Super Squishy Science Fun!
Materials You'll Need:
- 4 oz (1/2 cup) Washable School Glue (like Elmer's White Glue)
- 1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1 tablespoon Contact Lens Solution (must contain boric acid and sodium borate - check the label!)
- Optional: Food coloring (a few drops)
- Optional: Glitter
- Mixing bowl
- Mixing spoon or craft stick
- Measuring spoons
- Measuring cup
Let's Make Slime!
Hi Scientist! Today we're going to mix things together like real chemists and make our very own ooey-gooey slime! Are you ready?
- Glue Time: First, carefully pour the entire bottle of glue (or measure 1/2 cup) into your mixing bowl. Look at the glue. What does it feel like? Is it thick or thin?
- Add Some Color (Optional): If you want colored slime, add 2-3 drops of your favorite food coloring to the glue. Stir it up really well until the color is mixed in evenly. What happens to the white glue?
- Sparkle Power (Optional): If you like sparkles, now's the time! Sprinkle in some glitter and give it another good stir.
- The Magic Powder: Measure 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda and sprinkle it into your glue mixture. Stir, stir, stir until it's all mixed together. Does the mixture look different yet?
- The Activator!: This is the super important step! Measure 1 tablespoon of the contact lens solution. Slowly pour it into the bowl while stirring. Keep stirring! You'll start to see the mixture get thicker and pull away from the sides of the bowl. It's turning into slime!
- Get Your Hands Ready: Once it's too thick to stir with the spoon, take the slime out of the bowl. It might be a little sticky at first. Knead it with your hands like you're playing with dough. Squish it, stretch it, fold it! Keep kneading for a minute or two.
- Slime Time!: Wow, look what you made! How does the slime feel now? Is it stretchy? Squishy? Bouncy? Describe your slime!
Clean Up Time!
Science experiments can be messy, but cleaning up is part of the fun! Make sure to put away your materials and wash your hands. Store your slime in an airtight container or zip-top bag when you're done playing.
What Did We Learn?
We mixed different things (glue, baking soda, contact solution) and made something totally new – slime! The contact lens solution helped the glue molecules link together to become stretchy and squishy. That's chemistry in action!