Slime Science

Have you jumped on the slime bandwagon yet? If not, today is the perfect day to give it a try. Most recipes only call for 3 or 4 ingredients and it's much easier to make than you are probably thinking.

Why slime?

First of all, slime is fun! It's an incredible sensory experience for the kids as they dig in and get gooey, but it doesn't leave a big mess behind for you to clean up. The sensation of slime being squeezed between fingers and toes, of stretching, pulling, and rolling the slime between palms can be very intriguing and also very relaxing for a child. (And an adult, too!)

Secondly, there is some awesome science to learn from making slime! When you mix borax and glue together you are making a polymer. You can think of a polymer like a chain or a ladder. It's lots of little chemical pieces (called monomers) that hook together to make a long, strong strand. Many synthetic materials are polymers such as plastic, nylon, and styrofoam. Polymers exist in nature, too, in the forms of DNA and proteins.

Below I have included the gooiest, slimiest, most tried and true recipes from across the interwebs. I tried to include several recipes that are each distinctly different from one another. You can experiment to come up with your own creations, too!

Standard GAK from Yours Truly
This 4-ingredient recipe is quick and easy to make and will delight the kiddos several times over.

Bat Slime from Little Bins for Little Hands
Slime with a Halloween twist! You could vary this according to the season or holiday so you have a festive slime all year round. ("Festive slime", that's really something I never thought I would write.)

Glow in the Dark Slime from Left Brain Craft Brain
Who doesn't love stuff that glows in the dark? Make the dough and then read the science behind what makes something glow in the dark here.

Lego Slime from Lemon Lime Adventures
A slightly different consistency than standard GAK, this is a must-try. Add some Lego pieces in there and you've got yourself a real party!

Galaxy Slime from Twodaloo
This is the most gorgeous slime out there! Plus it makes some pretty awesome gigantic bubbles!

Edible Slime from Fun at Home With Kids
Do you have a baby or toddler that wants to join in the fun? Make this edible edition and you don't have to worry about what happens if your little one taste tests your slime!

Bubbling Slime from Epic Fun for Kids
I seriously saved the best for last here. Apparently it bubbles for a solid 24 hours!

*If your slime doesn't come out exactly as expected head over to this trouble-shooting guide. Asia at Fun at Home with Kids is the slime goddess :) And yes, that's a HUGE compliment!

Saturday Science

And now on to our Saturday Science linky party! Check out our wonderful co-hosts and link up your recent science activities:

Hands-On Learning About Fossils from Stir the Wonder

Science Activities Around the House from Little Bins for Little Hands

An InLinkz Link-up

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