Explore the Wonders of Noise Putty at The Science of Sound’s Science Camps This Summer (2025 Update)
Educational and Fun Activities
Written by Alexandra Stone
12 June 2024
🕓 10 min
Squish, Squeeze, and Learn: The Science of Sound Has Never Been So Fun!
This summer, we’re turning up the volume on learning at the Science of Sound (SOS) Summer Camps with our wacky, wonderful Noise Putty activity! Kids aged 5–12 will get hands-on with this squishy, stretchy, sound-filled substance while diving into the science of air pressure, viscosity, and vibration.
But this isn’t just silly fun—Noise Putty is a science experiment in disguise. Children will explore how materials interact, how sound is created, and how different pressures affect pitch and volume. It’s STEM learning at its messiest and most memorable.
From mixing ingredients to customising their own creations with colours, glitter, or beads, every child will become a mini sound scientist—laughing, learning, and experimenting along the way.
This summer, let your child discover the gooey magic where science meets sensory play
1. What is Noise Putty?
Noise putty—also playfully called fart putty or silly putty—is a squishy, gooey substance that makes funny sounds when squeezed or pressed. But behind the giggles lies a brilliant way to explore the science of sound and pressure.
✅ How It Works: When kids press on the putty, air pockets inside try to escape, producing sound waves—just like air rushing out of a balloon. The friction and vibration of air through the putty are what create those iconic squelches and squeaks!
✅ What Kids Will Learn: Children discover how air pressure, vibration, and material properties work together to generate sound. They’ll learn that the speed and force of their presses affect the sound’s pitch and duration.
✅ Hands-On Chemistry: Kids will create their own noise putty using simple ingredients like white glue, water, and cornstarch, adding their own twist with colours or textures.
📍 Fun Fact: Noise putty is a non-Newtonian fluid, meaning it can behave like a solid or a liquid depending on how much force is applied. That makes it perfect for both squishing and scientific investigation!
In this section, children turn their curiosity into chemistry, discovering how something silly can actually be seriously educational.
For more sound-related experiments, check out our post 5 Child-Friendly Ways to Visualise Sound at Home.
2. The Science Behind Noise Putty: Sound and Pressure
What makes noise putty so satisfying to squeeze? The answer lies in air pressure and vibration—two core concepts that children will experiment with at our SOS Summer Camps.
✅ Air Pressure in Action – When kids press or squish the putty, they force air out of tiny trapped pockets. That sudden release of air creates a vibration, which we perceive as sound.
✅ Speed Changes Pitch – Fast presses force air out quickly, creating high-pitched squeaks, while slow, steady squeezes result in deeper, longer sounds. It’s a simple yet powerful way for kids to explore how sound is affected by movement and speed.
✅ Pressure = Sound Energy – The more pressure applied, the greater the vibration—and the louder or sharper the noise. This introduces children to the idea that sound is energy in motion.
📍 Try It Yourself: At camp or at home, kids can play with their noise putty while pressing at different speeds. Ask:
- What kind of sound do you hear when you press quickly?
- What happens when you press gently?
By linking sound with pressure, children gain a hands-on understanding of physics that’s as entertaining as it is educational!
3. Viscosity: The Gooey Side of Science
Noise putty isn’t just about sound—it’s also an excellent way to explore the fascinating world of viscosity, or how a substance flows.
✅ What is Viscosity? – It’s a measure of how thick or runny a fluid is. Honey has high viscosity (slow to flow), while water has low viscosity (flows easily).
✅ Noise Putty in Action – Noise putty is a non-Newtonian fluid, which means it doesn’t behave like a typical liquid or solid. It flows slowly like a gel but becomes firmer when squeezed, giving kids a hands-on introduction to fluid dynamics.
✅ Recipe Tweaks = Scientific Variables – At SOS Summer Camps, children will learn how changing the amount of water or cornstarch in their recipe affects the putty’s texture.
- More cornstarch? Thicker and stretchier.
- More water? Softer and squishier.
📍 Science in Every Squeeze: As kids stretch, twist, and mould their noise putty, they’ll be investigating how pressure affects flow, linking the way it feels with the properties of the materials they used.
By making and modifying their own gooey creations, campers explore how scientists manipulate ingredients to design specific properties—a messy and marvellous chemistry lesson!
4. Customising Your Noise Putty: Colours, Glitter, and More!
While the science is exciting, part of what makes noise putty magical is the opportunity for personalisation and creativity. At SOS Summer Camps, children don’t just make putty—they make it their own!
✅ Choose Your Colours – Whether it’s neon pink, cosmic blue, or glow-in-the-dark green, kids get to pick from a rainbow of colours to bring their putty to life.
✅ Add Glitter or Beads – For campers who love sparkle or texture, options like glitter, foam beads, and confetti are available to make each batch visually and tactilely unique.
✅ Create a Theme – Want to make superhero putty? Ocean-themed goo? Kids are encouraged to design their putty based on a theme or mood, helping develop visual storytelling and imaginative thinking.
📍 Creative Expression Meets Science: This customisation step lets kids explore how add-ins affect the sound, stretch, and feel of their putty, encouraging them to think critically and creatively at the same time.
