Buckets-O-Fun has been providing yucky-but-fun materials for group events for the last several years, but soon, they will be adding a new line of products – affordable science projects for all ages.
*** Check out the picture gallery at the end! ***
We recently experimented with four Yuck products: Chunky, Sticky, Saucy, and Snowy. Provided with small samples, each about a tablespoon in size, and a instructional brochure with experiment instructions, it was enough to experiment and play with, and yet not require a large area or significant clean-up.
The instructions were easy to understand, and gave suggestions specific to the type of Yuck, and were simple to use for verbal discussion as we mixed, poked at, and played with the mixtures.
Very little preparation is needed, other then gathering containers, mixing utensils, and water. It’s helpful for the parent to read through the instructions beforehand, so you have some idea what to expect, though you might want to hide the brochure from the kids. Mine were already anticipating the growth through absorbtion of the water, but there were times they were still surprised. (The very fast growth of Snowy brought shocked laughter – and speculation as to what a pound of the stuff would be like in a pool.
Any age, toddler and up, will enjoy playing with the yuck. (Supervision recommended with those still in the puts-everything-in-mouth stage, though since it’s non-toxic, paranoia can be kept at a minimum.) The science experiement suggestions can be adapted to fit your homeschool style and the age of the kids. For us, hands-on and open-ended discussion was a perfect fit, yet it would be just as feasible to follow the scientific method and write out lab reports.
Yuck is reusable if allowed to dry into original form. I can’t share those with you – I forgot “before” pictures, and we’re still waiting on it to dry out, thanks to rain and humidity. (And, I suspect, kids that are adding water to the buckets!) Spreading the Yuck out on cookie sheets to dry is recommended, but we needed to use ours… and I’m not sure I want Sticky anywhere near them, anyway!
Yuck was most definitely a hit in our house, and my too-much-public school, science-hating Tiger took another step toward science fun through this interactive project. He even asked questions beyond what the material covered – which makes it a VERY successful project in my book.
Yuck may be purchased from Buckets-O-Fun in 1, 5, or 50 lb packages. The price for one pound – more then enough for home use – ranges from $16-20. One free sample per individual is available – see the information at the bottom of the Yuck page. Buckets-O-Fun also has a variety of other interesting items available, specializing in group events.
To see what other crew members had to say about this product, check out the TOS Homeschool Crew blog post, Buckets-O-Fun ~ Yuck.
**I received this product for free as a member of the 2010-11 The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew so that I could provide you with an honest review of it by our family.**
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