Let’s Make Oobleck!
Make oobleck from cornstarch and water, test its solid-liquid behavior, carefully squeeze it, and explore non-Newtonian fluids safely at home.
Step-by-step guide to make oobleck
Step 1
Ask an adult to help you start the activity.
Step 2
Place the tray or plastic mat on a flat table to protect the surface.
Step 3
Scoop 2 cups of cornstarch into the large bowl.
Step 4
Measure 1 cup of water in the measuring cup.
Step 5
Pour the water slowly into the cornstarch in the bowl.
Step 6
Stir the mixture slowly with the spoon until it looks mostly combined.
Step 7
If you want color add a few drops of food coloring and stir until the color is even.
Step 8
Tap the surface quickly with one finger to feel the mixture act like a solid.
Step 9
Press your finger in slowly to feel the mixture act like a liquid.
Step 10
Squeeze a handful gently and watch it hold together while you squeeze and fall apart when you stop.
Step 11
Scoop leftover oobleck into a zip-top bag or sealable container and throw it in the trash (do not pour it down the sink).
Step 12
Wash your hands and the tray with soap and water and dry with the towel.
Step 13
Share a photo or description of your finished oobleck experiment on DIY.org.
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can I use if I can't find cornstarch?
If you can't find cornstarch (sometimes labeled corn flour) try tapioca starch or arrowroot as a substitute, but expect a slightly different oobleck texture when you pour and squeeze the mixture.
My oobleck is too runny or too dry—how do I fix it?
If the mixture in the large bowl is too runny, add cornstarch a tablespoon at a time and stir with the spoon, and if it's too dry add water a teaspoon at a time until tapping feels solid and pressing flows.
How can I adapt this activity for younger or older kids?
For toddlers, make a half batch on the tray and have an adult pour the water and demonstrate tapping and squeezing, while older kids can vary the 2 cups cornstarch-to-1 cup water ratio, record how the mixture behaves, and test different amounts.
How can we make the oobleck activity more creative or educational?
Add a few drops of food coloring for marbled effects, mix in glitter or small plastic toys in the tray for a treasure-hunt challenge, or run experiments by changing cornstarch amounts and photographing results to share on DIY.org.
Watch videos on how to make oobleck
OOBLECK FOR KIDS | Non-newtonian Fluid | How to Make Oobleck |
3 Videos
OOBLECK FOR KIDS | Non-newtonian Fluid | How to Make Oobleck |
How to Make Oobleck | Full-Time Kid | PBS Parents
How to Make Oobleck | CREATIVE BASICS Episode 3
Facts about non-Newtonian fluids
🧪 Oobleck is a non-Newtonian fluid — it pours like a liquid but acts like a solid when you hit or squeeze it.
📏 A common kid-friendly recipe uses about 2 parts cornstarch to 1 part water by volume (adjust until it feels right).
🤸 Move quickly and you can run across a deep pool of oobleck because it stiffens under sudden force.
📚 The name “oobleck” comes from Dr. Seuss’s 1949 book "Bartholomew and the Oobleck."
🛡️ Scientists study shear-thickening fluids like oobleck for uses such as flexible body armor and impact protection.
