40 ideas - num 18 -how to make bouncy balls!

This was a fun little activity!  And you can make it with the supplies you have leftover from THIS activity plus a little cornstarch! 

Here's what you need:

Borax

school glue (clear or not)

cornstarch

plastic cups

craft sticks for stirring

measuring spoons 

food coloring (optional)

1) Dissolve 1/2tsp of borax into 2 tbl of warm water in the first plastic cup.  Stir until dissolved.  Add food coloring if you would like. 

2) Put 1 tbl of glue into a second plastic cup. Add to that 1/2 tsp of the borax solution and 1 tbl of cornstarch.  Let it sit without stirring for 10-15 seconds. 

3) Stir with the craft stick until you can't any more.  At that point take the impossibly sticky glop and begin to form it into a ball between your hands.  Eventually the stickiness will subside and you will have a bouncy ball!

These bouncy balls do not hold their shape forever.  They must be stored in a plastic bag to keep from drying out but the boys still had a great time making them and now I have 1tsp left of the hug box of borax I bought! :)

 The balls are bouncy and it is very fun (for parents and kids alike) to see science at work!