the next. The oobleck will literally just dissolve away with a quick dunk in the water!

Oobleck liquid will only last for a few hours if left out. Eventually, it will become dry. If you want it to last a little longer, then store it in an airtight container and place it in the refrigerator.

What causes oobleck to harden? ›

When cornstarch mixes with water, the starch does not dissolve, but remains in suspension. Move the mixture slowly, and the particles slide past each other. Move it quickly, and the particles tangle with each other so that the mixture hardens.

Leave the container in a warm area to dry for 2-3 days. * When the oobleck gets dry and starts to crack, your dig site is ready to be excavated! *You can also put the oobleck in an oven-proof dish and place it in the oven on the lowest heat setting for 2-3 hours.

If it's too liquid, add some more cornflour. The oobleck is ready when the mixture is thick and fluid, but starts to tear if stirred fast. The oobleck can dry out as you play with it. If this happens, simply add a few drops of water to loosen it.