How to Make a Bouncy Ball

What You Need:

• Glue 
• Cornstarch 
• Borax 
• Lukewarm water
• Food coloring
• Heavy spoon that won’t bend easily
• Measuring spoons 
• 2 plastic containers (old margarine tubs work well)
• Plastic baggie with zip top 
• Permanent marker
• Clock
• Ruler 

What You Do:

1. Have your child add 2 tablespoons of lukewarm water to an empty plastic container. Help them measure ½ teaspoon of Borax and add to the water. Stir until the Borax has dissolved completely.
2. If you want the balls to have a specific color, add a few drops of food coloring. How deep you want the color is up to you. For a darker, truer color, add more drops. For a more translucent color, add less.
3. Ask your child to measure one tablespoon of glue and dump it into the second empty plastic container.
4. Help them add ½ teaspoon of the Borax and water solution as well as 1 tablespoon of cornstarch to the glue. Don't start stirring immediately. Wait 20 to 30 seconds to begin.
5. Now tell your child to stir, mixing the ingredients completely. When the mixture becomes too hard to stir, remove it from the plastic container and have your child knead it between their hands. They should begin to form the mixture into the shape of a ball.
6. The ball will start off being a little sticky, but it'll harden as it dries. Once it's dry, it should bounce. Set this ball aside and make additional balls until you have the perfect number.
7. After you're done bouncing, store the balls in the plastic baggie or another contrainer.

Did you know? Polymers are used to make a number of different products including all kinds of plastic items and even bulletproof vests.