Friday, February 24, 2012

Dr. Seuss Day-Making Oobleck

This year for Dr. Seuss Day, instead of Green Eggs and Ham, we are going to have a good old gooey fun day and mix up some Oobleck! It's so easy to make and a blast for the kids. Just a warning-it can get a little messy but no more than cooking green eggs! I'd love to know how you are celebrating Dr. Seuss Day! Feel free to leave a comment or two with your creative ideas!

 I just added a literacy unit to Teachers Pay Teachers that I know you and your students will love! It's based on the book Bartholomew and the Oobleck! Read below for the Oobleck recipe!





Making Oobleck

1 cup of water
1 to 2 cups of cornstarch
Mixing bowl
Food coloring (optional)
Pour one cup of cornstarch into the mixing bowl
Now pour the water in, mixing slowly as you go. Keep adding more water until the mixture becomes thick (and hardens when you tap the surface). Add
more cornstarch if it gets too runny, and more water if it becomes too thin.
Add a few drops of food coloring if desired. (It’s easier to add the coloring to the water before you mix it with the cornstarch.)
Mixing can take a while and gets more difficult as the mixture gets thicker! Spoons can bend while stirring!  Consider digging in and using your hands or calling on kids to do the mixing! Allow at least 20 minutes for mixing or do this ahead of time!

****Put the ooblek in a Ziplock bag after it is mixed! It will last well and the kids can still play with it even through the baggie!


 This is the sequencing activity we did to retell the story.




6 comments:

  1. I've never made this....just wondered how much or how many times I should plan to make this mixture for 24 kids? Thanks so much!

    kellybrown28021@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. I usually triple the recipe and mix it all up in a large plastic bowl. I do this in front of (and with the help of) the students while we talk about the science of oobleck. While they are working on other things (in Michigan, we have inside recess in the winter so that's the perfect time), two children at a time get to come up to the Oobleck to squish around in it and make observations. After everyone has a turn in the big bowl, I cut some (yes it does cut if you move a spoon through quickly-it's so strange) and place a little bit in a small zipper baggie and let the students have just a little bit of their own. It creates much less mess and saves time with clean-up this way!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you for posting the directions! I wanted to make this!!!


    Michelle
    Apples and ABC's

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ok so you triple the recipe? I just found your blog and I think we are making oobleck on friday... but we have lots of kids coming through and doing centers...and you mentioned we should do this ahead of time so they can play with it...
    So do you recommend we just make tons in the morning and have it separated into baggies for them to play with as they come through centers rather than making?
    Any advice would be appreciated...
    Im your newest follower!
    Miss S
    jaanashingledecker24@gmail.com
    Just Teaching...Kindergarten

    ReplyDelete
  5. Where can I buy this set? I looked on TPT but did not see it.

    ReplyDelete

Comments make me smile! :)