Summer Science Program #7: Slime and Oobleck
OOBLECK:
What is oobleck? Named for the ooey-gooey substance in Dr. Seuss's story, “Bartholomew and the Oobleck”, it is a thick mixture of cornstarch and water. If you would like to experience the wonder of oobleck at home, then here's the recipe:
• Take 1 16-oz box of cornstarch.
• Add ½ cup of water and mix.
• Continue mixing and adding small amounts of water and cornstarch until it is well mixed and about as thick as honey.
You should end up with a substance that acts like a solid if you tap on it quickly, but like a fluid if you touch it slowly.
We observed that you could punch it. It is hard.
When we were done playing, we set up the “oobleck challenge”: A tub of oobleck that the kids (and any adventurous adults) could walk across. By walking at normal speed, you could step on the oobleck like a solid. Slow down (as some of the kids advised their parents to do!) and your shoe sinks slowly in and sticks in the oobleck. When recovered by slowly pulling it out, the shoe drips with liquid oobleck.
SLIME:
We had so much fun with oobleck that we ran out of time to do slime. But if you'd like to experience the wonder of slime, here's the recipe:
1. Take a cup of water and add to it 1 Tbs. of borax (approx 4% solution). Stir until completely dissolved.
2. Make a 50% water 50% white glue solution. Take 1/4 cup of each and mix thoroughly.
3. In a Ziploc bag, add equal parts of the borax solution to equal parts of the glue solution. 1/2 cup of each will make a cup of slime.
4. Seal bag, knead the mixture and watch as it turns to slime before your very eyes!
5. Enjoy. (Probably best to wash your hands after your done.)
Summer Science Program #6: The Radish Vacuum
To test this, we cut a radish in half, scooped out some of the insides and pushed it against a plastic plate. The scooped out radish was supposed to be able to create enough suction to lift the plate. We tried it with different radishes, different plates, and different people doing the experiment. On one attempt (before class, of course!) it was observed that the radish held onto the plate briefly. But overall, no success.
A very logical young man pointed out that you could use the radish to lift the plate—all you had to do was put the radish underneath! The teachers felt that was missing the spirit of the myth—but we have to admit, it would work!
Since we had no joy with radishes, we next used a brand-new, never-before-been-used plunger to try lifting the plate. It worked brilliantly. We were able to lift the plate, a globe, a book, a wooden chair and a child (OK, we didn't really lift the child, but he had fun pretending that we did!) The plunger was also able to stick to the wall. 
Status of Radish Vaccuum: Busted (just like most of the radishes!)
Secondly, we tested the myth that you can carry water in a straw using air pressure.
To do this, we dipped a straw in water so that the straw partially filled with water. Then we placed a finger over the straw and lifted the straw out of the water. If youve ever waited in a restaurant with bored children, you will not be surprised by the result. As long as we held our finger over the straw, the water stayed in the straw and could be carried around the room. When we removed our finger from the straw, out fell the water!
Status of Carrying Water in a Straw: Confirmed.
Our last myth was that you can stick an eraser to your hand and have it stay, even if you turn your hand upside down.
To do this, we took the kind of eraser that you put on pencils to replace the original, squished it slightly, and pushed it onto a hand (or arm. . . or forehead). Voila! With a little practice, we could make the erasers stay. It was observed that if you leave them in place too long, it does make a small red mark on your skin, because they stay in place by suction.
Status of the Anti-Gravity eraser: Confirmed
Summer Science Program #5: Icebergs |||amp; Diving Bells
Since we could not travel to the North Sea and measure a real oceanic iceberg, such as the one that sunk the Titanic, we did this small-scale. We made our “iceberg” by freezing a ice in a cylinder. We then put the ice into the small-scale North Sea (a large tub filled with water).
Total Height of Iceberg = 2-1/8 “
Height of Iceberg above Water = ¼ “
Percent of Iceberg above water = 11 percent.
Status of Iceberg Myth: Confirmed
But wait! Did we do it right?
As we were continuing to play with our mini-icebergs, one of the parents asked, “Doesn't the ocean have salt in it? Wouldn't this affect the results?” It might. Stay Tuned.
Secondly, we tested the myth that you can stay dry underwater by using a diving bell.
Once again, we had to go small-scale. We used a drinking glass and taped a plastic character (Robin Hood) to the bottom on the inside. We then turned it upside down and submerged it into the water. Robin Hood stayed dry!
