Rubber Balls

• DOMAIN(S)

  Cognitive Development and General Knowledge (CD)
• INDICATOR(S)

  CD-SC4.4c
• AGE GROUP(S)

  48-60 months

Encourage the children to experiment turning a liquid into a solid. Provide the following materials:

1 tablespoon white glue

Borax water (see directions)

Craft Sticks for stirring

2 paper cups

Small sheet of plastic wrap

Directions: Pour 1 tablespoon of white glue into the first cup. Add 1 tablespoon of water and have the children stir with a craft stick until mixed. Set it aside. In the second cup, mix 1. teaspoons of borax and 4 tablespoons of water to make borax water. Pour it into the cup that has the glue mixture. Encourage the children to stir the mixture with the stick. If the mixture does not quickly form a gel, add one more tablespoon of borax mixture and stir again. Remove the gel from the cup and have the children roll the substance in their hands until it firms. Have the children dictate what they observed. Ask questions such as, “What do you think would happen if we added more water?” “What else feels like rubber in our classroom?” “How can we melt the rubber to change it back into a liquid?”  This activity could be done in small group.  

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