Moo Glue

Add to list Go to activity
Activity link broken? See if it's at the internet archive
Using a milk-based recipe, learners create "moo glue" which is basically white school-type glue. The "secret ingredient" in milk that helps make glue is a chemical called casein. By combining vinegar and milk, learners separate out solid curds made of casein. Then they combine the curds with baking soda to create glue. Adult supervision is recommended for this activity.

Quick Guide

Preparation Time:
Under 5 minutes
Learning Time:
30 to 45 minutes
Estimated Materials Cost:
$1 - $5 per group of students
Age Range:
Ages 6 - 14
Resource Types:
Activity, Experiment/Lab Activity
Language:
English

Materials List (per group of students)

  • 1/4 cup liquid skim or nonfat milk (warm or hot) [or 2 tablespoons powdered milk mixed wiht 1/4 cup hot tap water]
  • 1 teaspoon vinegar (or more)
  • 1/4 or 1/2 teaspoon baking soda (or more if needed)
  • 1 or 2 teaspoons water
  • Paper towels or coffee filter paper
  • 2 bowls or containers
  • Measuring cup
  • Measuring spoons
  • Spoon or fork

Keywords

Subjects

  • Physical Sciences
    • Chemistry
      • Acids and Bases
  • The Nature of Technology
    • The Design Process
      • Problem Solving

Informal Categories

  • Arts and Crafts
  • Food and Cooking

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see
  • touch

Learning styles supported:

  • Involves hands-on or lab activities

Other

This resource is part of:

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

Rights:

  • All rights reserved, The Regents of the University of California, 2010