Frozen Oobleck Insect Sensory Bin

With Spring in the air, it’s the perfect time to make a frozen oobleck insect sensory bin. Colorful bug toys and easy pantry supplies will have your kids “goin’ buggy” for this sensory-meets-science treat.

A preschool child cups her hands together, holding a handful of brown oobleck with plastic insect toys in it. Below her is a Frozen Oobleck Insect Sensory Bin.

What is a frozen oobleck insect sensory bin?

Just when you thought oobleck was the coolest thing in the world, it gets cooler (literally).

The best part? Frozen oobleck is made from the same ingredients and follows the same directions as regular oobleck. The only difference is that it’s put in the freezer the night before.

When you toss some bugs into the oobleck before popping it into the freezer, suddenly, you have a two-for-one activity: Kids get to excavate bugs and later play with the ooey, gooey sensory material.

There’s simply nothing not to love!

Related: Download our FREE “Insect vs. Not an Insect” photo sort for literacy + science fun

Three photos: (1) a close up of frozen oobleck with plastic insects inside, sitting in an orange tray, (2) a preschooler holds the frozen oobleck chunk in her hands and looks excitedly at it, (3) a close up of a red plastic insect frozen between two chunks of frozen oobleck.

Why science and sensory go hand-in-hand

When teachers create their weekly lesson plans to explore insects, they often categorize them as science lessons.

During the lesson, the teacher might read some books about insects, introduce photos of insects, and talk about their characteristics.

But what if I told you that sensory play elevated and reinforced science?

After kids learn the scientific foundations of the insect world, when they play with an activity like this, you’ll overhear kids use language such as:

“My insect is hiding in its habitat.”
“The caterpillar has the same number of legs as the beetle.”
“I can see the ladybug’s three body parts.”

When children are provided with opportunities to play and use the knowledge they have been told, learning skyrockets.

Don’t miss these other bug & insect faves!

Two Frozen Oobleck Insect Sensory Bins sit on a table, one in an orange tray and the other in a green tray. Both show frozen solid oobleck with colorful plastic insects peeking out.

Materials

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Cornstarch
Water
Cocoa powder – you could also use brown paint or brown liquid watercolors
Shallow tra y
Bug and insect toys – we used the large class-sized set, but this adorable smaller set is another fave of ours
Popsicle sticks – or other hard item for excavating the bugs

a child sits outside on a colorful tablecloth, smiling and playing with the Frozen Oobleck Insect Sensory Bin. The oobleck in one of the trays has begin to thaw and looks more liquidy.

Let’s make a frozen oobleck insect sensory bin

Part 1: Make the oobleck

First, make your oobleck by mixing two parts cornstarch with one part water in a shallow tray (ex: 2 cups cornstarch + 1 cup water).

To make your oobleck brown, you can try either method:

Add cocoa powder directly into your cornstarch + water mix (as much as you want)
Color your water brown with either paint or liquid watercolors before mixing with the cornstarch

Mix until thoroughly combined. You’ll know your oobleck is perfect when it feels firm when you squeeze a handful but oozes through your fingers when you release pressure.

Add several plastic bugs and insects to your shallow oobleck tray.

Freeze overnight.

Part 2: Excavate the insects + play with melting oobleck

Provide your child with a popsicle stick and invite them to try and excavate the insects from the frozen oobleck block.

As the oobleck thaws, it will transform from a hard chunk of frozen oobleck to melty, fluid, ooey oobleck.

Three photos of a preschool child holding her hands up and watching the brown oobleck ooze and string between her fingers.

What happens to oobleck when it freezes?

When your tray is first popped out of the freezer, it will be a frozen solid block (and absolutely fantastic).

Provide your child with popsicle sticks and invite them to try to excavate the insects. We had a blast removing the frozen oobleck chunk and dropping it to break it into smaller, more manageable pieces.

Tip: To expedite the thawing process, you can:

Try this activity on a warm day
Remove the frozen oobleck from the freezer about 30 minutes before you’re ready to play
Set your tray in the sun to help it melt faster

In the preschool classroom, we are outside for a 2+ block of play, and this can easily stretch for two hours of fun as it changes states.

A preschool child plays with the Frozen Oobleck Insect Sensory Bin. A green tray is filled with brown frozen oobleck that has begun to thaw with plastic insect toys in it.

How to clean your frozen oobleck insect sensory bin

Oobleck is always easiest to clean by letting it dry out completely.

Leave your oobleck trays out for several days until it’s bone-dry.

Once it’s dry, it easily breaks into large pieces, and the plastic insects are easy to remove.

A preschool child plays with two Frozen Oobleck Insect Sensory Bins. A green tray is filled with brown frozen oobleck that has begun to thaw with plastic insect toys in it. An orange tray has pieces that are still frozen and hard.

FAQ

What age is this recommended for?

Any that can safely enjoy the activity. While this can be made taste-safe (if using cocoa powder vs. brown paint), provide appropriate adult supervision to ensure children aren’t ingesting the materials.

How long does oobleck last?

It can last for days! If you leave your container uncovered, it will slowly dry out over time, but with a little extra water added, it’s back to perfect oobleck in no time.

Is oobleck easy to make?

It’s unbelievably easy to make. It uses simple ingredients and comes together in just a couple of minutes. It so easy to make that we often have the children help us make it.