Creating homemade slime is a great activity to do with children. It can be a lifesaver on a rainy day when the kids are restless, a memorable activity at a child’s party, or a featured part of a creepy Halloween event. But perhaps most importantly, how to make slime can also be used to introduce basic chemistry concepts to children, no matter what their ages. Though the real purpose is to have fun, it never hurts to introduce children to new ideas and vocabulary. Though the feel of the slime is what will elicit reactions, some of the new concepts will sink in as well!
Making Slime
First, remember that the key to making slime enjoyable and educational is to consider the age of the children, the amount of mess that can be tolerated, and the basic chemistry concepts you wish to highlight.
For preschoolers, the focus can be very simple: observing how the ingredients react or look when combined. Adults may wish to emphasize such words as “experiment” or “reaction” to reinforce new vocabulary, but for this age group, the learning is a totally tactile experience. Being able to feel the coolness and smoothness of the slime will be worth the experience.
With lower elementary age children, emphasis may be on how recipes or “experiments” should be controlled through careful measurement (cups, ounces), and maybe even comparison or “control” recipes can be used. These are concepts with which they are already familiar, or will be shortly. For example, more than one recipe for slime may be used, allowing the children to compare and contrast the outcomes. Though the recipe that follows has the best result, there are other Internet recipes that can be used for comparison.
How to Make Slime
For upper elementary age children, the actual chemical names of the ingredients may be useful to emphasize. For example, poly vinyl acetate is the chemical name for glue, and sodium tetraborate decahydrate represents Borax. The end result (slime) is actually the creation of a highly flexible polymer (plastic). The main idea, however, is to help this age group understand that even everyday ingredients are chemical compositions – even such a fun and simple creation as slime.
Obviously, the slime is not edible so young children should be monitored. Also, if food coloring is used, use some care near fabrics to prevent stains. It’s probably best to restrict slime to easy to clean surfaces such as counters, table tops, or other hard surfaces.
Recipe for Making Slime at Home for Kids
The following outlines a basic recipe for making slime at home for kids.
To begin, have the following items on hand: two glass or plastic containers, a mixing spoon, Elmer’s white glue (the Elmer’s brand is recommended since it has the correct chemical makeup), Borax (found near laundry detergents in stores), water, food coloring, and resealable plastic bags. If food coloring is used, line the work surface with newspaper.
- Step One: Combine one teaspoon Borax in 1 cup of water in a bowl. Stir until the Borax dissolves. (Note: if a runnier slime is preferred, use a little less Borax; if a firmer slime is desired, use a tiny bit more Borax.)
- Step Two: Combine ½ cup water with ½ cup glue in the second bowl. Add a few drops of food coloring if desired. Mix thoroughly.
- Step Three: Add the two separate mixes together in one of the bowls. Using a sturdy mixing spoon, blend them together until it is almost impossible to continue. Remove the slime from the bowl by hand, allowing any remaining water or liquid mixture to stay in the bowl since some of it may not be absorbed. Discard the remaining liquid.
Allow the children to play immediately with the slime. Let them observe how it feels, looks, and moves. As it is used multiple times, the slime will toughen a little and become more like putty, so children should be warned.
To keep the slime in top condition, always seal it in airtight resealable plastic bags. Refrigeration is recommended since mold may form otherwise.
Any family activity is enjoyable, but children love this simple creation because of its odd and creepy tactile sense. The younger children will especially enjoy their creation since it’s a gooey, wonderful mess, something mom and dad don’t normally allow. Along the way, they will have also learned something. Enjoy!
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