In chemistry oobleck is what is known as a colloid, a substance in which small particles of one substance are suspended throughout another substance but not chemically bonded. Because the viscosity changes, it is classified as a non-Newtonian fluid.

If you apply pressure to it, it forms a solid, loosen the pressure and it melt back into a liquid. Oobleck on the other hand does not have consistent viscosity. Most liquids have what we call consistent viscosity, for instance honey and water will always flow the same no matter how you pour or press them. Viscosity is the measure of friction in a liquid and determines how fast or slow a liquid flows. Oobleck is a non-Newtonian fluid, a fancy term for a liquid whose viscosity changes depending on pressure. To get a taste of the fun you can have with oobleck check out this video:īefore we start let’s talk about just what oobleck is. I’ve had students shake their heads when asked to dip their hands into this weird substance, but poking and prodding at it with a spoon sometimes gives them the confidence they need to finally dip in a finger into the oobleck. Once it is mixed, introduce kitchen objects like spoons, colanders, and sieves for them to play with.įor kids who don’t like to get messy I recommend having large spoons, aprons, and possibly gloves nearby so that they can participate in the fun at their own pace. I highly recommend making a HUGE batch of oobleck with kids in a large shallow bin.

It’s wonderful to engage kids in making the oobleck it gives them a chance to touch and feel the cornstarch before it’s mixed with the water and then to observe how it changes as water is introduced. I have seen kids play with it for long periods of time, fascinated with its texture and consistency. Oobleck is by far my students’ favorite sensory activity.

I chose it because it’s no fail and always a hit I mean really, who can resist a slippery, gooey substance that forms a ball when you squish it together but quickly melts into a liquid when you let go? Oobleck: The best sensory play recipe! Say the word OOBLECK (or goop) in my house and my daughter will come running! Oobleck was actually the very first science experiment I tried when I was the science parent at our co-op preschool years ago.

Doctor seuss oobleck