How to Make Oobleck

DIY Oobleck. With only 2 ingredients needed you can make Oobleck at home! This fun hands on science is one that the kids will love and it is perfect for playing and teaching kids about non-Newtonian fluids.

DIY Oobleck Recipe

If you are looking for something super fun to do with the kids then you want to make Oobleck. Oobleck is a gooey substance that sometimes has a semi-solid form and sometimes a liquid form depending on how it is being moved and handled. This Oobleck recipe is super easy to make with ingredients you most likely already have in your pantry!

The kids will enjoy making this Oobleck recipe and then will also enjoy seeing the different ways it moves and feels when it is handled in different ways.

What is oobleck?

Oobleck is a non-Newtonian fluid, that changes its texture and shape depending on how it is being played with and the pressure that is put on it. Oobleck is a pressure-dependent substance so as you play with it in different ways then it will change the way it feels and looks.

When playing with the Oobleck, you can pour it out of a glass or mug and it will be in a liquid state. If you put it in a mug and then push your fingers in it it will change into a more solid substance. If you put it on the table and push on it you get a squishy texture. This stuff is super cool and makes a great science experiment for kids.

Technically, oobleck is a ‘Suspension’, which means the starch molecules do not dissolve in the water when it is mixed. The molecules stay suspended in the water because the starch molecules trap the water molecules and that makes the mixture stable.

How does Oobleck work?

Oobleck works similar to water with temperature but instead of temperature changing the way it looks and feels, pressure changes the way it looks and feels. More pressure on it and it acts like a solid, less pressure on it and it works like a liquid. Changing the pressure and different amounts of pressure in between will make it act like a semi-solid, it will move in different ways depending on the pressure that is put on it.

When you dip your fingers into the mixture, you feel it as a liquid and when you apply pressure by squeezing it, you feel it as a solid. As you play with it differently you will be able to see the different ways it moves.

What is the best ratio of cornstarch to water?

We have found the best ratio is 1 ½ cups Cornstarch and 3/4 cup of water. You can totally make a larger batch then the one we have made by doubling or tripling the ingredients.

Do I need to use food coloring?

No you do not, however, my kids love colors so we use food coloring to make it colorful. You can use any color food coloring that you want.

How long does Oobleck last?

This homemade Oobleck will last for about a day. It is best to make it, play with it, and then discard it. If the kids want more another day it is best to make a new batch.

How to Play with Oobleck

There are lots of different ways that you can play with Oobleck and see the different ways that it moves.

• Put your hands in the oobleck and form it into a ball, then loosen your hands and watch it melt thru your fingers.
• Use a spoon and tap it quickly to see how it responds to being tapped. It will give off the appearance of being a solid because of the pressure.
• Push a potato masher into the bowl of oobleck and see how it changes its shape with the different amounts of pressure put on it.
• Put a spoon into the mixture slowly and it will move so that you can dip the spoon into it.

Can I make it holiday themed?

Yes! While this is a fun experiment to do just because it is also easy to make it holiday themed. If you are making this as a holiday activity use colors that go with the holiday and you can even add in toys and little items to see how they act when they are used with it.

• Halloween: Add plastic spiders and plastic eyeballs and compare how they move in it based on their shapes.
• Christmas: Plastic Christmas trees and Christmas figures.
• Valentine’s Day: Plastic hearts and colored beads.

Oobleck Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups Cornstarch
• ¾ cups Water
• 2-3 drops Gel Food Coloring (optional)

How to Make Oobleck

Combine cornstarch and water, mixing until well combined.

Add food coloring and stir until mixed.

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