Status of Diving Bell myth: Confirmed.
Summer Science Program #4: Up, Up, and Away!
Balloon and Hovercraft Results
First, we tested the myth that if you have enough helium balloons, you can fly up.
We filled 33 helium balloons. It looked like a lot! The results of our tests were as follows.
| Item to lift | Result |
| 150-lb person sitting in wooden chair | Not lifted |
| Wooden Chair | Not lifted |
| 12-oz bag of coffee | Drifted down slowly as compared to gravity. |
| Small stuffed toy (approx 1-2 oz) | We have lift-off! Good thing we did this indoors! |
| The “Check-in Chicken” (approx 4-6 oz) | Hurrah! The chicken flew! |
| Keith Jenkins | Started to go up – Oh, no, he was just kidding! |
| Children | Not lifted. However, they could feel the upward pull of the balloons. |
These results are consistent with our research, which showed that it takes about 46 balloons to lift one pound. So, to lift a 50-lb child, we would have needed at least 46X50 or 2,300 balloons! We couldn't achieve it, but if you'd like to see a child go up, check out http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/mythbusters-balloon-girl.html.
And if you'd like to experience going up in a balloon yourself, check out the free balloon ride at the Orange County Great Park.
Status of Balloon Myth: Busted (for party balloons!)
Just for fun, we tried making home-made hovercraft using a CD and a balloon. To do this, we glued two small
With this fix, the hovercraft did float slightly above the table. This was difficult to see, because the distance was small. However, when you pushed the hovercraft, it floated across the table like an air-hockey puck.
By popular demand, we also tested the myth that if you breathe in helium from a balloon, it will make you talk like Donald Duck.
Status of Talking like a Cartoon Character Myth: Confirmed—and a lot of fun!
Summer Science Program #3: Glowing Pickles and Potatoes
Glowing Pickle & Potato Electricity Results
First, we tested the myth that potatoes can generate electricity!
We stuck a galvanized steel nail into one side of the potato and a copper wire into the other. The two wires sticking out of the potato are the terminals. We then measured across the terminals with a volt meter (unfortunately not digital!). We were able to observe a voltage of approximately .5 volts! We made a potato battery!
Since inquiring minds wished to know, we tested other vegetables also.
| Item Tested | Voltage Observed | Comments |
| Potato | 0.5 volts | |
| Potatoes in Series | Approx 1.5 volts | Did not light small light bulb |
| Standard Battery | 1.5 volts | Lit small light bulb (barely) |
| Apple | 0.5-0.6 volts | |
| Orange | 0.4-0.5 volts | |
| Pickle | 0.5 volts |
Status of Potato Electricity Myth: Confirmed (but not practical!)
Our second myth was that a pickle can glow if you pass electricity through it.
Unfortunately, the amount of electricity required is more than kids can safely handle, so this was done as a demonstration. We also discussed how to be safe around electricity. Don't try this at home!
Nevertheless, when we passed an electric current through the pickle, it emitted eerie flashes of light. (It also smoked a bit!) Very cool.
Status of Glowing Pickle Myth: Confirmed.
Summer Science Program #2: Climbing Water
Climbing Water Results
First, we tested the myth that water can sometimes defy gravity!
The first experiment was “The Paper Towel Climb”. We held a paper towel strip above a cup of water so that only the bottom inch or two of the paper towel was in the water. We could see the water rise up into the paper towel. But what about yarn? What about cloth? We tried them, too. When we checked back about ten minutes later—it was a bit of a snail race!—the paper towel was the clear winner, followed by the cloth. The yarn came in last.
The second experiment was “Escape from the Cup.” We filled a cup with water and draped several paper towel strips over the rim. The water climbed up the paper towel, over the top of the cup and dripped into a larger container. When we checked back, we saw that half the water had escaped!
The third experiment was “The Wedge.” We took two clear plastic panes, held slightly open on one side and put them in colored water. On the wider gap side, the water stayed in the bowl. On the narrow gap side, the water climbed up (a little bit). The kids discovered that this effect could be enhanced by “squishing” the water between the two panes!
Status of Climbing Water Myth: Confirmed.
