Glorious Goo

A. Pre Planning
1. North Carolina Science Essential Standards:
6.P.2 Understand the structure, classifications and physical
properties of matter.
8.P.1 Understand the properties of matter and changes that occur
when matter interacts in an open and closed container.

2. Goal: Students will experiment with different ratios in an attempt to make the
perfect consistency of two types of goo.

3. Evaluation: Of type of students goo will act as both a solid and a liquid while
the other will be a type of silly putty.

4. Resources and Materials:
Per Group:
Cornstarch (Lots)
Water
Big plastic, clear tubs
Elmers Glue (Lots)
Borax
Food Coloring
Water


B. Implementation:

Goo 1 (Oobleck)
1. Pour some cornstarch in a bowl. (ALWAYS save at least one box of cornstarch for
mess ups)
2. Add a little water and mix.
3. Continue adding water and cornstarch until you reach the desired consistency; which
is that you are able to squeeze it and it is solid but as soon as the pressure is released,
it runs again.

If students are having a tough time with this, have them follow this:

1. Measure out two parts cornstarch and one part water.
2. Combine the cornstarch and water in the dishpan.
3. Stir until the mixture begins to thicken.
4. Let them drop a little food coloring onto the ooblek and swirl it around. Observe what
happens.


Goo 2 (Flubber)
1. In a cup, mix 2 tsp. of water with 2 tsp. of glue.
2. Then add 2 drops of food coloring.
3. In another cup, mix 2 tsp. of water with tsp. of borax.
4. Combine the mixtures.
5. Pour the borax mixture into the glue mixture and stir.

When mixed, pick up this ooey, gooey mixture and experiment! It will be very sticky at first, but
the more you work with it, the smoother it will become. Try to stretch it, bounce it, rip it
apartwhat can you discover? Try changing up the ratio of ingredients and see how it changes
the properties of your Flubber.
So whats happening? White glue is made of very long molecules. When borax is added,
it causes the molecules to stick to each other, trapping in some of the water and creating your
polymer. The more borax you add, the more molecules get chained together, and the tougher
the flubber becomes.