Making oobleck can be a fascinating and engaging activity for people of all ages. It is an opportunity to learn about science and experiment with different materials, while also providing a fun, tactile experience. While there are many ways to make oobleck, one popular method involves using baking soda as a key ingredient.
In this article, you can follow the steps of how to make oobleck with baking soda, plus we’ll involve the classic oobleck. You can also explore some exciting variations that you can try at home.
If your kids love getting messy, get ready to be amazed and entertained by the magic of oobleck!
What is Oobleck?
Oobleck is a fun non-Newtonian fluid that can change its consistency based on the amount of force applied to it. You can make oobleck with baking soda, despite it being traditionally made with cornstarch.
A non-Newtonian fluid is a type of liquid that doesn’t behave like most liquids. Most liquids flow easily and their consistency doesn’t change much when you apply force to them.
But a non-Newtonian fluid is special because it can change its consistency, becoming thicker or thinner, depending on how much force is applied to it. It’s like a magic liquid that you can pour through your fingers, but also push and squish! Playing with oobleck is like a fun science experiment.
Easy Oobleck Recipe with Baking Soda
You can’t actually make oobleck without cornstarch. You will have to use some starch, and that’s why baking powder is needed as an extra ingredient. Most baking powders contain cornstarch.
Oobleck Ingredients
- 1/2 cup of water
- 5 tbsp baking soda
- 5 tbsp baking powder (with cornstarch)
- Large bowl
- Food coloring (optional)
Step-by-step Oobleck Recipe
- Pour room temperature water into a large bowl and at this point, you can add a few drops of food coloring.
- Add the 4 tablespoons of baking powder into the water and stir it until it dissolves. Make sure to use baking powder that contains
- Then add the baking soda, and mix it with your hands until it gets the right consistency. It should appear solid when gently pressed and flow like a liquid when rapidly stirred or struck.
- As an alternative to baking powder, you can combine 1,5 tablespoons of baking soda and 3 tablespoons of cream of tartar.
- Once the oobleck is ready, get ready to have a blast playing with this fun and fascinating substance!
Other Ways for Making Oobleck
Oobleck comes from a Dr. Seuss book “Bartholomew and the Oobleck”, but this non-Newtonian fluid is also called a goop, goo, or even slime. And there are not only different names but also different methods and materials that you can make it from.
The original recipe is made with cornstarch, but oobleck can also be made with other starchy flour, such as corn flour, arrowroot flour, or potato starch.
Cornstarch Oobleck Recipe – The Original One
The key component in making oobleck is cornstarch.
- 1 cup cornstarch
- ½ cup water
- Food coloring
Mix cornstarch and water until a thick and slippery mixture is obtained. If the consistency is too thick, dilute it with more warm water until it reaches the desired texture. Conversely, if it is too thin, thicken it by stirring in more cornstarch.
Using Baby Powder Instead of Baking Soda
We tried out more alternatives to make oobleck, just to make sure you can find the right one. One of them was made with Johnson’s baby powder.
It smelled soooo good. If you want to try out this scented oobleck you only have to visit our article about How to make oobleck without cornstarch.
Using Tapioca Powder Instead of Baking Soda
If you have some leftover tapioca powder in your cupboard, guess what? You can make oobleck with that too. Read more here to discover the easy and fun steps to creating this amazing substance.
How to Store Oobleck and Dispose of It Later
To store oobleck, you should use an airtight container such as a plastic container or a ziplock bag. Store the container in the fridge but no longer than a few days.
Avoid disposing of oobleck in sinks or toilets as it can result in severe clogging of pipes. The proper disposal method is to throw it in the trash.
Different Activities with Oobleck
There are several fun and educational activities that kids can play in. Get creative with your kids and have fun exploring its unique properties!
Sensory activities: Oobleck can provide a fun and engaging sensory experience for children of all ages, who can squish, squeeze, and play with it.
Hands-on exploration: Children can experience Oobleck’s unique properties by squishing and molding them with their hands.
Science experiments: Students can conduct experiments to observe and measure the viscosity of Oobleck and how it behaves differently under different stress levels.
Art projects: Oobleck can also be used as a material for creating unique and colorful art projects, such as rainbow goop. By layering differently colored oobleck in a large container kids can mix new colors.
Stress relief: Oobleck can be used as a tool for stress relief, as squishing and applying pressure on it can be a calming and relaxing activity.
Unleash the fun and make a big mess with Rainbow Oobleck, Earth Day, St. Patrick’s Coin Hunt, and Easter Oobleck.
Don’t forget to discover a world of learning and play with Messy Learning Kids. With a variety of exciting activities and ideas, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Start exploring now!
