*This* is GAK.
Nope, not a terrifying “acckkk!!”
GAK.
Recently, one of the girls had read about sixth-grader Jordan Hilkowitz, in a “TIME For Kids” magazine at school. The article talked about how he conducts science experiments at home and posts them on his YouTube channel, Doctor Mad Science. She had to visit the site herself when she got home, to see just what Doctor Mad Science, who also happens to be autistic, does on his channel.
GAK.
He does lots of fun experiments on that channel, but GAK was the one she chose.
It’s like Silly Putty, and from the moment my daughter saw it, she had to make it. Every day she asked me, “When can we make GAK?”
I’ve made GAK before, way back in my teaching days. I knew it was easy and the ingredients were simple, but it wasn’t something I could just whip up with her right then and there, or any of the quite-a-few times she asked me, especially the one time she asked me while I was baking Christmas Cookies.
“When can we make GAK?”
Every. Day.
Finally, it was school vacation time and her GAK dreams came true. We had all the ingredients needed, right here at home, and a perfect neon green food coloring to make it happen. In fact, she and her dad made it happen.
It doesn’t take long at all to make GAK, and once you’ve got it, there’s lots you can do with it.
Out came the cookie cutters, tools, plastic containers and all kinds of fun took place for several hours with the GAK. It’s fun like Playdoh, but oozy and gooey.
There are lots of recipes out there for GAK, but the one we used had Elmers Glue and Borax in it, like this one. This site, Lil’ Luna gives great step-by-step directions for you once you have your ingredients. Or you can tune in to Doctor Mad Science and watch him make it right before your eyes.
You can Google it, but in general, you too can make GAK if you have the following supplies:
– TWO 4 oz. bottles of Elmer’s Glue (or that type of white, gooey glue)
– 1 tsp. Borax (found in the laundry detergent section of the store)
– Water
– Plastic Cup
– Bowl
– Food Coloring
The website I listed above, has all the instructions on it, as does Doctor Mad Science. And the site above also has an idea at the bottom of her page for the cutest GAK gift and a tutorial to go with it. I hope you’ll check both sites out and try making GAK with your kids too! It’s a great craft, it’s a science experiment and it’s fun and easy! Your kids will love it!
The Whole bag of Chips 