How to Make Oobleck (Easy Science Experiments)

Did you know that sometimes something can be considered both a liquid and a solid?  Seems impossible, but it’s true! Scientists call this non-Newtonian fluid and Oobleck (pronounced eww-bleck) is a perfect substance to demonstrate this non-Newtonian fluid in action…plus, it’s great for making our Stress balls!  

Fun Fact: Quicksand is also a non-Newtonian fluid, just like oobleck and can be found in nature. Yikes!

So... What Is Oobleck?

Oobleck is a super neat substance that has properties of both a liquid and solid. If you slowly dip your hand into your Oobleck it will act like a liquid, but if you squeeze the Oobleck quickly - or punch it, it will quickly react and act like a solid. The name Oobleck comes from the Dr. Seuss book, “Bartholomew and the Oobleck.” (You’re welcome. That fact was a freebee.)

Cool!  So, How Do I Make Them?

This is where it gets fun!  Now it's time to mix a bit of science with oobleck making awesomeness.  To make your own Oobleck Stress Balls, we will need to combine a few ingredients...

Let's get started with what you need for your own “Glow in the Dark Oobleck Stress Balls”!!

1.       Cornstarch

2.   Liquid Measuring Cup

3.   Water Bottles full of water:  *You will be using both the water and the bottles* 😊

4.   Clear Balloons

5.   Glass Bowls for Mixing.

6.   Glow in the Dark Pigments (We found ours off Amazon).

Now, let’s get started!  The first thing we are going to do is make our Oobleck.  To do this we are going to pour our cornstarch into a bowl. Next, it’s time to turn our cornstarch into Oobleck magic with some glow in the dark pigments.  *This step is optional. * To make our Oobleck glow in the dark, we are going to add one packet of our glow in the dark pigment color, and then mix it all together.

Ready for that non-Newtonian fluid we told you about earlier?  Here we go!  Now that our color is mixed with our cornstarch, we are going to need to add some water and mix it with our cornstarch.  You will want to add your water a little at a time, so your cornstarch is watery, but not too runny.

Once your science goo is ready to go, it’s time to pour it into your water bottles! This can get a little messy, but that’s part of the fun!  This is going to make it easy to get your Oobleck into your balloons.

Now that your water bottles are full of Oobleck, you will need take your mix and pour it slowly into your balloons!  Then to finish it off, you’ll need to tie your balloon and cut off the end. 

Want to make your stress ball extra secure?  Put your completed balloon into another balloon so you can squeeze your new stress ball without any unwanted explosions!  Trust us, we have done that before, and it wasn’t pretty.

So now that you know how it works, join in on the fun at home and laugh along while The Wild Adventure Girls create Glow in the Dark Oobleck Stress Ball squishyness!

Will Angelina, Annabella and Scarlett become so relaxed by their Glow Stress Balls that they will no longer film another episode?  Tune is to see what happens when The Wild Adventure girls explore the world of science and Oobleck Stress Balls!

Learn How to Make Edible Starbucks Slime Here!

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