Summer Science Oobleck! Is it a solid or a liquid?  Oobleck is the most unique and entertaining substance you will ever play with.  It’s a solid and a liquid and provides entertainment for hours!  With just a few simple ingredients your kids will have a blast playing with this funny mess of Summer Science OOBLECK!

This week we will be doing Summer Science Oobleck!  No there is not a huge lesson with this but talk with your kids about solids and liquids. Ask them before you make it what they think it will be like.  Summer Science Oobleck is about asking questions and making predictions on outcomes while also making a fun mess.  Ask them questions like what else goes from a solid to a liquid or liquid to solid?

If you have a little bit older kids you can try explaining Oobleck to them.  Oobleck is considered a non-Newtonian fluid, which means it is a liquid whose viscosity changes depending on the amount of pressure.   Viscosity is a word that measures the friction in a liquid and defines how fast or slow a liquid flows.   Most liquids like water and honey have a consistent viscosity because they will flow the same no matter what pressure is applied.  Oobleck is different because if you squeeze it it will form a solid but if left alone it will run off your fingers like a liquid.  Because it changes from a liquid to a solid and back it is considered a non-Newtonian fluid.

What you will need:

• 1 cup water
• 1 ½ – 2 cups corn starch
• Food coloring (optional)

Directions:

1. Pour water into a bowl.
2. Put a few drops of food coloring in if you want.
3. Dump in about 1 cup corn starch and mix, it is easiest to mix with your hands.
4. Slowly add more corn starch in until your oobleck is stiff when you try to roll it in your hands.  I used slightly under 2 cups.
5. Play!  Try making a ball out of it, splash it around, smack it, drip it, have your kids play around with oobleck trying to figure out why it is a solid sometimes and a liquid others.