Oobleck/Slime War

Karen Malhiot                  Jenner Academy of the Arts
                               1009 North Cleveland
                              Chicago IL 60610
                               (312) 534-8440

Objectives:

     These lessons can be used with students first through eighth grade 
depending on the level of complexity.  Students will:
                 - observe the properties of different slimes
                 - test the properties of different slimes
                 - use a pie graph to graph the liquid/solid properties 
                 - compare and contrast the properties of slimes

Materials Needed:

     Per pair of students:
          (mix to make Oobleck)          (mix to make Glurch)
          1 container                    1 container
          2 cups of corn starch          1 cup laundry starch
          1 cup of water                 pinch of salt
          food color (optional)          food color (optional)
          fragrance (optional)           blob of white glue

     Per lab station:
          2 containers
          2 plastic bags
          news paper

Strategies:

     1. You or the students make the Oobleck.  Have students observe the 
        properties of the Oobleck and then write their observation in lab 
        notebooks. 

     2. Have students test and record the properties of Oobleck.  Possible tests 
        include:
          - slowly poke finger in Oobleck
          - quickly poke finger in Oobleck
          - pour Oobleck into a bag  
                (Does it pour?  Does it take the bags shape?)
          - roll the Oobleck into a ball
          - hit the Oobleck with a hammer
          - heat the Oobleck
          - bounce the Oobleck
     
     3. Make the glurch and compare the two slimes.  Some comparisons include:
          - which is more elastic (bounce, stretch and blow a bubble)
          - which is more fluid (pour, run through fingers)
          - have students create their own comparisons


Performance Assessment:

     You can grade the student's written observations.  Make a lab sheet and 
grade the students observations of the tests.  The pie graph can be graded for 
its correspondence to the test observations.  

References:

     1. Goo Yuck Aims Education Foundation

     2. Bartholomew and the Oobleck by Dr. Seuss