Silly Slime

Purpose: Slime is disgusting to grown-ups but extremely interesting to children. In making slime, children learn to follow directions and that the printed word is meaningful.  The other benefit of this activity is vocabulary development as they describe what they are seeing and feeling.  Although touch will be the primary sense involved, the one sense this activity should NOT involve is taste.  

 

 

Materials/Advance Preparation:

• A pictogram chart for the recipe:

  Mixing bowls (2)
  Measuring cup
  2 Cups Elmer’s glue
  12 Cups of warm water
  Food coloring
  1 Tbs. Borax (found in the supermarket near laundry detergents)
  1 1/3 Cups warm water

 

Directions:  Refer to the pictogram throughout:

1. Combine glue, 12 cups warm water and several drops of color in one bowl.
2. In the other bowl combine borax and 1 1/3 cups warm water until dissolved.
3. Pour the borax solution into the glue solution.
4. Mix and knead until all of the water is incorporated. 
5. Encourage their spontaneous descriptions of what they are feeling and echo their descriptions back to them.
6. Ask for words that describe how the slime feels, looks, smells, but be sure to warn the children to keep the slime away from their mouths.
7. Store in an airtight container and remind children to wash their hands.

    

 

Notes: The children have actually created a polymer. Although this is not toxic, children should be warned to keep the slime away from their mouths.

 

 

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