slime experiment test

Learn STEM by Doing (and having fun)!

Slime Science Project: Investigating the Science of Slime

Slime might make a mess, but did you know that slime makes a perfect science fair project ?!?  Not only can you test various chemistry and physics hypotheses, your kids can also have fun and finish it IN JUST A WEEKEND!!  For all those parents out there frantically heading into the last days/hours before the science fair, this is your winner!  Our slime science project outlined below walks you through the potential setup from start to finish.  It’s one of many!!  While you could get adventurous and try working with more elaborate slime recipes (e.g. magnetic slime, glow slime), even our basic recipe can get you a cool slime science project addressing all the requirements of any science fair.  Let’s science!

Slime Science Project:  An Overview

Below, we outline a few simple experiments to assess different physical properties associated with slime.  But first, we delve more into the science behind slime.  To be honest, there are truly a TON of directions you can go with this project and the fact that it can be completed in a weekend makes it a great last minute science fair project!

Now, for an easy to read, step-by-step guide about making slime, please be sure to look at our  How to Make Slime: The Ultimate Guide  post.  In that guide, we outline various slime recipes and walk through how to make slime.  If you encounter issues in this science fair project, be sure to reference back to that post.

Science of Slime – How Chemistry Affects Physical Properties of Slime

Can’t we just make the slime and call it a day?  Sure, you totally can and feel free!  However, if you want the kiddos to get familiar with the scientific method (e.g hypothesis generation, experiment design), then read on.  Also, if you have a science fair coming up, this is a great project that can be tackled in a weekend from start to finish.

Background:  The Science of Slime

What is slime?  It’s not a liquid, but it’s not a solid either.  So, what the heck is slime anyway??  Well, if I ask the kids, they tell me it’s a gooey, squishy “thing”.  If you’ve ever tried to explain states of matter to kids (e.g. solid vs. liquid vs. gas), slime always throws them for a loop.  Beyond being a bit of a ‘tweener, slime is a great way to teach kids about how chemical reactions can change physical properties.

So, what is actually happening when we make slime?   Ok.  If I’m losing you at the word chemical reactions, don’t worry.  When we make slime, we take a polymer and link the molecules together.  In the experiment below, our polymer will be white glue.  The glue consists of a collection of POLYVINYL ACETATE (PVA) molecules (see picture below).  We will also be using Borax laundry detergent as our SLIME ACTIVATOR.

What’s so magical about Borax?  Well, it happens to contain borate ions (see the picture below – that B with the four arms).  When you mix Borax and glue, the borate ions start to “hold hands” with the PVA chains in the glue.  The dotted lines and solid lines below represent CHEMICAL BONDS.  These bonds are strong!  This means it’s hard to separate the glue from the borate.  If you use too much Borax in your slime, you can imagine a lot of kids grabbing on to each other.  Impossible to get through and hard to move.  Same thing with slime.  You will likely get brittle, inflexible material.

With this in mind, our experiment is going to evaluate how CROSSLINKING can effect the stretchiness of our slime.  Another word to introduce the kiddos to is VISCOSITY .  In simple terms, viscosity is kind of like how “thick” a fluid may be.  Compare honey and water – which one would be more viscous?  How could you test viscosity?

Who can do this science fair project?  3rd grade and up

We’ve done the slime making with students as young as preschool.  However, some of the concepts might be tricky to grasp for younger kids.

Materials – What you need for the experiment

• Mixing containers (old bowls, paper/plastic bowls) .  We use these to mix and prepare our slime.
• Mixing sticks (popsicle sticks) .  Same thing – mixing slime gets messy, so if you prefer to use popsicle sticks this will help.
• Elmer’s school glue (the white kind – here’s what we use) .  Glue = critical reagent!  This represents our polymer.
• Borax laundry detergent (the powder kind) .  See the picture at the right; as long as the detergent contains sodium borate, that is most important.
• Water .  For mixing with the glue, borax and clean up.
• Timer .  We will use for a few things.
• Funnel .  Pouring liquids through a funnel is one way to measure viscosity – we will use it for our slime!
• Tape measure .  For stretching out and measuring how “gooey” the slimes turn out.
• Lotion (whatever you have in the house) .  This is an oil that we are adding.
• Paper / pencil / camera .  Always be sure to record the data!

Designing the experiment:  picking a hypothesis

Before we get our hands wet (ha!), we need to think about our experimental design.  If you’ve read through some of our other experiments ( germiest spot in school ), then you might remember that a HYPOTHESIS is essentially a guess about what you think will happen in the experiment.  There are literally dozens of experiments you can do with slime – which makes it so great – but it can also be hard for kiddos to narrow it down.  In this case, since we’ve had our kids ask questions about the “gooey”-ness of slime, we thought it would be interesting to see how stretchy our slime can be, using different amounts of Borax.

Our Hypothesis

Our hypothesis here will be that too much Borax will make slime that isn’t very gooey.  How will we test our hypothesis ?  Let’s use viscosity!  We will measure how viscous the slimes are that we make.

Experimental controls

At this point, we’ll also want to pick out some “controls” to include in our experiment (QUICK question for the kiddos:  why is this important?  A:  to make sure our experiment is testing what we think it’s testing).  We need a POSITIVE and a NEGATIVE control.  A good NEGATIVE control would not add any Borax at all to the mix – this won’t be gooey.  A good POSITIVE control would add Borax to ensure crosslinking occurs.  Any other ideas?

Methods/Procedure – How We Will Finish Our Slime Science Project:

For our slime science project, we will be examining the impact of crosslinking on slime viscosity.  In other words, we will be adding varying amounts of Borax to our slime to see how it impacts the “stretchiness” of our slime.  We will also incorporate another ingredient (lotion) to see if we can counteract the effects of too much crosslinking.  While you’re on your own with the science fair project board, there should be enough info to make your own.  How long this will take you from start to finish?  Assume about 30 minutes of setup/prep time, about 1 hour for making slime/testing, and 1 hour to analyze.

Setting up your materials

Before you get started, make sure you have plenty of disposable bowls and mixing sticks… while you can use non-disposable items, this makes cleanup a little faster/easier.  We also want to organize the VARIABLES in our experiment.  The table below illustrates the different conditions we tested.  We will make seven different slime batches to COMPARE the different conditions.  Additionally, you can make duplicates for each set of conditions if working with a partner.

#1 acts as our NEGATIVE control.  Without Borax, we just have glue and water.  #2-#5 test how changes in the Borax amount effect viscosity and stretchiness.  #6 and #7 are an EXTRA experiment that adds lotion to see how it influences viscosity.  If you have different ingredients you’d like to try, give it a go!  As you set up materials, label the different bowls so you remember which condition you are testing.

Make sure the kiddos GUESS / HYPOTHESIZE which slime will be the stretchiest and which will be the most viscous.  Without further ado….  let’s make slime!

Making the slime

• Prepare the Borax solution .   First, dissolve 1 teaspoon of Borax detergent in 1 cup of warm water.  Mix until everything disappears, then set the solution to the side – we won’t use it until we’ve mixed our glue/water solution in step #3.
• Prepare the glue .  Next, in the different containers, add the correct amount of glue to each container.  Pour in the appropriate amount of water.  Ideally, we are sticking with a 1:1 ratio of glue:water.  COULD YOU TEST THIS VARIABLE?  Absolutely!!!
• Mix the glue/water .   BE WARNED:  You will probably get messy. Stir vigorously to get the water/glue mixed up.  You can add a few drops of food coloring or glitter if you’d like.  Also, mixing can be done with a spoon at this point – our favorite approach uses paper bowls and plastic spoons or popsicle sticks to stir.
• Add Borax solution .  At this point, you will want to add the correct amount of Borax solution to each bowl.  This solution is what we prepared in the first step.  Remember, this step CROSSLINKS the glue molecules…  it goes from sticky to gooey.  You can mix with your hands or a spoon.  SUGGESTION:  only add a small amount of borax at a time – mix – then add more.  Whatever you do, try to be consistent across the different batches.
• Kneed it/mix it . Keep stirring as you add the Borax solution.  When the slime is starting to come together, you’ll need to start mixing with your hands.  RECORD your observations for each batch – how does it feel?  Do some combinations mix better/easier than others?  When done with mixing, you’re ready to begin testing it.  If you are using #6 and #7, now is the time to mix in the lotion.
• Clean up .  Word of warning – do not pour slime components down the drain .  You risk the material solidifying or getting stuck in your pipes.  Wrap up waste and throw out in trash.

