Slime has been a popular science topic for years for many reasons:
- it’s a simple science experiment kids can do at home with simple ingredients and easy to follow instructions,
- in addition to science, it’s a creative expression when you include the options of color, textures, glitter, etc.,
- it’s satisfying for many people to squeeze and release or to pull fast and watch it snap apart in a clean break.
So, how simple *is* slime? What if we said you can make slime with just two ingredients? It’s true! You can!
Here are some of our favorite slime recipes from Ms Hailey, WMFK’s slime scientist extraordinaire!
Clear Slime (A basic slime recipe)
Supplies:
- 1/2 cup clear school glue
Note: To make clear slime, you need clear glue.- This recipe is for a basic borax solution slime.
Changing the type of glue you use will change the appearance of your final product! - Suggested alternatives: white opaque glue, colored glue, glitter glue, glow in the dark glue
- This recipe is for a basic borax solution slime.
- 1/2 cup water
- Borax mixture
- Make a borax mixture using 1 teaspoon borax powder to 1 cup of warm water. Stir well to combine and set aside. There may be some borax that does not dissolve – that’s ok!
- Craft stick or spoon
- Bowl for mixing slime
- Cup for borax mixture
- Food coloring (optional)
- Mix ins (optional)
- Glitter, confetti, beads, sprinkles, dry powdered snow, etc.
Experiment:
- Pour glue in a bowl.
- If you want to add things to your slime, now is the best time to add your mix ins! By adding them at this step, they will stick to the glue and not fly around the room!
(glitter. just sayin’) - Add water to the bowl and mix well to combine.
If you’d like to color your slime, now is the time to add food coloring. We suggest up to two colors and up to three drops total to keep it from muddying. You can experiment with color by making more batches of slime! - A little at a time, pour the borax solution into the glue and water mixture. Mix with the craft stick after each time you add more borax mixture.
- Keep mixing with the craft stick until the slime is formed. There may be some watery solution in the bottom of your slime bowl. You can pick the slime out of the bowl and continue mixing by hand at this point!
NOTE: Slime Storage
You will need to store your slime in an airtight container. This prevents it from drying out and becoming stiff or… one solid mass! A zipper bag works well for storing slime. If you’re concerned about mold growth, you can also store your slime in the refrigerator.
If your slime gets dirty, throw it away and make a new batch!
But Why!?
Slime is a polymer. Polymers are molecules made up of repeating chemical units. (You can learn more about polymers in this blog post.) Glue contains the polymer polyvinyl acetate (PVA) which cross-links to itself when reacted with an activator (like borax or contact solution and baking soda). This cross linking is what makes slime stretchy.
Experimentation Time!
- You can experiment with the ingredients to see how the proportions of each ingredient affects the outcome of your slime.
- How does adding more glue, more water, or more borax solution change the texture of your slime?
Shaving Cream Slime
Supplies:
- 1/2 cup clear or white glue
- Bowl for mixing slime
- Craft stick or spoon
- Shaving cream
- Sta-Flo
- Food coloring (optional)
- Mix-ins (optional: glitter, dry powdered snow)
NOTE: This is a dryer slime and larger mix-ins don’t work as well (they can pop right out!)
Experiment:
- Pour 1/2 cup of glue into your bowl.
- Add in color (if any)
Note: Shaving cream will cause colors to be more pastel. If you want a bolder color, you will need to use more food coloring. - Add in your chosen mix-ins (if any)
- Add in shaving cream with approximately a 2:1 ratio with the glue.
- Add one spoonful of Sta-Flo at a time and mix with the popsicle stick until the slime pulls away from the edges of the bowl and is less sticky to the touch.
NOTE: It is important to add the Sta-Flo a little at a time. You can always add more but you can’t take it back out if you over-activate the mixture. - Make a small puddle of Sta-Flo on the table and dip your hands in it before taking the slime out of the bowl.
- Grab the mixture with one hand and then pull the whole glob off of that hand with your other hand. Continue this motion back and forth to knead it.
- Keep kneading the mixture back and forth from hand to hand until it is a slime consistency and it consistently stays together.
- If the slime seems to get sticky again, simply dip fingers in the Sta-Flo on the table and continue kneading until the slime is the right consistency.
But Why!?
Slime is a polymer. Polymers are molecules made up of repeating chemical units. (You can learn more about polymers in this blog post.) Glue contains the polymer polyvinyl acetate (PVA) which cross-links to itself when reacted with an activator (like Borax or contact solution + baking soda or Sta-Flo). This cross linking is what makes slime stretchy. The addition of shaving cream into your slime air pockets throughout the slime making it fluffier and adding a popping/crackling sound as you play with it!
Experimentation Time!
- You can experiment with the ingredients to see how the proportions of each ingredient affects the outcome of your slime.
- How does adding more glue or more shaving cream change the texture of your slime?
- What mix-ins work best for this type of slime?
- Slime is a non-Newtonian fluid. This means it isn’t a liquid but it isn’t a solid either. You can pick it up and form it as if it was a solid, but let it sit and it will change shape and flow slowly into a shape that appears to be a liquid! Slime will take on the shape of whatever the container in which it is stored!
- Can you make a snowman out of slime? Would it melt?
Edible Slime
Note: While this slime is edible, it is not necessarily yummy. Also, the more you play with it, the dirtier it will get and the less likely you should want to eat it!
Supplies:
- Bowl
- Spoon
- One small box of sugar free jello powder (any flavor)
Note: The slime will be the color of the jello and may stain hands and clothing. Be careful to keep it on your work surface and wash hands after playing with the slime. - 1/2 cup cornstarch
- Water
Experiment:
- Mix packet of jello powder and 1/2 cup cornstarch in a bowl until combined.
- Slowly add water, starting with 2 Tbsp
Add more water if you need it. - Mix until the slime starts to clump together and pull away from the bowl.
- You can now pick it up with your hands!
But Why!?
Slime is a polymer. What’s a polymer? You can learn more about polymers in this blog post, but simply put, a polymer is something that is made up of molecules linked together in long chains or repeating patterns. In this slime, the water and gelatin combine with the cornstarch resulting in a new polymer.
BONUS 2-Ingredient Slime
Supplies:
- 1/2 cup corn starch
- 1/2 cup conditioner
(good smelling conditioner makes good smelling slime!) - Craft stick or spoon
- Bowl for mixing slime
Experiment:
- Pour cornstarch in a bowl.
- Squeeze conditioner into bowl and mix with a craft stick or spoon.
- When the slime pulls away from the bowl, it’s done!
- You may need to adjust and add more cornstarch if the slime is too wet or sticky or add more conditioner if the slime is too dry and crumbly.
But Why!?
Slime is a polymer. Polymers are molecules made up of repeating chemical units. (You can learn more about polymers in this blog post.)
CLEANUP TIPS: We found this list of ways to get slime out of carpet, clothes, and fabric furniture to be practical. The fact that it starts with: “Don’t panic!” was a good first step!