Description
A fun, science-based craft project that creates bouncy balls using simple household ingredients. Perfect for kids’ activities, rainy days, or homemade gifts. These colorful, customizable balls provide both entertainment and a hands-on learning experience about polymers and chemical reactions.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 tablespoon borax powder
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 cup white liquid glue
- Food coloring of your choice
- Glitter (optional)
Instructions
- Pour 1 cup of warm water into a bowl.
- Add 1 tablespoon of borax powder to the water and stir until completely dissolved.
- In a separate bowl, combine 1/2 cup cornstarch and 1/2 cup white liquid glue.
- Add your desired amount of food coloring to the cornstarch-glue mixture.
- If using glitter, add it to the cornstarch-glue mixture.
- Mix the cornstarch-glue mixture thoroughly until the color is evenly distributed.
- Slowly pour the borax solution into the colored mixture while stirring continuously.
- Continue stirring as the mixture thickens until it becomes difficult to stir.
- Remove the mixture from the bowl and begin kneading with your hands.
- Knead thoroughly until the mixture forms a cohesive ball.
- Continue kneading until the ball firms up and becomes less sticky.
- Shape into a round ball and let it sit for about 5 minutes before bouncing.
- For best results, bounce on hard surfaces like wood floors or concrete.
- Store in an airtight container when not in use to preserve moisture and bounciness.
Notes
- If the mixture is too sticky, add a small amount of cornstarch.
- If the mixture is too firm or crumbly, add a few drops of water or more glue.
- The balls may stain light-colored surfaces, so play with them in appropriate areas.
- Wash hands thoroughly after handling the bouncy balls, especially before eating.
- The science behind this craft involves polymer chains forming when the glue (a polymer) reacts with the borax solution (a cross-linker).
- Prep Time: 10 minutes