Testing the slime

Testing viscosity of solutions isn’t as hard as it sounds.  One trick uses a cylinder filled with the fluid.  A ball bearing is dropped in the fluid and timed to see how long it takes to go from the drop to the bottom.  Solutions with higher viscosity means it takes longer for the bearing to reach the bottom.  If you don’t have a cylinder handy, an alternative is pouring the solution through a funnel with a small opening.  Same concept – fluids with higher viscosity take longer to pour through the funnel.

At this stage, record how long it takes for the different slimes to flow through the funnel.

How else can we test the slime?   You can also try to see how far the slimes pull.  This uses the tape measure.  First, have one person hold the slime at a “starting point”.  Using paper and your tape measure/ruler, measure how long the slime pulls without pulling apart.  Don’t forget to take pictures!  Are there other tests you can think of to compare the slimes?

Results – Data Analysis

You made it!  Way to go!!   If you’ve finished all seven slimes and testing, the kiddos have a lot of data to sift through.  Using the prior table, you can easily record the results of the tests (see below).

Was the hypothesis proven?

Conclusions:  Did your slime science project work?

Wow!  Another great experiment under the belt!  If things didn’t work out like you thought they would, what do you think could be some good explanations?  What would you do differently?  Could other variables be important — like temperature?  What about the brand of the reagents?  Like I said in the beginning, there’s literally a 100 different experiments you can come up with slime!

What were we surprised about?  Well, the kiddos were surprised that it “worked”.  🙂  While I’m happy that things came together, there was still troubleshooting that had to be done.  They want to make more slimes – but different variations beyond what we did here.  How did your project pan out?  We love to see science fair projects and the slime science project is no exception – feel free to share those boards!

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Slime Science Fair Project

Everyone wants to make slime these days! Did you also know that making slime is awesome science too. If you want your kids to get more out of their slime making experience, turn it into a slime science project and apply the science method too! Read on to find out how you can set up science experiments with slime and have a cool science fair project idea.

How To Make Slime

Homemade slime is a real treat for kids, and right now it’s a super popular activity that also happens to make a great science fair project. We have experimented with our slime recipes over and over again to bring you the best possible activities!

We also have a very cool fizzing slime recipe, watch the video and get the slime recipe here . Two chemistry demonstrations in one!

Which Slime Recipe To Use?

Our easy, “how to make” slime recipes show you how to master slime in 5 minutes or less! We have spent years tinkering with our favorite basic slime recipes to make sure you can make the BEST slime every time!

We believe slime shouldn’t be disappointing or frustrating! That’s why we want to take the guesswork out of making slime!

• Discover the best slime ingredients and get the right slime supplies the first time!
• Make easy slime recipes that really work!
• Achieve awesome slimy consistency the kids’ love!

We have several basic slime recipes that can all be used for your slime science project. You decide which one works best for you depending on what slime activator you want to use. This allows for some flexibility depending on where you live in the world! Not everyone has access to the same ingredients!

Each of the basic slime recipes below have the full step by step photos, directions, and even videos to help you along the way!

• Saline Solution Slime Recipe
• Borax Slime Recipe
• Liquid Starch Slime Recipe
• Fluffy Slime Recipe

Helpful Slime Making Resources To Get Your Started

These are the best resources to look through before, during, and after making slime! We talk more about slime science below too.

• Slime Activator List
• What is slime?
• What You Need To Make Slime
• Amazing Benefits Of Playing With Slime
• Best Slime Ideas
• How To Make Slime Less Sticky
• How To Get Slime Out Of Clothes And Hair

The Science of Slime

Chemistry is all about states of matter including liquids, solids, and gasses. It is all about the way different materials are put together, and how they are made up including atoms and molecules. Chemistry is how materials act under different conditions and/or form new substances. Just like slime!

Slime is an endothermic reaction as opposed to an exothermic reaction. An endothermic reaction absorbs energy (heat) instead of giving off energy (heat). Have you ever noticed how cold your slime gets?

The borate ions in the slime activator (sodium borate, borax powder, or boric acid) mix with the PVA (polyvinyl acetate) glue and form this cool stretchy substance. This is called cross-linking!

The glue is a polymer and is made up of long, repeating, and identical strands or molecules. These molecules flow past one another keeping the glue in a liquid state. Until…

You add the borate ions to the mixture,  and it then starts to connect these long strands together. They begin to tangle and mix until the substance is less like the liquid you started with and thicker and rubbery like slime! Slime is a polymer.

Picture the difference between wet spaghetti and leftover spaghetti the next day. As the slime forms, the tangled molecule strands are much like the clump of spaghetti!

Is slime a liquid or solid?

We call it a non-Newtonian fluid because it’s a little bit of both! Experiment with making slime more or less viscous with varying amounts of foam beads. Can you change the density?

Using The Scientific Method 

To take your slime making activity from a science demonstration to a slime science experiment, you will want to apply the scientific method. You can read more about using the scientific method with kids here .

Follow this process…

• Figure out a question you want to answer.
• Do some research.
• Gather the supplies.
• Conduct a science experiment.
• Gather data and look at the results.
• Draw your own conclusions and see if you answered your question!

Remember the key to conducting a good science experiment is to only have one variable. For example, water could be a variable. We eliminated the water from our recipe to see if slime needs water as an ingredient. We kept the rest of the recipe exactly the same!

Read more about using variables in science here.

Turn It Into A Science Project

Science projects are an excellent tool for older kiddos to show what they know about science! Plus, they can be used in all sorts of environments including classrooms, homeschool, and groups.

Kids can take everything they have learned about using the scientific method , stating a hypothesis, choosing variables , making observations and analyzing and presenting data.

Want to turn one of these experiments into an awesome science fair project? Check out these helpful resources.

• Science Project Tips From A Teacher
• Science Fair Board Ideas
• Easy Science Fair Projects

Get your FREE printable slime recipe cards!

Slime Science Project Ideas

Can you make your slime more sticky…less sticky…more firm…less firm…thicker…looser??

A good science fair project starts with a good question. We put together a list of ideas for slime science experiments.

TIP: If you haven’t tried out making the slime recipes above already, I recommend that you learn how to make slime first!

1. Do you need water to make slime?  

This was a super fun experiment we tried out and the results were pretty cool! We tested and compared three different slime recipes, but you could do it with just one type of slime and see what happens.

Hint… Liquid starch slime without water is no fun! Try this borax slime recipe or saline solution slime instead if you are just going to pick one recipe.

2. Are All Brands Of PVA Washable School Glue The Same?

This is a great opportunity to test the classic Elmer’s Washable School Glue alongside Dollar Store/Staples brand glue or even Crayola Glue!

The key to this slime science project is to decide how you will compare the different batches of slime made from each brand of glue.

Of course, keep your recipe and method for making your slime the same each time. Think about what makes a good slime… stretch and viscosity or flow and decide how you will measure those characteristics for each slime. Your observations of the “feel” of each slime are valid data as well.

3. What happens if you change the amount of glue in the recipe?

We tried out this slime science experiment using our classic liquid starch slime recipe . This is also how we ended up with FLUBBER !

Decide how you will vary the amount of glue. For example; you could do one batch with the normal amount of glue, twice the amount of glue, and half the amount of glue.

4. What happens if you change the amount of baking soda?

Similarly, to changing the amount of glue, investigate what happens to your slime when you change the amount of baking soda added to the saline solution slime   or fluffy slime recipe, Do a batch without baking soda and one with and compare. Baking soda is generally used to firm up this slime recipe.

 5. B orax Free Slime Experiment

What’s the best ratio of powder to water for a borax free fiber slime? Use our taste safe fiber slime recipe to test your favorite consistency for gooey slime.

