Oobleck: Liquids and Solids
An Educator’s Reference Desk Lesson Plan

Submitted by: Kerri Davis
Email: junior96@aol.com
School/University/Affiliation: College of Staten Island
Date: December 5, 1998

Grade Level(s): Kindergarten
Subject(s):
•    Science
Duration: one 45 minute session
Description: In this lesson children will be able to understand through hands on experience about liquids and solids.
Goals: Unit: Water
Objectives: How can we identify the difference between a liquid and a solid?
Materials: cornstarch, water, bowls, green food coloring
Procedure:
1.    Show children a rock and a glass of water
◦    How are these two different?
2.
3.    Explain that the water is a liquid and a rock is a solid.
4.    Read: Bartholomew and the Oobleck by Dr. Seuss and have the children predict from the cover of the book what oobleck could be.
5.    Write predictions on a chart.
6.    Tell children we are going to experiment to see who is right.
7.    Allow children to mix cornstarch and water together ( 2 parts cornstarch to 1 part water), add green food coloring.
8.    Let children play with the Oobleck to get a good sense of what it may be.
◦    Is oobleck a liquid or a solid?
◦    What makes you think so?
Assessment: Go back to chart to see which predictions were correct.
Internet Resources:
•    “Bill Nye the Science Guy” Episode Guides Episode #93: FLUIDS – http://billnye.com/
To locate this information, click on the link for Episode Guides, then Phsysical Science, then Chemistry, then Fluids.