Swirl Glowing Bounce Balls
Create your own glow-in-the-dark bounce balls with this fun DIY craft that sparks creativity and science through the fascinating reaction of polymers.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1/2 cup warm water Make sure the water is warm for better mixing.
- 1/2 cup white school glue Standard school glue works best for this recipe.
- 1/2 cup liquid starch This causes the polymer reaction.
- to taste glow-in-the-dark paint (or powder) Adjust the amount based on desired brightness.
- optional food coloring Use to create unique swirling patterns.
Tools
- 1 mixing bowl
- 1 spoon or stick for stirring
- 1 baking sheet or tray For drying the bounce balls.
- 1 parchment paper To catch spills during the process.
- 1 latex gloves For kneading the mixture.
Instructions
Preparation
- Clear a flat surface and lay down parchment paper to catch any spills.
- In a mixing bowl, mix 1/2 cup of warm water with 1/2 cup of white school glue. Stir until well blended.
- Add a desired amount of glow-in-the-dark paint to your glue mixture. Stir gently to combine.
- Slowly add 1/2 cup of liquid starch to the mixture while stirring continuously. You'll notice it starting to thicken almost immediately.
- Once combined, put on latex gloves and knead the mixture with your hands. This is where you can add optional food coloring, creating beautiful swirl patterns.
- Take small amounts of the mixture and roll them into balls of your desired size. Place them on the baking sheet.
- Allow the balls to dry for at least an hour before playing with them.
Notes
Consider mixing different colors of glow-in-the-dark paint for colorful swirls. If you can't find liquid starch, you can substitute it with borax—just follow the proper proportions.