We went through several batches to see what worked the best. Make sure to decide ahead of time how you will measure the slime consistency for each batch.

6. What amount of foam beads makes the best floam?

What’s the best amount of styrofoam beads for homemade floam?    This is how we tested our floam and recorded the results as we went along. Or you can vary and then compare the sizes of styrofoam beads too!

More Slime Science Projects

What else can you test when it comes to your next slime project? What about…

Clear Glue vs White Glue

Which glue makes the better slime? Use the same recipe for both and compare/contrast the similarities/differences. Does one recipe work better for either clear or white glue?

Does food coloring affect the consistency of slime?

Do different colors have an effect on the consistency of the slime. You can use the standard box of colors, red, blue, yellow, and green to see! Make sure to use all the colors with one batch of slime!

What happens if you freeze slime?

Is slime affected by temperature? What happens if you freeze your slime?

Come up with your own slime experiment!

Try out your own slime science experiment. However, we do not recommend substituting slime activators without knowing what the chemical reaction will be first.

You could…

• explore viscosity
• discover new textures
• learn about non-Newtonian fluids and shear thickening
• explore states of matter: liquids, solids, and gasses
• learn about mixtures and substances and physical properties

More Awesome Slime Recipes To Make

• Fluffy Slime
• Cloud Slime
• Rainbow Slime
• Magnetic Slime
• Glow in the Dark Slime
• Butter Slime

Printable Ultimate Slime Recipes Guide

This is the ULTIMATE collection of slime recipes  every kid wants to make! Explore the best recipes and find the right supplies to make slime time a breeze!

Perfect for kids of all ages , including tweens and teens! Taste-safe recipes are perfect for the youngest slime fans.

What’s Included:

• The Ultimate Slime Guide  contains all the specialty recipes you or your kids want to make! You’ll find all the best tips, tricks, hints, and slime-y info in almost 100 pages!
• The Ultimate Slime Holiday Guide  covers all the best holidays and seasons with special themes and slime-y projects!
• The Ultimate Borax-FREE and Taste-Safe Slime Guide  shows you how to make all the best borax-free, taste-safe, and non-toxic slimes kids love, such as marshmallow slime. These recipes do not use chemical activators such as saline solution, liquid starch, or borax powder, making them truly borax-free.
• The Ultimate Slime Coloring Book  is an easy-to-print coloring book kids will love! Color and design your favorite slimes!
• The Slime Starter Guide  is a fact-filled information guide with everything you need to know to make the best slime ever!
• Slime Science Project Pack  helps you turn slime-making into a science lesson!

13 Comments

• Pingback: 25 STEM Activities for Kids You Need to Know | Posh in Progress
• Pingback: Borax Slime for an Easy Slime and Science Activity with Kids

who is the author of this website?? i need to know for a science project

My name is Sarah McClelland.

Everything looks so pretty! I need some help, I can’t find sta-flo liquid starch in my country, I tried corn starch but its too thick,I tried niagara spray and liquid but won’t work either. I need it to be a flubber starch, with iron to do magnetic starch 😀 Any advice is welcome

What country are you in? Can you find saline solution containing boric acid and sodium borate?

Please email me at [email protected]

• Pingback: Crunchy Slime Recipe for Kids With Fishbowl Beads
• Pingback: Recommended Supplies for Making Slime with Kids
• Pingback: How To Make Slime Recipes with Elmers Glue for Kids Science
• Pingback: How To Make Slime Chemistry Activities for Kids Science

whenever i try make slime it never works and the first time i made a home made slime it was way too sticky and to make work we had to mix store bought slime in to make it activate

Well I am happy to help if you want to email me [email protected]

Comments are closed.

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PVA polymer slime

In association with Nuffield Foundation

• Four out of five

A solution of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) can be made into a slime by adding borax solution, which creates cross-links between polymer chains

This experiment is easy to set up, providing the chemicals are available, and should take no more than about 30 minutes. It can be done by students in groups of two or three.

Related resources

• An alternative method aimed at 11–12 years and designed for outreach is offered in the snot section of our Snap, crackle and snot resource . 
• Also designed for outreach,  Year 9 chemistry day  shows how to make bouncing custard.
• Saftefy glasses
• Beaker (100 cm 3 )
• Measuring cylinder (50 cm 3 )
• Disposable plastic cup
• Metal spatula
• Petri dish (or watch glass)
• Water-based felt-tipped pen
• Spirit-based felt-tipped pen
• Disposable plastic gloves
• PVA, polyvinyl alcohol, 4% (or 8%) aqueous solution, 40 cm 3 (see note 3 below)
• Borax, hydrated sodium tetraborate, 4% (or 8%) aqueous solution, 10 cm 3
• Food colour or fluorescein (optional)
• Hydrochloric acid, about 0.5 M, 20 cm 3  (optional)
• Sodium hydroxide, 0.4 M (IRRITANT), 20 cm 3  (optional)

Health, safety and technical notes

• Read our standard health and safety guidance
• Wear eye protection, and protective gloves if handling the slime. 
• Polyvinyl alcohol, (-[CH 2 CH(OH)]n-) – PVA can be high molecular weight (MW), about 120 000, or low MW, about 15 000. If high MW PVA is used, prepare a 4% solution by placing 960 cm 3  of water into a tall 1 dm 3  beaker. Measure out 40 g of high MW PVA and add this slowly to the beaker of water, with stirring. If low MW PVA is used, prepare an 8% solution by placing 920 cm 3  of water into a tall 1 dm 3  beaker. Measure out 80 g of low MW PVA and add this slowly to the beaker of water, with stirring. In each case, heat the mixture gently, stirring occasionally, until the solution clears. Avoid boiling the solution. After cooling, this solution can be poured into suitable smaller containers, which can then be sealed and stored indefinitely.
• Borax, hydrated sodium tetraborate, (Na 2 B 4 O 7 .10H 2 O) – see CLEAPSS Hazcard HC014a . If a 4% aqueous solution of PVA is used a 4% aqueous solution of borax will be required. If an 8% aqueous solution of PVA is used an 8% aqueous solution of borax will be required. Borax solid is now classified as TOXIC because it carries the R60/61 warning – it may cause infertility and harm to the unborn child. The solid and solutions in excess of 8.5% should be labelled TOXIC, but other solutions will NOT carry any hazard warning. Borax solutions as prepared following these instructions do NOT require a hazard label. BUT technicians preparing the solutions need to be alerted to the hazard. CLEAPSS advises weighing the solid very carefully, possibly in a fume cupboard which is not switched on. Pregnant women should avoid handling the solid. Students may want to take the slime home – this should not be allowed.
• Fluorescein – see CLEAPSS Hazcard HC032 and CLEAPSS Recipe Book RB000.
• Hydrochloric acid, HCl(aq) – see CLEAPSS Hazcard HC047a  and CLEAPSS Recipe Book RB043. Best supplied in small glass bottles fitted with teat pipettes.
• Sodium hydroxide, NaOH(aq), (CORROSIVE) – see CLEAPSS Hazcard HC091a and CLEAPSS Recipe Book RB085. Best supplied in small glass bottles fitted with teat pipettes.
• Slime – see CLEAPSS Recipe Book RB000. As per note 4, the slime is NOT TOXIC but students should not be allowed to take the slime home.
• Place 40 cm 3  of the polyvinyl alcohol solution in the plastic cup.
• If supplied, add one drop of food colour or fluorescein dye to the solution. Stir well.
• Measure out 10 cm 3  of borax solution into the beaker and add this to the polyvinyl alcohol solution, stirring vigorously until gelling is complete. This gel is sometimes known as ‘slime’.
• Wearing disposable gloves, remove the slime from the cup and knead it thoroughly to mix the contents completely. Roll the slime around in your hand, gently squeezing the material to remove air bubbles at the same time. Alternatively, place the slime in a plastic bag and mix and squeeze the mixture from outside the bag.

