How to Make Oobleck With Borax

Oobleck is a wonderfully messy craft project that doubles as a great scientific learning experience. Taken from Dr. Seuss's book, "Bartholomew and the Oobleck," about a similar slimy goo that covers an entire kingdom, oobleck is a jelly-like substance that acts as both a solid and a liquid. It's easy to make and even more fun to squish, smash and squeeze.

Oobleck is non-Newtonian, which means when you touch it with a small amount of pressure, it acts like a liquid, but when you use a greater amount of force, it acts like a solid. For example, you can stick your finger slowly into oobleck, but you can't quickly swirl your finger around in it. The recipe below calls for liquid Borax, which you can find in the laundry detergent section at your local grocery store.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1 cup water 1/2 cup white school glue 1/2 cup liquid Borax 1 large mixing bowl or disposable container 1 small mixing bowl or disposable container Spoon for mixing Newspaper Old clothes or smocks to protect clothing Green food coloring (optional)

1. Cover your work space and the floor below it with a layer of newspaper. Wear old clothes or a smock in case you splash some of the oobleck on yourself.

2. Pour 1/2 cup water into your large mixing bowl or disposable plastic container. To create the green oobleck similar to the slime featured in Dr. Seuss's book, add a few drops of green food coloring to the water and stir.

3. Add 1/2 cup of white school glue to the water solution and stir until completely mixed.

4. In the small mixing bowl or disposable container, combine 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 cup of liquid Borax and stir until completely mixed.

5. Slowly pour the water and Borax mixture into the glue and water mixture. Stir or knead the mixture until it forms a slippery glob. Remove the oobleck from your container and notice the contrasts from liquid to solid as you move it around in your hand.

Tips & Warnings

• Before you begin this experiment with kids, read "Bartholomew and the Oobleck" by Dr. Seuss. If you can't find liquid Borax, you can use the powder form. To create liquid Borax from powder, dissolve 1 tbsp. of Borax powder into 1 cup of water. If you have difficulty creating the final product, add a small amount of Borax at a time until you reach the desired texture. When stored in tightly sealed containers, oobleck can be enjoyed for several months.
• Wash your hands after using oobleck. While not poisonous, it has a bitter taste and should not be ingested. If you use the food coloring, oobleck may stain your hands. The stains should fade after a few days. Soak bowls and utensils in warm, soapy water to dissolve any remaining Oobleck. Oobleck may clog drains, so don't pour it down the sink, and use caution when you dispose of it.

Resources

• "Bartholomew and the Oobleck" by Dr. Seuss