Making Slime

I've been wanting to share my experience with making slime with my students last week, but life sure gets away with us, doesn't it?  
 

  My district has a wonderful Distance Learning program, and our Tech person is able to bring the cameras right into the classroom!  We were lucky to be connected to an enthusiastic teacher from the Ann Arbor Hands on Museum. 

Click HERE for their website!  (Ever notice how the kids tend to tune out their regular teacher, but pay attention to a total stranger?). Well, we had all the "slime materials" all set up, which certainly helped hold their attention this dismal day during the week before vacation.  (We are no fools, we know when to schedule the good stuff!)

The activity started with a lively discussion of the three basic states of matter and the differences between them. The children even got out of their seats and moved around like solids, liquids, and gases!  (This is a group that needs to move!)

Then we made the first batch of slime.  One big advantage of having someone else do the teaching is that I get to pay attention to their reactions, which is great fun when watching the kids dig their fingers into slime!

Slime #1

• borax powder
• water
• white glue
• green food coloring (optional)

Mix separately: 
6 teaspoons glue, 6 teaspoons water and food coloring (optional)

1/4  cup water and 1/4 teaspoon borax

Mix together slowly.  When slime has formed, pick up and knead it.

The first slime had the consistency of silly putty, and they actually got to take a little bit of that home. 

Slime #2

2 parts Cornstarch  to 1 part water

The second slime was messier and very interesting. If you tapped it quickly, it felt hard. If you slowly touched the slime, it was drippy, and, well... slimy!

In conclusion, we realized that the slime was neither a solid, liquid, or gas. It was a state known as non-Newtonian fluids. Some other substances with this same state are jello, blood, and...boogers!  If you know second graders like I know second graders, you can bet there was a strong reaction to that tidbit of information.  And they will definitely remember it!

"Loved it!"

"It was squishy!"

"It was gooey!"

"Slimable!"