Source: Royal Society of Chemistry

The apparatus set-up for making slime out of PVA and borax solution

Test the properties of your slime in the following ways (tests 6–8 below are optional):

• Pull the slime apart slowly. What happens?
• Pull the slime apart sharply and quickly. What happens?
• Roll the slime into a ball and drop it on to the bench. What happens?
• Place a small bit of slime on the bench and hit it hard with your hand. What happens?
• Write your name on a piece of paper with a water-based felt-tipped pen. Place the slime on top, press firmly, and then lift up the slime. What has happened to the writing and to the slime? Try the same again, this time using a spirit-based pen. Does this show the same effect?
• Place a very small piece of slime in a Petri dish. Add the dilute hydrochloric acid dropwise, stirring well after each drop. When you notice a change, record the number of drops added and your observations.
• Now add dilute sodium hydroxide solution to the same sample used above in 6, stirring after each drop. When you notice a change record the number of drops added and your observations.
• Can tests 6 and 7 be repeated time and time again to give the same results?

Teaching notes

Tell students to keep the slime away from clothes as it can produce permanent stains. The slime can be stored in an air-tight container, such as a plastic bag with a twist-tie. It is advisable to dip the slime in some water before storing, to keep it from drying out. Slime gets dirty from handling and may become mouldy after several days. When this happens you should throw it away. Do not put it down the sink because it clogs the drain.

Slime-type materials are available under a variety of different brand names, and can be found in many toy stores. Slime is sometimes described as a reversible cross-linking gel. The cross-linking between the polymer chains of polyvinyl alcohol occurs by adding borax, Na 2 B 4 O 7 .10H 2 O (sodium tetraborate).

PVA glue contains, amongst other things, the polymer polyvinyl alcohol (also called polyethenol). Polyvinyl alcohol has the structure:

The structure of polymer polyvinyl alcohol (also called polyethenol), which is contained in PVA glue.

Borax forms the borate ion when in solution. This ion has the structure:

The structure of the borate ion, used in making slime out of PVA.

The borate ion can make weak bonds with the OH groups in the polymer chains so it can link the chains together as shown below. This is called cross-linking:

Cross-linking between borate ions and the OH groups in the polymer chains of PVA

Slime is a non-Newtonian fluid that is dilatant, ie under stress, the material dilates or expands. Other well known stress-thickening materials are quicksand, wet sand on the beach, some printer’s inks, starch solutions and ‘Silly Putty’. Dilatant materials tend to have some unusual properties:

• Under low stress, such as slowly pulling on the material, it will flow and stretch. If careful, you can form a thin film.
• Pull sharply (high stress) and the material breaks.
• Pour the material from its container then tip the container upwards slightly, the gel self siphons.
• Put a small amount of the material on a table top and hit it with your hand, there is no splashing or splattering.
• Throw a small piece onto a hard surface; it will bounce slightly.
• Adding acid to the slime breaks the crosslinking producing a liquid with lower viscosity. Adding alkali reverses the process and the slime should be regenerated.

Various types of slime have been manufactured. In this investigation you use the polymer polyvinyl alcohol, which is reasonably cheap and is readily available from suppliers because it is widely used as a thickener, stabiliser and binder in cosmetics, paper cloth, films, cements and mortars. In ethanol solution polyvinyl alcohol solution dries to leave a thin plastic film that is useful in packaging materials, especially as it is biodegradable. PVA glue can be partially or completely hydrolysed to give polyvinyl alcohol.

For further information on slime, visit how products are made .

More resources

Add context and inspire your learners with our short career videos showing how chemistry is making a difference .

Additional information

This is a resource from the  Practical Chemistry project , developed by the Nuffield Foundation and the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Practical Chemistry activities accompany  Practical Physics  and  Practical Biology . 

The experiment is also part of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Continuing Professional Development course:  Chemistry for non-specialists . 

© Nuffield Foundation and the Royal Society of Chemistry

• 11-14 years
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• 16-18 years
• Practical experiments
• Properties of matter

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Slime Science Project | Everything You Need to Know

By: Author Charlene Hess

Posted on Last updated: September 13, 2023

Are you looking to try a slime science project ? Homemade slime is becoming an increasingly popular thing, and rightfully so.  Slime provides many learning opportunities across multiple subjects, including tactile sensory play, science and chemical reactions, math and ratios, hands-on STEM/STEAM, problem-solving and more. Slime is a good example of a STEM activity .

Typically slime is thought to be a fun activity for younger kids, but there is much to be learned from this fun science activity for older kids too.  Slime science is a fascinating thing and if you’re okay with a messy kitchen, you’re in for a day of fun-filled chemical reactions, creativity, and cause-and-effect reactions that even high school students will enjoy.  

Using the scientific method, your students are well on their way to discovering  the scientific wonders of slime .

Whether you’re looking for the perfect science fair project, an educational activity for your homeschool STEM curriculum , or you just want to have fun with your kids, we’re going to show you the step-by-step process for making slime with your kids.

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Slime Experiments and Fun Slime Science Fair Projects

When I was in high school, I was considered a very good student. I found most of my classes to be simple and fun, with one exception: chemistry class. I got my first ever C in chemistry junior year, and to this day I still consider that to be one of the hardest classes I ever took. It’s no surprise that I always put off teaching chemistry to my own kids. 

So what does this story have to do with slime?  What’s so educational about slime anyhow?  

The Science of Slime

The fact is, there is a science of slime. For one thing, slime is chemistry in motion.  

Chemistry explains states of matter such as liquid, solid, and gas, and it also explains how these states of matters react under different conditions, especially the formation of new substances.  

Slime is a non-Newtonian fluid, meaning it does not conform to the standard rules of fluid dynamics. Unlike water, which has a constant viscosity, slime can change its viscosity in response to stress. This property is what makes slime so interesting to play with and experiment on.

Slime science projects feature an endothermic reaction, meaning it absorbs heat (energy) rather than giving it off.  This explains why slime gets colder over time.  Then, depending on the recipe you use, certain ingredients change the molecular makeup, also known as cross-linking.  Your student can use the scientific method to test which slime recipes and ingredients cause which chemical reactions.  

Slime also has unique properties when it comes to its behavior under stress. When slime is stretched or pulled slowly, the polymer chains slide past each other, making the slime more fluid-like. However, when the slime is rapidly stretched or hit with force, the polymer chains become entangled and the slime becomes more solid-like.

Other chemistry concepts that making slime involves are:

• Chemical reactions
• Cross-linking
• States of matter

Talk about fun science activity!  It’s no wonder people all over are using this concept as a slime science fair project idea.

Slime is a fascinating substance that makes science for kids fun and engaging.  This simple science activity contains some fascinating information.

You can teach your children why glue stays liquid (because it is a polymer made up of identical long strand molecules, called monomers) until a borate ion ingredient is added to the mixture (connecting the long strand molecules together).  Throughout the mixing process, these ingredients begin to form a thick, rubbery type substance (eventually becoming slime).  

Slime is also a unique substance that can be considered a solid and a liquid (known as a non-newtonian fluid). You can even experiment with making it more or less thick and sticky (viscous/viscosity) by adding foam beads . 

The possibilities are almost endless.   

Easy Slime Recipes

Use these easy slime recipes and experiment with the elements of slime.  Make sure you take good notes so you can use what you learn in your next science project!  Consider testing out multiple basic slime recipes, or perhaps multiple variants of the same recipe, during your science project and see what happens when you combine different ingredients.

For example, in the Borax Slime recipe, what happens if you add less borax? Or more? How much borax would you need to add to turn your slime into a rubber ball? There are so many questions and possibilities to discover!

On that note, feel free to download these free, printable scientific method worksheets .  Perfect for slime science fair projects or other at-home science experiments.

3-Ingredient Slime (without Borax)

You will need:

• 2 (4-ounce) bottles washable school glue (like Elmer’s)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 to 3 tablespoons saline solution, divided
• Optional – 3 drops food coloring

Instructions:

• Pour the glue into a medium bowl.  
• Add the baking soda to the glue and stir until smooth. 
• If desired, add food coloring now.
• Pour in 2 tablespoons of the saline solution and stir slowly. The mixture should begin to harden, eventually becoming stringy. 
• Slowly continue mixing until a ball of slime forms. 
• Knead the mixture by working it between your hands until smooth. If the slime is too slimy, work in another 1/2 tablespoon of saline solution as needed. 
• Store your slime in an airtight container at room temperature for future play.

