Science Recipes

Most of the following recipes can be made using ingredients commonly found in the house and available at the grocery store. Please get permission from your parents before making these at home. Bring a sample of what you've made to class and you will receive a dollar in mini-society cash.

BUBBLE BOTTLE

Fill a clear plastic bottle 1/3 to 1/2  with any oil-based substance (turpentine, mineral oil, paint thinner, olive oil, etc.) Fill the rest of the way with water, add food coloring if desired. Seal the bottle well (electrical tape can help). Watch the interesting motions as you shake and turn the bottle.

OOBLECK

Add food coloring to 1 3/4  cup of water. Mix in one box of cornstarch. Dig in with your fingers: is it a solid or a liquid? Store in an airtight container. Later the water may have come to the top; just mix it up again with your fingers. For easy clean-up just let the material dry and wipe it up with a moist cloth. DO NOT PUT IT DOWN THE SINK!

PLAY DOUGH

In a large pan mix together 1 cup flour, 1 cup water, 1 tablespoon oil, 1/2 cup salt, 1 teaspoon cream of tartar.  Cook over medium heat until mixture pulls away from sides of pan and becomes like playdough in consistency.  Knead until cool.  Add food coloring if you like.  Keeps 3 months unrefrigerated.

BUBBLE SOAP

Add 1 cup of liquid dish soap (“Joy” works well) to 3 cups of water. Also add 2  1/2  teaspoons of glycerine. Stir carefully to avoid suds. Makes large and long-lasting bubbles.
Another recipe uses Dawn dish soap and Karo light syrup (no water)- 2 tablespoons of syrup for each cup of dish soap.

CRYSTAL GARDEN

Half fill a jar with hot water. Slowly add salt and stir to dissolve. Continue adding salt until no more will dissolve. Place 1 tablespoon of vinegar in the water. Place a piece of charcoal or porous stone (like lava rock) in the jar. Beautiful crystals should form on the charcoal or stone.

TOOTHPASTE PUTTY

Mix  1/2  teaspoon of creamy toothpaste, 1 tablesoon of white glue, 2 teaspoons of cornstarch in a small dish. Add water and mix, roll and knead until you like the consistency.

NUTTY PUTTY

In a large cup mix white glue and liquid starch (twice as much glue as starch.) Add food coloring if
desired, stir until thick, then work it in your hands to get excess liquid out. Store in airtight container.

DAFFY DOUGH

Stir 1/2  teaspoon of salt into 1/2  cup of liquid starch in a large plastic cup or jar. Add to this 1/4  cup of white glue. Stir for 5 minutes. As this material starts to become thick, knead it into a ball. Squeeze out the excess liquid. If it does not thicken, add a little more salt and continue to knead the dough.

MILK PLASTIC

Measure a half cup of milk into a pan and heat on medium. As the milk warms, stir in about 1 tablespoon of vinegar. A rubbery glob will form. Take it out, wash it and knead it into a ball.
 
 


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