Just for fun, we also made a siphon with a straw and a glass of water. Put the straw into the water the wrong way (with the long end hanging out), get it started by sucking on the straw, and—hey presto!—the water will continue to drain out all by itself until it is level with the short end of the straw.
Our second myth is that you can bend water using static electricity. First we blew up a balloon. Then we charged it by rubbing against clothes or hair. (Test for sufficient charge, see if it pulls your hair towards it!) We turned on the faucet, using a thin stream of water. When the balloon is charged it pulls the stream of water towards it.
Status of the Water Bending Myth: Confirmed.
Our last myth—which we ran out of time for but I did it anyway just for fun—was that you can separate food coloring and ink into different colors by letting water “climb” through it.
Chemical | Result |
| Red, Blue, Yellow Food Coloring | Carried by water, but separation |
| Green Food Coloring | Carried by water, some separation of blue. |
| Dry Erase Marker | Not water-soluble, remained in place. |
| Sharpie Marker | Not water-soluble and it formed a barrier to the water passing through the napkin! |
Status of Color Separation Myth: Plausible.
Summer Science Program #1: Mentos and Diet Coke
Diet Coke & Mentos Experiment
We tested the “myth” that adding Mentos to Diet Coke makes a fountain of soda shoot up into the air.
As a control, we tested water and mentos. Nothing happened. Just as we expected!
We had read that the fruit-flavor mentos don't work. Surprise! A geyser of soda shot 12-15 feet into the air, and 3/8 of the bottle was exploded! Exactly the same as mint mentos! (Compare to #2 hole diameter below.)
We suspected that a smaller diameter hole would cause higher pressure within the bottle and therefore a higher fountain of spray. (Note that heights and volumes were estimated.)
| Hole diameter | Result |
| #1 Paper-clip size | Soda mist. 5-6 feet high. Almost all soda remains in bottle. |
| #2 1/8 inch | Geyser. 12-15 feet high. 3/8 of soda is exploded. |
| #3 ¼ inch | Geyser. 18-20 feet high. 5/8 of soda is exploded. |
| #4 ¼ inch | Geyser. 15 feet high. 5/8 of soda is exploded. Cap is set at an angle, causing spray to shoot off in an arc instead of straight up. |
| #5 1/2 inch | Fountain. 10 feet high. 5/8 of the soda is exploded. |
Oops! Upon measuring more carefully, hole #3 and hole #4 are really the same diameter! So we would expect them to give the same results, and within our measurement ability, they did.
We also guessed that any carbonated drink would give about the same results. This was true for Regular Sam's Cola, Caffeine-free Diet Sam's Cola, brand-name Diet Coke, and generic Sprite. However, Manzanilla (generic Apple soda) gave a much smaller six foot geyser and exploded only ¼ of the mint.
We wanted to shoot off some soda fountains for the 4th of July—and we did it!
Conclusion: Myth Confirmed.
Welcome!
Welcome to Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church! We look forward to meeting you and your family. This section of our web site highlights the philosophy, structure, curricula, and special activities of the Religious Exploration program. If you have questions, or would just like to talk about the program, please contact us by e-mail at re@ocuuc.org.
Nursery and child care are provided during both services. Religious Exploration is provided at the second service.
Religious Exploration Committee—Mission and Goals:
The mission of the Religious Exploration Committee is to provide a program for children and youth that nurtures them as they grow ethically and spiritually on their personal journeys of faith.
The goals for the Children’s Religious Exploration Program are to help children and youth develop:
- A sense of purpose and recognition of self worth.
- A sense of belonging to a loving, caring, respectful community
- A religious identity as Unitarian Universalists with an awareness of our Principles and Purposes, our history and the diverse sources from which we draw inspiration.
- A commitment to Unitarian Universalist values and a sense of how that commitment translates into action.
- A respect for other people and an understanding of the many religious traditions.
- An awareness of the interconnectedness of ourselves, our community and all inhabitants of the world.
- A sense of wonderment and recognition of the fullness of life—its challenges and its blessings.
We accomplish this by providing age appropriate, stimulating curricula in a nurturing and safe environment. We affirm our connection to the community by joining together in worship services and intergenerational activities. We provide children and youth with opportunities to put our faith into action. Recognizing that faith development is an on-going process, we support families by creating meaningful ties between the home and church. The Director of Religious Education is supported by the Religious Education Ministry.
We invite you and your children to join us. See you soon!!
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