Day One: Read Dr. Seuss's Bartholomew and the Oobleck aloud to the class.
Day Two: Discuss things that fell from the sky in the book. Divide class into groups. Have each group list on paper as many things as they can think of that really could fall from the sky. (Save these lists for further discussion tomorrow.) Make new lists, eliminating all items which do not qualify as precipitation. The group with the most forms of precipitation remaining will be allowed to choose their color first on day four.
Day Three: Using original lists from yesterday, have each group divide their items from the sky into subgroups of solids, liquids and gasses. Discuss how precipitation changes from one state to another depending on temperature (e.g. dew/frost).
Day Four: Make oobleck by mixing one part colored water with two parts cornstarch. (Don't forget to allow day two's list-winning group to choose their color first.) Is it a solid, liquid, or gas? Through experimentation, students will discover that it has the properties of a solid while in the bowl, but becomes a liquid when squeezed. Why? (Body heat.)
Day Five: Have several other substances on hand (e.g. jello, GAK, OOZE, pudding, playdough, etc.) to compare and contrast physical properties of each. How do temperature and moisture affect each?
Extension Activities: Boil substances from day five and note changes. Freeze them and note differences. Dehydrate each and observe. Use day five substances to make art projects. Try other ingredients to make oobleck (e.g. substitute flour for corn starch or oil for water) and compare results.
