Bouncy Ball Project

May 29th, 2012 in Crafts

I used to do “official” art day groups where I would have a schedule, message the Moms, try to invite new people. Now I just text a couple of kid’s Moms about an hour before we start and ask them if they would like to come on over. Either way is fun, this is just the way we have time for right now.

This project you should have everything for if you ever have made your own detergent, cleaning supplies, etc. because it has BORAX in it. You can also pick up a box because it is used in many other science experiments or art projects. It isn’t a waste, you’ll use it again.

Bouncy Ball Project

Supplies:

Borax
Cornstarch
White Glue (or I have heard you can use that clear/blue school glue and the balls have a totally different look!)
Warm Water
Tempura Paint (or I bet food coloring would work)
Popsicle stick or plastic knife to stir with
2 disposable cups for the mixing
Zip Lock Baggie for storage

Directions:

Label two cups for every child with #1 and #2, remind them NEVER to mix unless you tell them, or it might mess up the whole project!
Pour 2 tablespoons warm water, 1/2 teaspoon borax powder, and a little bit of tempura powdered paint or food coloring into the cup labeled ‘#1. Stir the mixture to dissolve the borax.
Pour 1 tablespoon of glue into the cup labeled #2. TELL THEM NOT TO MIX! Add 1/2 teaspoon of the borax solution you just made and 1 tablespoon of cornstarch. DON’T MIX! Let everything sit and do their magic for 10-15 seconds. Now you have to mix, one it becomes near impossible to stir (the kids will get a good workout), take it out of the cup and start molding the ball with your hands. I told them to pretend like it was dough, also it worked to pass it from fingertip to fingertip for the really little hands to get it started.
As you knead the ball it will start to stay together:
As you continue to roll in between your hands it will go from sticky to feeling like a real ball. You ahead and bounce it! The more your knead it the better it bounces.
You have to store the ball in a ziplock bag when you aren’t playing with it. And you might have to knead it a bit (ours got a bit flat) when you want to play with it again.