Making Oobleck

Oobleck, or sometimes known as slime or cornstarch magic, is a favourite among kids, preschool teachers and people making science videos on YouTube. It's easy to make, fun to play with and explore and is safe for children.

Here is my favourite recipe:

You'll need a large bowl. In the bowl mix together 1/2 Cup of Cornstarch and 1/4 Cup of Water. You can easily double these measurements if you want more. You can also dye it with food colouring. Or replace that with beetroot juice, cilantro juice or turmeric to use natural food colours. Mix thoroughly and enjoy!

Why is oobleck so much fun to play with? It is a Non-Newtonian fluid. It is a liquid that becomes much stronger under pressure. For instance, you can dribble oobleck off your hands, but if you hit a bowl of it, the liquid won't splash.

Here's a neat video explaining the properties of oobleck. Have fun!

We do not recommend making a giant pool of it.