From Classroom to Living Room
Whether you’re looking to engage a whole classroom of eager students or entertain a curious child at home, we have just the right activity for you: making slime. This DIY science project is not only enjoyable and easy-to-follow but also brimming with educational insights into the world of chemistry.
For those planning to introduce this activity in a classroom setting, we recommend taking a few extra preparatory steps: ensure students wear aprons to protect their clothing, and have them roll up their sleeves.
This will help keep the mess minimal and the experience smooth. For parents at home, while these precautions might not be necessary, it’s always good to be prepared for a bit of fun-filled messiness!
Now, let’s delve into the scientific wonder that is slime…
Why Is Making Slime Scientific?
Before we get our hands messy, let’s discuss the educational value behind this project. Remember our sessions on coding, understanding renewable energy, or exploring the world of biology with microscopes?
Just as those activities highlighted the importance of technology, energy, and biology, making slime emphasises the significance of precise measurements and understanding chemical reactions.
Consider these real-world applications:
- Medical Dosages: A doctor prescribing medications must differentiate between dosages for children and adults.
- Lab Experiments: Chemists must measure exact quantities of chemicals for reactions.
- Baking: Even something as delightful as baking a cake requires precise measurements for the perfect result.
So, when we make slime, we’re not just having fun; we’re also understanding the importance of ratios, quantities, and chemical reactions in daily life.
The Science Behind Slime
The magic behind slime is a chemical reaction. When certain ingredients are mixed, they undergo an endothermic reaction, absorbing heat from their surroundings.
This reaction turns PVA glue into slime, making it cold to touch during the mixing process. It’s real-time chemistry in action!
DIY Slime Recipe
Ingredients:
- PVA Glue or any other glue
- Bicarbonate of Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate)
- Contact Lens Solution (containing Borax or Boric Acid)
- Optional: Mica Colouring or Glitter for aesthetics
- Spoons and bowls.
Steps:
- Preparation: Measure 50ml of Clear PVA Glue into a bowl.
- Add Texture: Introduce 1 Blue spoon of Sodium Bicarbonate and mix thoroughly.
- Personalise Your Slime: Add half a teaspoon of Mica Colouring or Glitter. Mix well.
- Activate the Slime: If you have a pipette: Pour in 2ml of Borax (found in the contact lens solution). This ingredient starts the essential chemical reaction.
- No pipette? No problem! You can use about half a teaspoon. It’s roughly what we need. It might not be the most accurate method, but for our purposes, it’ll do the trick.
- Mix and Knead: Initially, mix with a lollipop stick. As the mixture thickens, use your hands to knead until you achieve the perfect slimy consistency, (for reference check the picture on the right, or bottom).
- Play and Store: Have fun with your slime!
Comparing Your Creations
If you’ve made a few batches of slime, you might notice differences in their texture and consistency.
This can be because of the slight variations in the amount of Borax used. Being super accurate with measurements, like using a pipette, would give more consistent results. But hey, that’s the beauty of science in action!
Every experiment is a learning opportunity.
Safety and Clean-Up: Safety first!
Remember to clean all surfaces with antibacterial wipes after making your slime. And while this slime is fun to play with, it’s not edible.
Learning Objectives Recap:
- Recognise the importance of ratios and quantities in various industries.
- Understand how substances, like Borax and Bicarbonate of Soda, can change the properties of another substance, such as PVA Glue.
In Conclusion:
At Aveea, we believe in the power of hands-on learning. Creating slime is more than just a fun activity—it’s a gateway to understanding fundamental scientific principles.
Whether you’re a teacher introducing these concepts to your students, a parent fostering curiosity at home, or a young explorer eager to experiment, remember: the world is full of wonders waiting to be discovered. Dive in, get messy, and keep learning!
