The tale of the oobleck, a sticky green gunk, can instigate a gloriously messy lesson in which children can squeeze, stir and splat their way to a better understanding of material properties.
When I was teaching in America and first read the Dr Seuss book Bartholomew and the Oobleck with my first graders (Y2), they asked, “Can we make oobleck too?”
As it happened to tie in with our science unit at the time, this sounded like a good idea. A little online research revealed that oobleck (a non-Newtonian fluid, similar to quicksand) can be easily whipped up using a basic ingredient found in any kitchen cupboard.
This is a great practical activity that allows pupils to have fun, get messy, be surprised and question what they thought they knew about materials and their properties.
Students will…
- Learn how to make oobleck
- Revise what you know about materials and their properties
- Discover that some substances do not follow the rules
Browse more Dr Seuss books resources.
