🧸 Make-Your-Own NeeDoh
Make a squishy toy and test it. Draft: not yet checked
Watch how it is done
Two short videos. Tap one to play it.
Videos play from YouTube, made by other people.
Quick start
- Pick a pre-filled balloon.
- Stuff it into a second balloon of a different color (a helper holds it open).
- Tie it, or have a helper tie it.
- Draw a face. Squeeze slowly, then fast. Feel the difference.
Ask, instead of explaining: What happens when you squeeze it slowly, and then fast?
Learn: the idea
Flour is made of millions of tiny grains. Squeeze slowly and they slide past each other, so it squishes. Squeeze fast and they jam together, so it feels hard. Scientists call this jamming.
Prep
- Stretch a balloon over a funnel.
- Add about 1/3 cup of flour. Tie it off.
- Keep a second balloon for each kid.
Crew for prep: 4 people, about 1.5 hr. Prep happens on the day, from 12:15.
During the event: 2 volunteers. Setup about 15 min. Stretch and tie helpers
Tips
- Pre-fill the balloons. This is the hard, messy step, so do it at a prep session. Stretch a balloon over a funnel or bottle neck and add about ⅓ cup of flour. Tie it off. Prep 100 in about an hour with 3–4 people.
- At the event, the kid's job is to put the filled balloon inside a second balloon (a volunteer stretches the opening), tie it or have a volunteer tie it, and draw a face with a permanent marker.
- Double-layering keeps flour from leaking at home.
Safety
- Ask about latex and wheat allergies.
- Balloon pieces: choking risk under age 8.
- Flour is messy: work over a tray.
Turbo (only if we choose to)
- An oobleck (cornstarch and water) tub that kids punch: their fist bounces off when they hit fast and sinks in when they go slow. It's the same "jamming" science, made big.
Clean up
- Wipe the table and put reusable items in your tote.
- Bag the trash and wash hands.
- Log anything borrowed so it can go back.