Ideas for Using Oobleck in the Classroom

King Derwin tires of the rain.

Dr. Seuss's long loved book "Bartholomew and the Oobleck" was published in 1949 by Random House. It teaches readers the dangers of greed, the importance of apology, and to be careful what you wish for. The story is about a young page boy, Bartholomew, who suffers as King Derwin tires of the weather and orders something new to fall from the sky. What seemed like a good idea at first quickly turns to disaster, leaving Bartholomew to convince the King of his mistake. Teachers often use the book as a literature-based discussion on social questions, but also a cross curriculum unit incorporating reading, writing, math, and science.

Reading

Reading aloud is fun for everyone.

"Bartholomew and the Oobleck" is a wonderfully tongue-twisting read aloud. The illustrations help expand on the problems with the confounding Oobleck, and the story and rhyme is complex enough for even older elementary and middle school audiences.

Writing

Write letters warning King Derwin.

Have students write letters to Bartholomew or King Derwin warning them of the dangers of oobleck. Or use the story as a basis for writing story lines for other characters in the book, and how the oobleck affected them.

Math

Measure ingredients to find the perfect recipe.

Making oobleck is a good lesson in math and measurement. Using corn starch, water and green food coloring, your students can make quite a mess of their own. Have them carefully measure two cups of cornstarch into a tub, and add 1 cup of water. They can mix it with their hands, and turn it quickly into a gloppy oobleck. Add a drop of green food coloring, and mix more. What happens if you add another half cup of water? What happens if you add another quarter cup of cornstarch? Have students write the perfect proportions for making oobleck. Vary the recipe by table to compare and contrast.

Science

Luckily oobleck cleans up easily.

Oobleck made from cornstarch and water is a polymer. Polymers react differently to pressure, and behave both as a liquid and a solid. Have students observe what qualities the oobleck has that makes it a polymer. Experiment with different objects placed in the oobleck, trying to move those objects through the oobleck. Hypothesize how the people of the Kingdom of Didd could have removed the oobleck from their homes and bodies if King Derwin hadn't fixed it himself. Have them hypothesize the best way to clean up their own hands and classroom as well!

References

• "Bartholomew and the Oobleck"; Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P.; Random House Inc.; New York; 1949
• "National Science Foundation"; Oobleck; K-12 Outreach; 2010