Homemade Bouncy Balls

Fun to make but my ball didn’t bounce really great. Let me know if you try it and if it works for you.
Thanks Aunt Charity for sharing this idea. Good outdoor activity…cornstarch is a mess to clean up.

From:About.com Chemistry

borax (found in the laundry section of the store)

cornstarch

white glue (e.g., Elmer’s glue – makes an opaque ball) or blue or clear school glue (makes a ——-translucent ball)

warm water

food coloring (optional)

measuring spoons spoon or craft stick to stir the mixture

2 small plastic cups or other containers for mixing

Pour 2 tablespoons warm water and 1/2 teaspoon borax powder into the cup. Stir the mixture to dissolve the borax. Add food coloring, if desired. Pour 1 tablespoon of glue into the cup labeled ‘Ball Mixture’. Add 1/2 teaspoon of the borax solution you just made and 1 tablespoon of cornstarch. Do not stir. Allow the ingredients to interact on their own for 10-15 seconds and then stir them together to fully mix. Once the mixture becomes impossible to stir, take it out of the cup and start molding the ball with your hands. The ball will start out sticky and messy, but will solidify as you knead it. Once the ball is less sticky, go ahead and bounce it! You can store your plastic ball in a sealed ziploc bag when you are finished playing with it. Don’t eat the materials used to make the ball or the ball itself. Wash your work area, utensils, and hands when you have completed this activity. I hope you have fun with this activity.(:

Tags: Borax, Bouncy balls, homemade bouncy balls, Science experiments