Tip: use glow in the dark glue for glow in the dark slime!

Puffy, Fluffy Slime Recipe

• 2/3 cup of Elmer’s White Glue
• 1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
• 1/4 Cup Water
• 2-3 cups Shaving Cream
• 1.5 Tablespoons Contact Lens Solution (must have boric acid and sodium borate in the ingredients)
• Add the white glue to a bowl. 
• Add water and baking soda, then mix. 
• Add the shaving cream and mix again. 
• Slowly add in contact solution and knead.  

Tip: add 1 TSP and knead for 5 minutes, then add ½ TSP and continue kneading. 

This mixture will be sticky but will be less sticky as you add more contact solution.  Consider adding baby oil to your hands if it’s too sticky.  Store in an airtight container for future play

Borax Slime

Remember – borax is a soap (commonly used along with laundry detergent) and is toxic!  Keep this in mind when using with young children.

• 1/2 cup White glue
• 2/3 cup Water
• 1 tsp Borax powder
• 1/3 cup Water for making borax solution
• 2 tsp Shampoo
• Make a borax solution by mixing borax powder with water in a bottle and shake the bottle until the borax powder dissolves. 
• Mix water, glue and shampoo in another bowl. 
• Slowly add borax solution (1 ml. at a time) to the glue mixture and stir it until it is thick and has the slime texture that you want. 
• Add some oil to the slime to make it not stick to your hands. 
• Knead and stretch until it is the consistency of slime.  

Buttery Slime

Ingredients:

• 3 TBS Corn starch
• 3 TBS White glue
• 3 TBS Shaving cream
• 4 Pinches Baking soda
• 2 TBS Contact solution
• 1/2 tsp Baby oil
• Optional – 3 Drops food coloring
• In a bowl, combine corn starch and white Elmer’s glue.
• Add shaving cream and four pinches of baking soda.
• Add food coloring, if desired.
• Add contact solution and mix until it turns into slime.
• Add baby oil and mix well.

***Consider adding glitter, food coloring, and foam beads to any of your slime mixtures to create different kinds of cool looking slime.

Slime Safety & Precautions

Although most basic slime recipes you’ll find here (and across the internet) are typically child-safe, there are a few safety and precaution tips we’d like to share.

For starters, an adult should always be in supervision of creating the slime. Adults should always be the ones handling any ingredients that are considered chemicals, such as borax powder or laundry detergent. Most slime projects are not suitable for children under the age of 4. 

If you notice any type of skin irritation, discontinue making, using, and/or playing with slime immediately. In some cases, gloves can be worn while playing with slime.  Slime should be played with in moderation and not played with for an extended amount of time.  Most slimes are not edible (and none on this page are) so refrain from putting slime in any mouths.

If you are looking for slime recipes that are safe to eat (and perhaps even delicious!) check out this article on edible slime recipes and other edible science experiments .

How to Make a Slime Science Fair Project

With your slime education and recipe, you are now ready to use your slime concoction for a science fair project!

There are many ways you can do this; however, you can’t go wrong with presenting it through the scientific method. The way you work through this method can be what you show bystanders at your science fair.  

Navigate through the following prompts to create a project worth remembering:

• Brainstorm a question you’d like to answer.
• Research your question.
• Gather any materials and supplies needed.
• Conduct the science experiment that will answer your question and back up your research.
• Gather data and analyze the results.
• Draw your conclusion and check to see if it answered your question.

Slime science project questions to ask:

• Do you need water in your recipe?
• What happens if you add more or less of something?
• How does the substance change over time?

You can also experiment with creating volcanic slime , glow in the dark slime , magnetic slime , and even UV color-changing slime . 

Proper Disposal of Your Slime Experiment

After you’ve finished conducting your slime science experiments, you’ll need to dispose of any leftover slime properly. The following are a few tips for safely disposing of slime:

• Don’t pour slime down the drain: Slime can clog your drains and pipes, leading to costly plumbing repairs. Instead, dispose of slime in the trash.
• Put slime in a sealable container: Before you throw away slime, we advise that you put it in a sealable container to prevent it from sticking to other garbage or leaking out of the trash bag.
• Wash your hands: After handling slime, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
• Consider composting: If you’re using natural materials to make slime, such as cornstarch or flour, consider composting the slime instead of throwing it away. This can help reduce waste and benefit your garden.

Troubleshooting Common Issues with Slime Science Experiments

Sometimes, your slime science experiments may not turn out the way you expected. Here are some common issues and how to troubleshoot them:

• Slime is too sticky: If your slime is too sticky, it may be because you added too much water or not enough activator. Try adding more activator, such as borax or contact lens solution, and kneading the slime until it becomes less sticky.
• Slime is too hard: If your slime is too hard, it may be because you added too much activator. Try adding more water or a few drops of oil, such as baby oil or cooking oil, and kneading the slime until it becomes softer.
• Slime is too runny: If your slime is too runny, it may be because you added too much water or not enough activator. Try adding more activator and kneading the slime until it becomes thicker.
• Slime is lumpy or grainy: If your slime is lumpy or grainy, it may be because you didn’t mix the ingredients well enough or didn’t dissolve the activator properly. Try mixing the ingredients more thoroughly, or dissolve the activator in hot water before adding it to the slime mixture.
• Slime smells bad: If your slime has a bad smell, it may be because you used expired ingredients or didn’t store the slime properly. Throw away the slime and start over with fresh ingredients, and be sure to store the slime in an airtight container when not in use.

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What kind of slime will you be making? Let us know in the comments below!

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Exploring the Science of Slime: Engaging Experiments for Science Fairs

Are you ready to get a little messy and dive into the fascinating world of slime? If you’re a science enthusiast with a passion for hands-on experimentation, you’re in for a treat! In this article, we will be exploring the science behind slime and uncovering some exciting experiments that are perfect for science fairs. From understanding the properties of polymers to creating your own unique slime concoctions, get ready to stretch your scientific knowledge and have a blast along the way. Let’s delve into the fascinating world of slime experiments for science fairs!

Table of Contents

Slime Experiments for Science Fair

Slime. It’s not just a gooey, sticky substance that kids love to play with. It’s a fascinating science that involves chemistry and the study of states of matter. So, why not harness the power of slime to create engaging and educational experiments for your science fair project? In this article, we’ll explore how slime can be used to learn and explore different scientific concepts, all while having fun along the way.

The Science Behind Slime

Slime is not only fun to create and play with, but it also provides an excellent opportunity to dive into the world of science. From learning about chemical reactions to understanding the properties of polymers, slime experiments can be a valuable tool for teaching and learning. By creating slime, students can explore concepts such as viscosity, elasticity, and the effects of different ingredients on slime’s texture and consistency.

“Slime is not just a toy; it’s a hands-on way to explore scientific concepts.”

Engaging Experiments for Science Fairs

Ready to get your hands slimy? Here are some exciting experiments that you can try for your science fair project:

1. The Slime Stretch Test

💡 What to Explore: The elasticity of slime

📋 Materials Needed: – Slime (homemade or store-bought) – Ruler – Stopwatch

🔬 Procedure: 1. Start by creating your slime using a tried-and-true recipe or store-bought slime. 2. Take a piece of slime and measure its length using a ruler. 3. Place one end of the slime on a table or surface and gently pull the other end downwards. 4. Use the stopwatch to time how long it takes for the slime to stretch and break. 5. Record your observations, including the length of the slime and the time it took to break.

💡 Pro Tip: “Try using different slime recipes or adding various ingredients to see how they affect the stretchiness of the slime.”

