Science Story Time Experiment: Slime

Slime at Home Experiment

Explore molecules and polymers by making slime.

Science Story Time Experiment: Slime

Connected Standard

3.2 1.A.6 Participate in simple investigations of matter to answer a question or to test a prediction.

What You Will Need

  • Contact Solution (check to make sure it contains boric acid and sodium borate!)
  • Baking Soda
  • 4 oz Bottle of Elmer's Glue
  • Mixing Bowl
  • Measuring Spoons (1 tbsp, 1/2 tbsp, 1 tsp)
    3 ingredient slime in a metal bowl

Instructions

  1. Pour the whole Elmer's glue bottle into the mixing bowl.
  2. Add 1/2 tsp of baking soda to the glue and stir.
  3. Slowly add 1 and 1/2 tbsp of contact solution into the bowl, stirring as you go. You might not need all of the contact solution (too much will make the slime too hard).
  4. After the slime is to the desired consistency, knead in hands until it becomes less sticky and perfect to play with!

The Science Behind It

Molecules in the glue and molecules in the contact solution combine and stick together. As they combine, they make something called a polymer chain. The polymer chain is what gives us the slime!

Book to Pair With This Experiment

  • Once Upon a Slime by Andy Maxwell

Handout

Download the Three Ingredient Slime Experiment PDF to print or save.