    | Science Education |
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Background:
The term "Oobleck" is derived from the book Bartholomew and the Oobleck,by Dr. Seuss. Experimenting with Oobleck is much more than having fun with a weird substance. As students participate in this activity, they will develop important skills in scientific observation. Scientists at Jefferson Lab use a similar process to investigate quarks in the nucleus of the atom.
Objectives:
In this activity students will:
- work in groups
- follow a recipe to make Oobleck
- measure the proper amounts of each ingredient
- use all of their senses, except taste, to discover as many properties of Oobleck as they can
- record their observations on the Oobleck Investigation Sheet
- classify each property they find as being a property shared by solids, liquids or gases
- classify Oobleck as either a solid, liquid or gas
Minimum Materials Needed for Each Student Group:
- A Ziploc sandwich bag
- A tablespoon
- A teaspoon
- 30 milliliters (2 tablespoons) of a glue-water solution
- 10 milliliters (2 teaspoons) of a borax-water solution
- 2 drops of food coloring
Optional Materials:
- Newspapers to cover the desks
- Small bowls to hold the two solutions
- Containers to save extra solution
Materials for Oobleck
Pre-Activity Preparations:
The Glue-Water Solution
1. Empty a bottle of Elmer's School Glue into a small container.
2. Add an equal volume of water.
3. Mix thoroughly.
The Borax-Water Solution
1. Place 1 liter of water in a small container.
2. Add 60 milliliters of dry Borax powder to the water.
3. Mix thoroughly.
Notes:
- It is not uncommon for some of the Borax to remain undissolved.
- Elmer's Glue-All works just as well as Elmer's School Glue. In addition, we have been able to buy Elmer's Glue-All in gallon containers from home improvement centers.
- If kept in sealed containers, the two mixtures can be stored for several months as long as they are mixed well before use.
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This page is maintained by Steve Gagnon. |