2. Slime and Magnetism

💡 What to Explore: The interaction between slime and magnets

📋 Materials Needed: – Slime (homemade or store-bought) – Small magnets (e.g., fridge magnets) – Tray or surface

🔬 Procedure: 1. Start by creating or obtaining your slimy substance. 2. Flatten the slime onto a tray or surface. 3. Place a magnet on top of the slime and observe what happens. 4. Experiment with different strengths and types of magnets. 5. Record your observations and note any differences in how the slime reacts.

💡 Quote: “Discover the mysterious way slime can interact with magnets and learn about the underlying principles of magnetism.”

Safety Precautions

While slime experiments are a blast, it’s crucial to prioritize safety. Here are some safety precautions to keep in mind:

• Always wash your hands before and after handling slime.
• Avoid ingestion of slime and ensure it doesn’t come into contact with eyes or open wounds.
• Be mindful of any allergies to the ingredients used in slime recipes.
• If using borax or other potentially hazardous substances, follow proper safety guidelines and use them under adult supervision.

“Safety should always be a top priority when conducting slime experiments.”

The Exciting World of Slime Circuits

Ready to take your slime experiments to the next level? You can delve into the realm of circuits by incorporating slime! By adding conductive materials like graphite powder or copper wire, you can create a conductive slime that completes an electrical circuit. This opens up a world of possibilities for exploring concepts like electricity, conductivity, and resistance.

“Unleash your creativity and build circuits in a whole new sticky way!”

Time to Get Slimy and STEM-sational!

Slime experiments are a fantastic way to engage with STEM concepts in a hands-on and exciting manner. By exploring the science behind slime, conducting experiments, and pushing the boundaries of what slime can do, you’ll create a standout science fair project that will leave your classmates and judges in awe.

So, grab your ingredients, put on your lab coat (or apron), and let the slime adventures begin!

“With slime experiments, science fairs become an interactive and captivating experience!”

In the realm of science fair projects, nothing captures the attention quite like the gooey, fascinating world of slime. If you’re in need of some mind-blowing slime facts to amp up your project, look no further. Explore the wonders of slime and uncover its secrets for a truly unforgettable science fair experience. Dive into the realm of slimy wonders here: Slime Facts For Science Fair .

Question 1: What is the science behind slime experiments?

Answer 1: Slime experiments involve the science of chemistry and the study of states of matter. By mixing different ingredients, we can create slimy substances with unique properties. These experiments help us understand concepts such as polymers, viscosity, and the behavior of different materials.

Question 2: Can slime be used for science fair projects and experiments?

Answer 2: Absolutely! Slime is a versatile material that can be used for various science fair projects and experiments. Its properties can be manipulated to explore different scientific concepts and principles.

Question 3: Are there any easy slime recipes available for experimentation?

Answer 3: Yes, there are plenty of easy slime recipes available that you can use for your experiments. These recipes usually involve common household ingredients such as glue, borax, or contact lens solution. They provide a great starting point for your slime-making adventures.

Question 4: What safety precautions should be taken when working with slime?

Answer 4: Safety is always important when experimenting with slime. It is recommended to wear gloves and protective eyewear to prevent any potential irritation or allergic reactions. Additionally, make sure to handle the ingredients carefully and avoid ingesting or getting them in contact with eyes or mouth.

Question 5: How can slime be used to explore different scientific concepts?

Answer 5: Slime can be a fantastic tool for exploring various scientific concepts. For example, you can use slime to create circuits and learn about conductivity and electricity. Adding magnetic materials to slime can help understand the principles of magnetism. The possibilities are endless, and you can get creative with your slime experiments to explore different STEM concepts.

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Science in School

Moving slime: exploring chemotaxis with slime mould teach article.

Author(s): Amber Buchta, Micah Dunthorn

What are slime moulds? And what do they eat for breakfast? Discover these fascinating giant microbes and explore chemotaxis and the scientific method with these slimy experiments.

Teaching eukaryotic evolution and ecology often means teaching about animals, plants, and fungi. But most of the metabolic, morphological, and ecological diversity is within the unicellular eukaryotes, called protists. [ 1 ] To understand our world better, we need to teach students about microorganisms in all different forms, colours, sizes, and habitats.

An especially stunning protist that can help students to become fascinated with microbial eukaryotic diversity is the slime mould Physarum polycephalum (figure 1). [ 2 ] Its single amoeboid cell reaches sizes up to several hundreds of square centimetres, contains multiple nuclei, and spreads out network-like while searching for food. Chemoreceptors and external memory (which consists of colourless slime that the slime mould leaves behind and can recognize if it comes across it again) allow them to be very efficient in their search. [ 3,4 ] Slime moulds do not just move around but seem to know exactly where they are going. But what kind of food do they like? In nature, slime moulds feed on bacteria or pieces of dead organic material that they take up via phagocytosis.  [ 2,3 ]

The following experiments allow students aged 11–16  to explore the food choices of slime moulds over a period of three lessons by first offering them different kinds of food and then determining what substances attract or repel them. The experiments allow students to learn about the sensing strategies of organisms and to learn how to test hypotheses and design experiments with control variables (i.e., how to be scientists themselves).

Activity 1: Do slime moulds prefer salami or lettuce?

In this experiment, students offer the slime mould two kinds of food to observe its preference. Students should be encouraged to hypothesize about the results and discuss and debate the reasons for their hypotheses. It is recommended that the students work in pairs or small groups. The activity takes 45 to 60 min, although time varies with the students’ age. The results will be observable in the next lesson.

See the teacher instructions in the supporting material for details on how to prepare for the experiments (e.g., acquiring and culturing the slime mound).

Safety notes

It is important to work under conditions that are as sterile as possible. Wear gloves while performing experiments.

• 1 agar plate with a slime mould
• 1 new agar plate per group of students
• Ethanol & paper towels
• Salami slices (pieces of ca. 2–3 cm)
• Lettuce leaves (pieces of ca. 2–3 cm)
• Aluminium foil/a box
• Clean work surfaces, tweezers, and the scalpel with ethanol.
• Cut out a piece of slime mould with the agar it grows on (size ca. 1 cm 2 ) using the scalpel. Alternatively, take an oat flake with slime mould on it.
• Use the tweezers to place the piece of slime mould in the middle of the new agar plate.
• Cut out one piece each of salami and lettuce (roughly equal in size!).
• Place the salami on one side of the slime mould and the lettuce on the other. The distance between the slime mould and the food sources should be equal (see figure 2).
• Seal the plate with parafilm.
• Keep the plate at room temperature in the dark for approximately 24 h, e.g., wrap it up in aluminium foil or put it in a box.

Expected results

After several hours, the slime mould grows towards the lettuce (see figure 3). Its network-like structure will be moving towards or growing onto it.

The slime mould decides against the salami, but the students still do not know why. This leads to a second round of experiments, in which the students try to find out the reason for the slime mould’s food choice.

To discuss the observation, the following questions can be considered: Does the lettuce attract the slime mould? Or does the salami repel it? If it is repulsion, what exactly is repelling the slime mould? There are many different ingredients in salami. Students should be encouraged to discuss them and their possible influence on the observed repulsion. This discussion can be used to collect ideas for test substances for Activity 2.

Note: Focussing on repulsion is an advantage because it is easier to think of substances in the salami which can be used in the next experiment and that produce clear results than to isolate substances from the lettuce that could be attracting the slime mould.

Activity 2: Slime mould chemotaxis

Chemoreceptors in the slime mould’s cell membrane detect chemical molecules in the environment that either attract or repel it. [2,4,5] In this activity, the students design experiments to find out which ingredient(s) in salami is (are) repelling the slime mould. If possible, the students should design the experimental setup themselves, while the teacher functions as a guide during this process.

The slime mould is offered two stimuli: a control (oat flakes) and a test substance (oat flakes + test). Oat flakes are the slime mould’s usual food in the laboratory. Therefore, oats are used for both the control and test food options. If a substance is added to the oat flakes, there are three options for the results:

• the slime mould moves towards the control (=away from the test);
• it moves towards the test;
• it does not show any preference.

