Ingredients
Ingredients:
Here’s what you’ll need to make one standard-sized bouncy ball. You can scale this up for multiple balls.
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1 tablespoon of white school glue (like Elmer’s)
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½ teaspoon of borax (sodium borate)
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3 tablespoons of warm water
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Food coloring (optional, for fun colors)
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1 small plastic cup or disposable bowl (for mixing)
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1 craft stick or spoon (for stirring)
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Latex gloves (optional, to keep hands clean)
Instructions
In a small plastic cup or bowl, add 3 tablespoons of warm water. To this, mix in ½ teaspoon of borax and stir until it is fully dissolved. This will be your activating solution that transforms the glue into a bouncy polymer.
In a separate cup or bowl, add 1 tablespoon of white glue. If you want a colored bouncy ball, add a few drops of food coloring to the glue and mix until the color is evenly distributed. You can experiment with color blending for marbled or multi-tone balls.
Slowly pour the glue mixture into the borax solution. Let it sit for about 10-15 seconds without stirring. You’ll notice the glue begins to solidify immediately upon contact with the borax solution. This is the beginning of the chemical reaction.
After the initial reaction, use your craft stick or spoon to gently stir the mixture. The glue will start clumping together and forming a solid mass. Once it starts pulling away from the sides, take it out of the liquid.
Now for the fun part! Use your hands to knead the blob for 1–2 minutes. Roll it between your palms to shape it into a smooth ball. The more you roll it, the more spherical and rubbery it becomes. Within a minute, it should be ready to bounce!
Notes
Although we’re not technically “cooking,” safety matters:
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Do not ingest any materials.
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Avoid contact with eyes.
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Borax, while common in household products, can be irritating—supervise kids.
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Use disposable tools for easy cleanup.
- Prep Time: 1 minute
- Cook Time: 4 minutes