Noise putty becomes a canvas for scientific exploration and self-expression, showing campers that science doesn’t have to look the same for everyone—it can sparkle, squish, and giggle too!
5. Educational Benefits of Noise Putty
Don’t let the giggles fool you—noise putty is a powerful educational tool. This simple, squishy material packs in a wide range of STEM learning opportunities that kids absorb naturally through play.
✅ Air Pressure & Sound – Kids see firsthand how air movement and vibration create sound, helping them make connections between energy, force, and hearing.
✅ Fluid Dynamics & Viscosity – Through mixing and moulding, campers learn how different materials interact and how viscosity can be changed—just like real materials scientists do.
✅ Critical Thinking & Problem Solving – Adjusting recipes, testing sound variations, and exploring different add-ins allows children to experiment and evaluate results in real-time.
✅ Sensory & Motor Skills Development – Noise putty offers an excellent tactile experience, strengthening fine motor skills and providing sensory input that supports focus and regulation.
📍 STEM in Disguise: Best of all, kids don’t even realise they’re learning! Every squeeze, stretch, and squeal brings them closer to understanding how the world works—one squish at a time.
Noise putty proves that play and learning go hand in hand, especially when the science is this much fun!
For more STEM-based activities, check out our post 10 Ways STEM Activities Can Help Your Child's Academic and Personal Development.
6. What to Expect at SOS Summer Camps
At Science of Sound (SOS) Summer Camps, noise putty is just the start! Our campers experience a full schedule of hands-on experiments, engineering adventures, and sound-powered science exploration.
✅ Slime-Making Labs – Kids explore the chemistry of different slime recipes, adjusting ingredients to create stretchy, bouncy, or glittery slime while learning about polymers and chemical reactions.
✅ Sound Wave Experiments – Using tuning forks, balloons, and visualisers, campers see and hear how sound moves, interact with different materials, and discover how sound waves behave.
✅ Engineering Challenges – From building egg-protecting karts to designing soundproof boxes, children are challenged to invent, test, and improve their own creations.
✅ Sensory Play Meets STEM – Every activity is designed to blend touch, sound, movement, and scientific inquiry, making learning active and inclusive for every type of learner.
📍 Daily Variety, Consistent Fun: Each day at SOS includes a balance of structured science time, creative design projects, and playful reflection, all led by experienced facilitators passionate about education.
Whether it’s the squeal of noise putty or the quiet focus of a team testing their soundproof structure, every moment at SOS is built for discovery, confidence, and joyful learning.
7. Why Choose SOS for Your Child’s Summer?
At the Science of Sound, we believe science shouldn’t just be read—it should be felt, heard, squeezed, launched, and explored. That’s what sets our summer camps apart.
✅ STEM Made Exciting – We break down complex scientific principles like vibration, air pressure, and material behaviour into fun, accessible experiments children can connect with and remember.
✅ Real Discovery Through Play – Every activity is rooted in curiosity and experimentation. Kids don’t just follow instructions—they ask questions, make predictions, and learn by doing.
✅ Designed for Every Child – Whether your child loves slime, sound waves, or building contraptions, our camps offer something for every interest, learning style, and confidence level.
✅ Skilled & Supportive Staff – Our facilitators are experienced in STEM education and child-led learning, ensuring each child feels encouraged, safe, and celebrated.
📍 Science with Heart: At SOS, we create an atmosphere where kids don’t just learn—they belong. Our goal is to build lifelong curiosity, confidence, and joy in discovery.
Choosing SOS means choosing a summer filled with wonder, laughter, and STEM moments that stick for life.
8. Join Us for a Summer of Scientific Discovery
This summer, don’t just keep your child entertained—ignite their curiosity with an unforgettable STEM experience at the Science of Sound Holiday Camps. From noise putty and slime labs to sound experiments and engineering challenges, every camp day is designed to make science hands-on, joyful, and truly memorable.
✅ Age Range: Perfect for children aged 5–12
✅ Location: Held across multiple venues in London and South London boroughs
✅ Duration: Single-day and multi-day bookings available
✅ Focus Areas: Sound science, creative chemistry, sensory STEM, and engineering play
📍 Reserve Your Spot Today! Our camps fill quickly, and spots are limited to ensure a high-quality experience.
🔗 Ready to register? Visit our Holiday Camps page to secure your child’s place and get ready for a summer of sound, squish, and scientific discovery.
Join us at SOS and watch your child learn, laugh, and grow through science that sticks—with every squeak, squish, and STEM-filled moment!
Final Thoughts: A Summer of Sound, Science, and Squish!
This summer, the Noise Putty activity at SOS Science Camps proves that learning can be loud, gooey, and incredibly fun. From exploring air pressure and sound vibration to creating their own customised putty, kids won’t just walk away with a souvenir—they’ll leave with a deeper understanding of science through hands-on discovery.
Whether they’re stretching for pitch or squeezing for volume, children become sound scientists, mixing creativity with chemistry and curiosity. And while they giggle, squish, and explore, they’re developing critical STEM skills that lay the groundwork for future learning and confidence.
Want to keep the learning alive? Check out our full range of STEM workshops, after-school clubs, and holiday camps to see how your child can continue their sound-powered journey all year round.
At SOS, we don’t just teach science—we help kids feel it, hear it, and love it. One squish at a time!