As the slime mould likes and knows oat flakes, result 1) would mean the added substance is causing the movement away from the test, which leads to the interpretations that we observe negative chemotaxis and that the substance is a repellent. Alternatively, result 2) would mean the substance is adding something to the oats, so that they appear more attractive than usual/the control; this can be interpreted as observing positive chemotaxis and the substance being an attractant. Result 3) would mean the added substance seems to be neutral for the slime mould. The students’ different ideas for test substances can be collected and each group of students gets assigned one.

The activity takes 45–60 min. The discussion should be done in the following lesson when the results are available.

• The slime mould Infosheet
• 1 agar plate with slime mould
• Test substances (e.g., salt, butter, …)
• Distilled water
• Marking pen
• Before starting the experiments (this can also be done in the previous lesson), introduce slime moulds using the provided Infosheet and/or this video .
• Wipe the work surfaces and materials with ethanol.
• Cut out a piece of slime mould with the scalpel and place it in the middle of the new agar plate using tweezers.
• Use tweezers to place oat flakes on both sides of the slime mould (equal amounts and distance).
• Place a drop of water on the oat flakes. This provides moisture for the slime mould and allows the oat flakes to stick in place on the agar.
• Add one substance, e.g., salt, to the oat flakes on one side of the slime mould by using the spatula (see figure 4).
• Mark on the plate which substance was used and on which side it was placed.
• Seal the plate with parafilm and place it in the dark for about 24 h.

The slime mould moves towards the oat flakes without salt (see figure 5). Just like acid or caffeine, salt is a known repellent in the literature. [ 2–5 ] The slime mould’s chemoreceptors allow it to detect chemicals and direct it away from harmful substances without needing further sensing organs.

Note: The experiments do not have to be restricted to the salami/lettuce problem. If the students are interested in trying other substances (e.g., sugar, acids) or finding out whether the slime mould prefers lettuce over its usual oat flakes, they should be encouraged to do so.

Activity 2 teaches students about the slime mould’s general chemotaxis, but also provides possible explanations for the results of Activity 1, or could be used to predict further food choices.

Students should consider the following questions:

• What kinds of food are attractants/repellents for the slime mould?
• Which results are surprising? Which are expected? Why?
• Why does the slime mould not like salami?
• How could the concentration of different substances influence the chemotactic behaviour towards them?

Some further questions to explore with older students (aged 14–16):

• Why is it important to use simple biological models to ensure easier discussion of results?
• In what sense does the second experiment clarify the importance of chemotaxis?
• What is the ecological function of slime moulds?

Slime moulds also offer opportunities for many other experiments . They are influenced by other environmental factors, such as light (phototaxis), or can be used to map routes or solve mazes due to their habit of strengthening only the most efficient connections by creating thicker plasma streams in the pseudopods between food sources and withdrawing the pseudopods with less nutritional flow. [ 4,6 ]

[1] Burki F et al. (2020). The new tree of eukaryotes . Trends in Ecology and Evolution 35 : 43–55. doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2019.08.008

[2] Dussutour A, Baily S (2022) Moi Le Blob . Éditions humenSciences, Paris.

[3] Vogel D, Dussutour A (2016) Direct transfer of learned behaviour via cell fusion in non-neural organisms . Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 283 : 20162382. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2016.2382

[4] Reid CR et al. (2012) Slime mold uses an externalized spatial “memory” to navigate in complex environments . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 109 : 17490–17494. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1215037109

[5] Ueda T et al. (1975) Threshold phenomena in chemoreception and taxis in slime mold Physarum polycephalum . Journal of General Physiology 65 : 223–234. doi: 10.1085/jgp.65.2.223

[6] Wegner C, Strehlke F, Weber P (2014) Intelligent slime? A hands-on project to investigate slime moulds. Science in School 30 : 16–20.

• Excellent tutorial on slime moulds from researcher Audrey Dussutour (French language, but the automatic English subtitles are sufficient for watching as well).
• Watch a very informative video about slime moulds with beautiful images and footage.
• Watch a fascinating video about how slime moulds can solve mazes .
• Try more slime mould experiments: Wegner C, Strehlke F, Weber P (2014) Intelligent slime? A hands-on project to investigate slime moulds. Science in School 30 : 16–20.
• Explore antibiotic resistance and drug development with these fun microbiology activities: Deumal Fernandez M, Lladonosa Soler M, Godinho T (2021) Microbiology: Discovering antibacterial agents . Science in School 55 .
• Try hands-on experiments with Daphnia as a model organism: Faria HM, Fonseca PA (2022) From drugs to climate change: hands-on experiments with Daphnia as a model organism . Science in School 58 .

Amber Buchta studies biology, mathematics, and chemistry as a Master of Education student at the University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany. Her work on this teaching exercise was funded by an Erasmus+ grant.

Micah Dunthorn is a professor of microbial diversity and environmental DNA at the Natural History Museum, University of Oslo. His expertise spans from evaluating meiotic genes in putative asexual protists to uncovering protistan diversity in tropical forests and other ecosystems.

The slime mould is a very interesting eukaryotic organism for educational purposes. It is easy to maintain under laboratory conditions and inexpensive. Without a brain or nervous system, it can choose the healthiest food from a diverse menu, finding the shortest path through a maze and mimic the layout of a transportation network.

The article could be used to stimulate discussion about decision-making and information processing that can lead to the emergence of complex social behaviour.

Hugo Faria, Biology teacher, Esc. Sec. Augusto Gomes, Portugal.

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• Time for Slime
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• Adventures in Chemistry

Chemistry is great for making many useful products. It’s also good for making stuff that’s just fun to play with. Let’s make some slime!

1. Place 1 tablespoon of water in a small plastic cup. Add ¼ teaspoon of borax.   Mix until as much borax dissolves as possible. This is your borax solution. If you would like your slime to be a certain color, add one or two drops of food coloring to your borax solution. 

2. Place 1 tablespoon of water in another cup and add 1 tablespoon of Elmer's glue. Stir with a popsicle stick until the glue and water are thoroughly mixed. This is your glue solution .

3. Slowly pour all of the borax solution into the glue solution, and stir with a clean popsicle stick. You should notice a sudden change in the solutions. 

Your slime is done when you can pick up your popsicle stick and most of the slime comes out on the stick.

4. When you have some nice thick slime, pull it off the popsicle stick and move it back and forth between your hands. The more you play, the less sticky it gets. 

5. Try pulling the slime very slowly to see if it stretches.

6. Form the slime into a ball and see if it bounces. You could put it over the bottom of an upside down cup and watch it slowly flow down.

7. Try flattening your slime into a pancake and then holding it from one edge to see what it does. 

 What to expect

As you stir the borax and glue solutions together, the mixture becomes thick. It also attaches to the popsicle stick. When you pull slowly, your slime will stretch. However if you pull quickly it will break. Slime will slowly flow making it seem like a liquid, but it can also bounce which makes it seem a bit like a solid. 

What’s happening in there?

What makes slime so thick and stretchy?  

The glue has long flexible molecules in it called polymers. These polymer molecules slide past each other as a liquid.

Borax in water forms an ion called the borate ion. When the borax solution is added to the glue solution, the borate ions help link the long polymer molecules to each other so they cannot move and flow as easily.

When enough polymer molecules get hooked together in the right way, the glue solution changes from being very liquidy to a rubbery kind of stuff that we call slime!

What else could you try?

Water is an important ingredient in slime. Water helps the polymer molecules slide past each other so that your slime can flow. If you let the water evaporate, your slime will end up like a solid piece of plastic.

Try making other samples of slime with different amounts of water and compare them to your first piece of slime. In each sample, follow the instructions to make the slime that you followed before, but change the amount of water you add to make the glue solution.

• Do not add water to the glue. Use only 1 tablespoon of glue to make the glue solution.
• Add two tablespoons of water to 1 tablespoon of glue to make the glue solution.

You may choose to give each sample of slime a different color to help you tell them apart.

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Easy Slime Experiment for Kids – Scientific Method

Slime experiments. Every kid’s obsession.

I’m all about using what my class is interested in to create easy and more engaging lessons!

We were studying the scientific method, so I used slime as a way to reinforce the steps of the scientific method!

