oobleck. what is it you ask?

never heard of it? why, let me tell you.

"oobleck is a non-Neutonian fluid. this means that when a small amount of
force is used, it acts like a liquid, but when more force is applied, it acts
like a solid. For instance, one can slowly put a spoon in Oobleck, but it is
impossible to stir it quickly. Another fun activity (though potentially messy!)
is to pour a little Oobleck in the palm of your hand and watch it puddle like a
liquid. Now make a fist and quickly open your hand. The Oobleck will have formed
a hard ball from the pressure of your fist; but when the pressure is release, it
will seem to "melt" into a liquid again. "

we were introduced to this silly concoction at a playgroup when ashlyn was little and have played with it many, many times since then. it's the PERFECT rainy day (or quiet day) activity....and i'm sure you have the ingredients in your cupboard right now. if not, you should definitely add them to the list. afterall, a box of cornstarch is less than $1 and the food coloring is optional.

you'll need:
1 cup of cornstarch
1/2 cup of water (tinted with 4 drops of food coloring --optional)
1 medium bowl
a spoon

here's how you do it......
1. dump 1 cup of cornstarch into the medium bowl.

2. pour in tinted water slowly.

3. keep pouring.

4. start stirring. it will seem difficult to stir and the top appears to always be liquid.

5. play, play, play. now the fun begins. you can't worry about your fingers getting messy in this project--don't sweat it....water washes the goop right away. afterall, it is only cornstarch. try to gather up a big glob of it. roll it quickly in your hands to form a ball. got your ball? now open up your hand and watch it melt to a puddle of gooooo. fun, fun stuff!

6. any drips will look super messy to clean up because they look "wet", but when you touch them you'll be surprised to find out that it cleans up super easily with soapy water and washes out of clothes by rinsing with water.

it is so interesting--a solid and liquid at the same time. to enhance your play experience even more, you might want to go to the library and check out the Dr. Seuss book, "Bartholemew and the Oobleck."

it's also the perfect sensory experience if you have an autistic child or one with sensory issues.

emma's favorite thing to do with it was make worms......hahahhaaa.


i'll share more rainy/quiet day activities throughout the week.