Boredom Buster #1

This post contains affiliate links. If you shop using these links I make a small commission, but you are never charged any extra! And as always, my opinions are completely my own.

We sincerely hope you and your family are faring well and are healthy during this time. While we are all at home, it is important to keep your nerd occupied. With school at home and very few opportunities to get outside, I would like to offer a few activities that can be done around the house with what you have on hand. These boredom busters will hopefully give you and your nerd a little break from everything happening in the world.

 

Oobleck

Material:

• Cornstarch
• Pitcher of water
• Pie pans – Aluminum Pie Pans are best
• Measuring cups
• Mixing spoon
• Newspaper for covering tables
• Food coloring or tempera paint

Steps:

1. Place one and a half cups of cornstarch in a pie pan
2. Add one cup of water, and stir well.
3. Add more water or cornstarch until you get a mixture that ‘tears’ when you quickly scrape your finger through it and then ‘melts’ back together again.
4. Squeeze it…Squish it…Scoop it…Pinch it…What happens?

Notes:

If you want to color your Oobleck, add some tempera paint. You can use food coloring if that’s all you have on hand. Food coloring tends to stain more than the paint, especially if you have a spill while preparing your Oobleck.

DO NOT POUR YOUR OOBLECK DOWN THE DRAIN!!!!

Oobleck is a suspension, not a solution. The cornstarch does not dissolve in the water as salt or sugar would. The tiny starch particles are suspended in the liquid. If you let it sit long enough in a glass, the cornstarch will settle to the bottom leaving a layer of clear water on the top. This is why it is very important NOT to pour Oobleck down the drain. Should the suspension separate in your drain pipes, you will be left with a hard clump of cornstarch that will block the drain. The best way to get rid of your Oobleck is to simply put it in your trash can.

Subscribe to my free newsletter and download pdf copies of Boredom Buster Activities.

First Name

Email address:

Leave this field empty if you're human:

Lava Lamp

Material:

• Vegetable oil, or any clear oil
• Water
• Food coloring of your choice
• Alka-Seltzer Tablets
• Clear container – tall and thin
  

Steps:

1. Fill the container with 2 parts oil, 1 part water. Leave some room at the top.
2. Drop-in a few drops of food coloring
3. Add an Alka-Selzer Tablet – start with 1/4 or a half a tablet
4. Watch it fizz and bubble up to the top!

If you do not have Alka-Seltzer at home

Material:

• Vegetable oil, or any clear oil
• Vinegar
• Food coloring
• Clear container – tall and thin
• Small cup
• Spoon
• Baking soda
  

Steps:

1. Add three tablespoons of baking soda to the container.
2. Fill two-thirds of your tall container with oil. The baking soda will stay on the bottom for the container, do not try to mix it with the oil.
3. In a separate small container, mix the vinegar and three drops of food coloring.
4. Add drops of the colored vinegar to your big container and start watching your lava lamp fizz and bubble. Do not empty the vinegar at once. Do it slowly to make the fun last.

Notes: 

The Alka-seltzer, or baking soda, reacts with the water to produce carbon dioxide gas bubbles. These stick to the water droplets. The water/gas combo is less dense than the oil, so they rise to the top of the bottle

At the top, the gas bubbles pop and escape into the air, allowing the dense water to sink back to the bottom again.

For a glowing effect, use a phone or a Lantern to light up the bottle or the cup.

Subscribe to my free newsletter and download pdf copies of Boredom Buster Activities.

First Name

Email address:

Leave this field empty if you're human:

Rainbow Rice 

Rainbow rice is wonderful and relaxing for sensory play. It is colorful, makes a fun, calming noise when poured, and is great for fine-motor development. It is also great for use in arts and crafts.

Materials:

• Uncooked, white rice 
• Food coloring
• Zip-seal bags
• Vinegar or water

Steps:

1. Pour 1 cup of rice into a large zip-seal bag, using one bag for each color of rice.
2. Add several drops of food coloring to each bag along with 2 tablespoons of vinegar.
3. Seal the bags, and have your nerds mix and shake them until colored.
4. Once happy with the color of your rice open the bags and leave them to dry. This will take 4-6 hours.  
5. Once dry seal the bags again, and then give them to kids to break the rice up, as it does stick together while drying.
6. Pour the colored rice varieties into a large bin or individual containers.

Notes:

Crafts with Rainbow Rice:

• Tape closed one side of a toilet paper or paper towel roll. Add some rice and tape the other side. 
• Fill a small container or bottle 1/2 way with colored rice and shake to make music. If you have toddlers you can use tape or hot glue to seal the lid shut. Plastic eggs work great.
• Use a glue stick to create pictures.

Store your rainbow rice in sealed jars or bags, and it can be used again and again!

Subscribe to my free newsletter and download pdf copies of Boredom Buster Activities.

First Name

Email address:

Leave this field empty if you're human:

Since we are all so digitally connected while we are home, make sure you sanitize your phone.  There are 25,127 bacteria per square inch on a cell phone.  Be sure to check out my post on Cleaning Your Nerd’s Phone.

Looking for online activities to keep your nerd occupied at home? Check out my list of Free Online Summer Camps. Most of them are available year-round.