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How to Make a DIY Bouncy Ball

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!

This adorable DIY bouncy balls experiment is Kelley green and a super-fun, hands-on way to add St. Patrick's Day science to your classroom! Follow this bouncy balls recipe to learn how to make your own bouncy ball. Make a green bouncy ball for St. Patrick's Day! #stpatricksday #stemactivities #kidsactivities #scienceexperiment

Kids will have a blast with the bouncy ball experiment.

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!

clover socks

Clover Socks

black clover socks

Black Clover Socks

rainbow slouch socks

Rainbow Slouchy Socks

sequin clover

Sequin Clover St. Patrick’s Day Teacher Shirt

shenanigans coordinator teacher shirt

Shenanigans Coordinator St. Patrick’s Day Teacher Shirt

lucky charms teacher shirt

My Students are Lucky Charms St. Patrick’s Day Teacher Shirt

inclusion st patricks day teacher shirt

Inclusive St Patrick’s Day Teacher Shirt

lucky dandilion teacher shirt

Lucky Clover St. Patrick’s Day Teacher Shirt

have a lucky day teacher shirt

Have a Lucky Day Teacher Shirt for St. Patrick’s Day

st patricks day alphabet teacher shirt

Irish Alphabet St. Paddy’s Teacher Shirt

math clover teacher shirt

St. Patrick’s Day Shirt for Math Teachers

one lucky teacher teacher shirt

One Lucky Teacher St. Patrick’s Day Shirt

Bouncy Ball Science Experiment Explanation

The science of the DIY bouncy ball is as follows.

how to make a bouncy ball

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.

diy bouncy balls

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!

leprechaun trap and other st patricks day stem activities

St. Patrick’s Day STEM Activities

unicorn magicoders game

MagiCoders Rainbow Unicorn Coding Kit

st patrick bingo

St. Patrick’s Day Bingo Classroom Kit

diy kaleidoscope classroom steam kit

Kaleidoscope STEAM Kit for the Classroom

clixo rainbow stem pack

Clixo Rainbow Engineering Classroom Set

solar rainbow maker

Make a Rainbow Science Kit

disappearing rainbow science demonstration kit

Disappearing Rainbow Science Experiment

fools gold dig science kit

Fools Gold Science Dig Classroom Kit

leprechaun trap 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!

elementary stem challenge cards

In one of the plastic cups, mix 2 tablespoons of glue, 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and a few drops of green food coloring. 

This adorable DIY bouncy ball is Kelley green and a super-fun, hands-on way to add St. Patrick's Day science to your classroom!

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.

This adorable DIY bouncy ball is Kelley green and a super-fun, hands-on way to add St. Patrick's Day science to your classroom!

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.

This adorable DIY bouncy ball is Kelley green and a super-fun, hands-on way to add St. Patrick's Day science to your classroom!

Once the mixture fully hardens, you can roll it into a ball.

bouncy ball experiment

Try out your new ball on any hard surface! Watch as it bounces to nearly waist height.

st patrick stem challenges

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 patricks day wreath

St Patrick’s Day Door Wreath for the Classroom

st patricks day pot of gold classroom decoration

Pot of Gold Tinsel Tabletop Decoration

st patricks day pot of gold rainbow welcome sign

St. Patrick’s Day Rainbow Welcome Sign

st patricks classroom decorating kit

St. Patrick’s Day Classroom Door Decorations

st patricks day window clings

St. Patrick’s Day Window Clings for the Classroom

st patricks day door decoration kit

St. Patrick’s Day Door Decorations for the Classroom

rainbow ceiling banner

Pot of Gold and Rainbow Ceiling Hanging

st patricks classroom decorating kit

Lucky Hanging St. Patrick’s Decorations

st patrick classroom decorating kit

St. Patrick’s Day Banner Decoration Set

st patricks day decorating kit for classroom

Colorful St. Patrick’s Day Classroom Decoration Bundle

And check out even more St. Patrick’s Day teaching resources below!

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.

Share this project with a friend!