This adorable DIY bouncy ball is Kelley green and a super-fun way to learn how to make a bouncy ball! This St. Patrick’s Day, we’re going all out for hands-on St. Patrick’s Day STEM. We’re focusing mainly on science, and STEM topics this year, and my kids loved their Valentine’s bouncy ball experiment so much, we decided to do a bouncy balls experiment variation for St. Patrick’s Day. Find out how to make a bouncy ball and how to make it into a STEM lesson below!
Kids will have a blast with the bouncy ball experiment.
Table of Contents
The 411 on the DIY Bouncy Ball Activity
Here’s how you can turn your DIY bouncy ball project into a science experiment.
Discuss why this ball isn’t quite as bouncy as rubber balls.
- Why would the glue mixture not bounce as much?
- What is the science behind the thick slime mixture?
Add variables to find the best and bounciest recipe for your bouncy ball.
Teacher Apparel for St. Patrick’s Day
Here are some of the cutest shirts you can wear for St. Patrick’s Day at school!
Sequin Clover St. Patrick’s Day Teacher Shirt
Shenanigans Coordinator St. Patrick’s Day Teacher Shirt
My Students are Lucky Charms St. Patrick’s Day Teacher Shirt
Inclusive St Patrick’s Day Teacher Shirt
Lucky Clover St. Patrick’s Day Teacher Shirt
Have a Lucky Day Teacher Shirt for St. Patrick’s Day
Irish Alphabet St. Paddy’s Teacher Shirt
St. Patrick’s Day Shirt for Math Teachers
One Lucky Teacher St. Patrick’s Day Shirt
Bouncy Ball Science Experiment Explanation
The science of the DIY bouncy ball is as follows.
Chemicals in the borax mix with chemicals in the glue, which creates long, polymer chains.
These chains are shortened when less liquid is used and more borax powder is added.
So, instead of long, stretchy slime like you get with some recipes, you get a firm ball of flexible polymer chains.
When you drop this on the ground, the ball flexes and the force of the ball hitting the ground causes it to bounce back into the air.
Kids Bouncy Ball STEM Extensions
Making the ball is only the first part of what makes this DIY bouncy ball experiment so interesting. What makes this project educational is the math and science behind the activity.
With this activity, kids are open to discussing physics, polymers, gravity, the laws of motion, and energy.
The reason these DIY bouncy balls don’t bounce as high as rubber balls is fairly complicated.
Simply put, since the balls are made of a softer material, when they hit the ground, they absorb some of the reaction and bend, rather than bouncing.
The more energy you expend dropping or throwing the ball, the higher it will bounce.
Experiment with changing the shape of the ball or comparing bounce height to a traditional bouncy ball.
More St. Patrick’s Day STEM Activities
Try these fun STEM activities for St. Patrick’s Day!
Supplies for making bouncy balls:
Here is what you need to make a DIY bouncy ball for St. Patrick’s Day or any other time of year!
St. Patrick STEM Activity Resources for the Classroom
Here are some fun St. Patrick’s themed STEM products you can use with your students this March!
St. Patrick’s Day STEM Activities
MagiCoders Rainbow Unicorn Coding Kit
St. Patrick’s Day Bingo Classroom Kit
Kaleidoscope STEAM Kit for the Classroom
Clixo Rainbow Engineering Classroom Set
Disappearing Rainbow Science Experiment
Fools Gold Science Dig Classroom Kit
Leprechaun Trap STEM Classroom Kit
How to Make a DIY Bouncy Ball
This fun bouncy ball science experiment is perfect for St. Patrick’s Day thanks to its bright green color!
In one of the plastic cups, mix 2 tablespoons of glue, 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and a few drops of green food coloring.
In the second cup, mix 4 tablespoons of hot water and 1 teaspoon of borax powder. Mix until the borax is dissolved, or else your bouncy ball will be grainy.
Add the liquid mixture to the glue cup. Stir with a fork until you can’t anymore, then take it out and squish it between your hands.
There might be pockets of glue, so be careful. Keep massaging the mixture until it starts to form a ball.
Once the mixture fully hardens, you can roll it into a ball.
Try out your new ball on any hard surface! Watch as it bounces to nearly waist height.
St. Patrick’s Day Classroom Decorations
Here are some fun St. Patrick’s Day classroom decorations you can add to your classroom this March for festive flair and St. Paddy’s Day pride!
St Patrick’s Day Door Wreath for the Classroom
Pot of Gold Tinsel Tabletop Decoration
St. Patrick’s Day Rainbow Welcome Sign
St. Patrick’s Day Classroom Door Decorations
St. Patrick’s Day Window Clings for the Classroom
St. Patrick’s Day Door Decorations for the Classroom
Pot of Gold and Rainbow Ceiling Hanging
Lucky Hanging St. Patrick’s Decorations
St. Patrick’s Day Banner Decoration Set
Colorful St. Patrick’s Day Classroom Decoration Bundle
And check out even more St. Patrick’s Day teaching resources below!
- St. Patrick’s Teaching Resources
- St. Patrick’s Day Crafts
- St. Patrick’s Day Classroom Kits
- St. Patrick’s Classroom Decorations
Older kids will have a blast making a light up shamrock.
Of course, you won’t want to miss making rainbow slime for ST. Patrick’s Day! You can also try this glitter rainbow slime recipe or this fluffy rainbow slime recipe.