Fun with oobleck {sensory play}

We always enjoy some messy, sensory play at our house, and this activity was no exception. Oobleck is such a fun substance because it acts like both a liquid and a solid at the same time. If you push it hard, it acts like a solid. But if you just hold it in your hands, it will melt right through your fingers. These properties make oobleck both fun and educational to play with!

While the kids were napping one day, I made two containers of oobleck by mixing together the following ingredients:

• 1 part water
• 1.5 to 2 parts cornstarch
• Small amount of food coloring (optional)

Once my oobleck was ready, I put together the following materials as part of an invitation to play:

• funnels
• metal scoops
• a set of measuring spoons
• some tiny cups
• small bowls

When XGirl first saw the oobleck, she was a bit wary, and only wanted to dip one finger in to check it out.

But then she decided to start scooping it into her funnel. This was interesting to watch, because the sort-of-a-liquid, sort-of-a-solid quality of oobleck makes it difficult to scoop up. But it still drips through the funnel.

She also used the measuring spoons to drip it into her bowl. Again, it was a bit challenging to scoop into the spoon, but then dripped into the bowl fairly easily.

QBoy used his metal scoops to pour it into his measuring spoon.

But then he, too, wanted to play with the funnel.

Eventually he decided to pour the oobleck from the bowl through the funnel into his tiny cups.

Oobleck looks like it makes a mess on hands, but it actually comes off very easily.

And this was another successful afternoon of messy, sensory play. 🙂

More sensory play resources

For more activities that will delight the senses, see my Sensory Play page and my Sensory Play Pinterest board. 

Follow Katie @ Gift of Curiosity’s board Sensory Play on Pinterest.

Products mentioned in this post: