Learn how to make Oobleck using this simple Oobleck Recipe. This post includes a non Newtonian Fluid Recipe that is one of the coolest science experiments for kids. It’s an exercise in Non-Newtonian fluids, but it’s also tons of fun to squish and play with. If you’re looking for a totally cool Oobleck recipe for kids of all ages (including those at heart) , you’re going to love this!
Crush the oobleck and it turns into a hard ball in your hands. But release your hand, and the oobleck oozes out like slime!
This time, we made our Non Newtonian fluid recipeeven more fun by making it in bright colors and using utensils that bring the experiment to life!
Make the wild oobleck with the colors we did, yellow, orange, blue, and pink, or pick your own favorite colors to try!
Just be careful, it’s easy to end up with brown goo if you add too many colors at once.
How To Make Oobleck
Making oobleck is one of our favorite science activities. It’s similar to slime in that it’s a fun sensory experience, but it’s even more fun because it has properties of a liquid and a solid. Non-Newtonian fluids are a lot of fun to play with, and this version is so colorful you can’t help but love it!
We make this and play with it all times of the year and it’s always a ton of fun. It’s a great sensory activity for children that never gets old.
While it might be just a little bit messy (okay, maybe a lot..), it’s worth it every single time. The kids play with this for hours and always have a ton of fun.
Is oobleck a solid or a liquid?
This is what makes this Non Newtonian Fluid Oobleck Recipe so cool! It’s actually a combination of both a solid and a liquid and that’s just part of the fun appeal!
What is a non newtonian fluid?
If you’re a science fan, you’ve probably heard of non newtonian fluid. A non newtonian fluid is one that doesn’t follow the laws and rules of Newton’s viscosity. In fact, it means that it changes shape and structure to be either a liquid or a solid.
Oobleck Recipe
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Oobleck recipe ingredients:
- Cornstarch
- Water
- Gel food coloring
- Large tray
- Colanders for play I have and love these (or use a strawberry basket that you may already have on hand.)
- Fork
- Spoon
- Wire Whisk that you may already have at home (optional)
- 4 Mixing bowls
You will need 4 bowls for this activity.
In each bowl, add:
- 1 cup of corn starch
- A squirt of food coloring
- Water
Add just enough water so that the cornstarch mixes, but not enough that it’s runny. If you have trouble stirring it, but it oozes back together once you remove the fork, it’s a perfect consistency. This part takes a little experimentation to get it right. Add your oobleck to the tray and play!
You can watch this video to learn more about how to make oobleck:
I don’t always use food coloring when making Oobleck. You can check out my post on how to make goop with cornstarch and water post to see what it looks like.
Who knew that mixing cornstarch and water (and a few other ingredients!) could be so much fun! If you are looking for more ways to incorporate oobleck, check out
See what happens when you place the oobleck on different objects, like forks, spoons, slotted spoons, colanders, and anything else you have lying around.
Using different objects will show your children how it moves from item to item. Use this as an opportunity to talk about how objects can mold and change shape easily when they need to. Think of it like an oobleck experiment and talk about the different and various outcomes.
You can even have your children write down their hypotheses and what they think will happen and then compare their notes to watch actually happens as well. This oobleck Science experiment allows you to take into consideration many fun ideas and see which ones are true.
But be warned, this oobleck recipe is extremely messy. You may want to do this activity outside.
This cornstarch and water experiment can also be used to discuss the color mixing theory. The oobleck colors mix quickly, so be careful not to add too much or you’ll end up with a brown goo. If you want to avoid this altogether, just stick to playing with one color at a time, or max two colors.
Can you get the colorful oobleck to combine and make secondary colors? What other colors can you make?
I hope you try this recipe and learned how to make oobleck. It really is something worth checking out. One of the best parts of making slime is the estimation of ingredients and learning how to get it to the right consistency. Teach your kids how to make oobleck and they can estimate how much water vs cornstarch to put in too!
Also, check out our fun science experiments for kids or create some calm down jars.
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Now, let's discuss the concepts mentioned in the article about making Oobleck using a simple Oobleck recipe.
Oobleck Recipe and Non-Newtonian Fluids
The article discusses a recipe for making Oobleck, which is a non-Newtonian fluid. Oobleck is a mixture of cornstarch, water, and food coloring. It has properties of both a liquid and a solid, making it a fascinating substance to play with.
Non-Newtonian fluids are substances that do not follow the laws and rules of Newton's viscosity. Unlike Newtonian fluids, which have a constant viscosity regardless of the applied force, non-Newtonian fluids can change their shape and structure to behave either as a liquid or a solid. Oobleck is an example of a non-Newtonian fluid.
Making Oobleck
To make Oobleck, you will need the following ingredients and materials:
- Cornstarch
- Water
- Gel food coloring
- Large tray
- Colanders or a strawberry basket
- Fork
- Spoon
- Wire whisk (optional)
- 4 mixing bowls
Here's a step-by-step guide to making Oobleck using the recipe mentioned in the article:
- In each of the 4 mixing bowls, add 1 cup of cornstarch.
- Add a squirt of gel food coloring to each bowl.
- Add water to each bowl, enough to allow the cornstarch to mix but not so much that it becomes runny. The consistency should be such that it oozes back together once you remove the fork.
- Experiment with the amount of water to achieve the desired consistency.
- Add the Oobleck to the large tray and start playing with it!
The article suggests using different utensils and objects to interact with the Oobleck, such as forks, spoons, slotted spoons, and colanders. This allows you to observe how the Oobleck moves and changes shape when in contact with different objects.
Exploring Oobleck
Playing with Oobleck provides a great opportunity for learning and exploration. Here are some ideas mentioned in the article:
- Observing how Oobleck moves: Use different objects and observe how the Oobleck moves from item to item. This can help children understand how objects can mold and change shape easily.
- Hypothesis and experimentation: Encourage children to write down their hypotheses and predictions about what will happen when interacting with the Oobleck. Then, compare their notes with the actual outcomes. This can foster critical thinking and scientific inquiry.
- Color mixing: The article mentions that adding too many colors at once can result in brown goo. However, you can still explore color mixing by using one color at a time or combining two colors to create secondary colors. This can be a fun way to learn about color theory.
Conclusion
Making Oobleck using the provided recipe is a fun and educational science experiment for kids (and kids at heart). It allows you to explore the properties of non-Newtonian fluids and provides a sensory experience that combines elements of both liquids and solids. Just remember to be prepared for some messiness and enjoy the process of squishing and playing with Oobleck!
If you have any more questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask!
