• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

What Do We Do All Day logo

  • Start Here
  • Books
    • Classics
      • 20th Century Classics
    • Early Chapter Books
    • Easy Readers
    • Folktales
    • Holiday Books
    • Middle Grade (8-12 years)
    • Nonfiction
    • Picture Books
    • Read Aloud Chapter Books
  • Games
    • Traditional Games
  • Kids Activities
    • Arts and Crafts
    • Literacy & Writing
    • Math
    • Playful Activities
    • Science
    • Toddler
  • Parenting
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Books for kids
  • Games
  • Indoor activities for kids
  • Parenting
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
  • ×
    You are here: Home / Learn / Science / How to Make a Rubber Ball With Two Common Ingredients

     

    How to Make a Rubber Ball With Two Common Ingredients

    568 shares
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    That's right! A homemade rubber ball! Today's guest post comes from All Things Beautiful. Phyllis homeschools her five beautiful children and posts about some amazing projects. I also love that her posts include easy to follow tutorials and the history and facts behind the lesson.

    We have been having fun with polymers, or long chains of molecules that link together to make slimy or rubbery things...just the kind of thing boys like. Here is a simple experiment using things you probably have around the house that will engage your young boys. They love making something they can play with.
    First put one teaspoon of vinegar in a clean Mason jar.
    Next, heat ½ cup of milk in a little pan on the stove until lumps form.
     Scoop out the lumps into the jar with vinegar. You may need to pour off the liquid really slowly to get to the lumps.
    Let it all sit for about an hour.
    You'll notice a rubbery blob form.
    You can shape it into a little round ball, and then let it sit and harden for a few hours on a paper towel.
    What is the science behind it?
    The vinegar and milk interact with each other. When you cook the milk, it separates into 2 parts; a liquid, and a solid that is made of fat, minerals, and a protein called casein. The vinegar interacts with the milk protein, making a polymer or a long chain of molecules that bend like rubber.
    We use casein to make glue and plastics.
    More science at home:
    • 10 Best after school science experiments
    • How to make a simple circuit
    • DIY summer science camp
    two beakers with red and blue liquid
    Want Your Kids to Love Being Unplugged?
    Subscribe to our newsletter and as a thank you, receive 10 waiting games kids can play anytime anywhere.
    Your email will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party. Click here to view our privacy policy.
    « Month to Month: Why Magazines are Good for Kids
    Homemade Toddler Lacing Activity »
    568 shares
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jamie says

      January 14, 2011 at 3:21 pm

      This is partly how we make paneer (Indian cheese). Never thought of it as a polymer, interesting!

      Reply
    2. Luisa says

      January 14, 2011 at 3:30 pm

      I just came over from All Things Beautiful this looks really neat.

      Reply
    3. An Almost Unschooling Mom says

      January 14, 2011 at 3:53 pm

      We've made the borax version - but this is diffrent - I like it 🙂

      Reply
    4. Raising a Happy Child says

      January 14, 2011 at 7:11 pm

      Fascinating stuff. Great guest post. I haven't forgotten about my promise - we just didn't do anything lately that I thought would be a good fit.

      Reply
    5. Darcey says

      January 23, 2011 at 8:12 pm

      I've never seen this before. It's neat! It's a nice science lesson too. This was one of my favorite posts for this week and I've linked up to it here: http://play2grow.blogspot.com/2011/01/weekly-favorites-for-january-23-2011.html

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Erica! I believe parents can stay sane without giving their kids an electronic device. Learn how!

    More about me →

    Newsletter

    Join over 15,000 subscribers who said "Yes! I want to unplug my kids!" We'll send you 10 waiting games your kids can play anytime, anywhere. Join here -->

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • About the Site

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and join over 15,000 other families finding ways reduce screen time.

    Other Stuff

    We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

    Copyright © 2023 What Creative Media LLC

    Want Your Kids to Love Being Unplugged?
    Subscribe to our newsletter and as a thank you, receive 10 waiting games kids can play anytime anywhere.
    Your email will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party. Click here to view our privacy policy.
    Want More Free Activity Ideas?
    Join our email list and as a thank you gift I'll send you a list of 10 waiting games that will make your kids smarter.
    Your email will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party. Click here to view our privacy policy.
    Want your kids to love being unplugged?
    Join our newsletter and as a thank you, I'll send you a list of 10 waiting games.
    Your email will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party. Click here to view our privacy policy.