Teaching the Easy Slime Experiment for Kids

Before I told the students anything about the science lesson for the day (I wanted it to be a surprise), I wrote this question on the board.

“What happens when you combine water, borax, and glue together?”

After discussing as a class we created our hypothesis.

This is when I passed out the mini-books because I knew the cover would give it away. These are the mini-books we used!

Hint: This is also when my class lost their minds with excitement as they realized we were making slime.

The Slime Experiment:

I likes using these mini books because they really helped guide our learning and keep us from getting sidetracked.

We started by practicing following directions. Some years, I have made slime as a whole class and other years we made it in small groups.

It really just depends what your students need this school year.

We then practiced recording our observations. Something we focused on was creating accurate drawings and labels, just like real scientists.

My favorite part of these booklets is the last page where it discusses the science behind the experiment.

This was perfect because I didn’t have to spend researching how to make tie slime into our science standards!

Grab a copy of the Easy Slime Experiment for Kids – Scientific Method Booklet HERE!

Teacher Tip for Slime:

You can use any color food coloring to make it fit a certain theme! For example use orange around Halloween or green around St. Patrick’s Day!

If it’s nice out, you can make slime outside!

There are also different recipes for slime. Feel free to use any of the recipes with this booklet.

You can also check out another of our favorite marshmallow toothpick STEM activities that have a scientific method booklet!

Conclusion:

Whenever kids are excited about something, it’s always a great idea to tie it into a lesson! The added engagement and excitement, make learning tough standards a lot easier for kids!

The slime experiment for kids is such a fun way to introduce or reinforce the scientific method to kids!

Ps. If you want to grab a Bundle of 7 Easy Science Experiments , you can find those HERE! As a thank you for reading the blog, I’ve added a 10% off code for you! Use Code: THANKYOU

Have you ever made slime with your class?

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Slimy Science! – Make it a project

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Who doesn’t like slime? You’ll love making it and playing with it! Create a creative and fun Science Fair project out of your fascination with slime. Along the way, learn what it’s like to be a scientist!

What is slime.

There are a lot of different ways to describe different slimes – some alive, some sticky, some gooey, some slippery, and some just plain gross! Slime often results from either a chemical reaction or biological activity. Yep, there is a lot of science behind slime!

Can you believe that “slime” is actually a term that scientists use? For example, biologists have classified hundreds of different species of slime molds and many different species of slime bacteria . Individual slime mold and slime bacterium are so small that you usually can’t see one. But together they can form a big mass or mound (blob) of slime working together as a community for a specific purpose. Smart, huh?

Explore: What slime have you seen? What can you learn about the difference in slime types? What is some of the science behind slime?  Want to learn more? Search the internet for:

• Spongebob Squarepants slime mold
• Scrambled Eggs slime mold
• Dog vomit slime mold
• Hagfish Slime
• Glowworm glue

Common homemade slime ingredients

• White school glue  – makes slime hold together
• Corn starch  – makes slime less sticky
• Contact lens solution or saline solution  – make slime more runny
• Borax/sodium borate (soap)*  – makes slime feel “wet”
• Shaving cream*  – makes slime fluffy
• Fun ingredients (colors, florescence, scents, glitters, etc.)  – makes more fun

*Can cause skin irritation, especially if it comes in contact with an open wound.

Explore: Chemically or physically, how do each of the common ingredients affect the slime properties? What other ingredients do you think you’d like to experiment with?

Simple homemade slime recipe.

• White school glue
• Measuring cups & spoons
• 2 Cups or jars
• Disposable stirrer (spoon or stick)

Directions:

• Mix 1/2 Cup water, 1/4 Cup white school glue, and “fun ingredients” in a cup or bowl.
• In a separate cup, add 3-5 Tablespoons of Borax to 1/4 cup water and stir or shake until fully dissolved.
• Mix small amounts (Tablespoons) of the Borax mixture to the glue/water mixture until you are happy with the consistency.
• Have fun! When done, store in zip bag

+ You can find Borax at most large grocery stores next to the laundry detergent.

Explore:  What did you learn or observe while you were making your slime? What “how” or “why” questions did you have while you were making your slime? Want to explore other slime recipes? Check out  https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Slime .

Now, think like a scientist.

Scientists make observations, ask a lot of questions, then try to find ways to answer those questions. Here are a few questions for you to try to ponder before starting your project:

• What did you observe while you were playing (pulling, touching, pouring, rolling, dropping etc.) with the slime?
• If there was one ingredient you’d like to experiment with changing, then what would it be?
• If there was one thing about the environment around your slime (temperature, surrounding liquid, exposure to air for certain periods of time, etc.), what would it be?
• How do you think changing one of the ingredients or the environment would cause a change to your observations about the slime?

Learn the science behind slime

Okay, you’ve gotten your hands dirty and have had a chance to make slime, play with it, and ask questions! Awesome! Slime is more than just a fun thing to play with and make. Just like everything around you, slime has A LOT of science behind it!

The science behind a topic is called its scientific principles or concepts. Now, it’s time to learn a little more about the science of slime by doing some background research. To do your background research, you can ask an expert, look in books or search the internet. Below are some scientific principles and concepts of slime that would be helpful for you to understand in order to plan your project. When searching the internet, include “kids” in your search to get age-appropriate information. For example, “kids molecule video”.

• Liquids, solids & gasses (Early Elementary School)
• Molecules (Late Elementary School)
• Molecular chain (Middle School)
• Polymers (examples of polymers are white glue, rubber, plastic and DNA) (Middle School)
• Viscosity (Middle School)
• Non-Newtonian Fluids (High School)

Now, be a scientist!

Inquiry science fair project.

If your science fair allows inquiry projects (or demonstrations), then try to answer “why” or “how” questions as part of your project. In your own words, describe the scientific concepts that you learned about and some of the things you observed or discovered. The purpose of an inquiry is to demonstrate what you learned, observed and discovered. Demonstrations are not the same as experiments. But hey, not every scientist is an experimentalist!

Experimental Science Fair Project

When you do an experiment, you choose one thing to change and try to understand the results of that change. This is called Cause and Effect. If your science fair only allows experimental projects that follow “The” Scientific Method, then follow these steps:

• After learning the science behind slime, decide on just one thing that you will change during your experiment and what you will measure. For example, maybe you change the amount or type of ingredient, the environment, timing and you measure the change in texture.
• Write a detailed experimental question that makes it clear what you will change.
• State your prediction as a result of a change that you make.
• Plan how you will set up your experiment, including necessary supplies.
• Determine the potential health and safety risks of doing your experiment.
• Write down a detailed procedure that you can use when doing your experiment.
• Collect and record your data and observations.
• Display your data in a table and graph.
• Look for trends in your data graph.
• Try to explain why your data or observations turned out the way they did.
• Share what you learned with others.
• Create a project board display – refer to Project Display Tips

If you’d like help during each step of your project, then check out Make Science Fair Fun® workbooks . Each of the 22 worksheets will help your child successfully develop their science & engineering skills!

© 2022 STEM World Publishing, Public Benefit Corporation, with permission.

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FREE K-12 standards-aligned STEM

curriculum for educators everywhere!

Find more at TeachEngineering.org .

• TeachEngineering
• Modeling and Testing Physical Properties of Slime

Hands-on Activity Modeling and Testing Physical Properties of Slime

Grade Level: 3 (2-4)

(three 50-minute class periods)

Expendable Cost/Group: US $1.00

Group Size: 3

Activity Dependency: None

Subject Areas: Chemistry, Measurement, Problem Solving

NGSS Performance Expectations:

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Engineering connection, learning objectives, materials list, worksheets and attachments, pre-req knowledge, introduction/motivation, vocabulary/definitions, investigating questions, troubleshooting tips, activity extensions, activity scaling, additional multimedia support, user comments & tips.

Material engineers manipulate the physical and chemical properties of matter to create new materials. Materials engineers develop, process, and test materials used to create a wide range of products. Thinking like material engineers, students test differing ratios of slime-making solutions to determine which mixture creates the slime properties desired by the toy company. 

After this activity, students should be able to:

• Describe and classify the properties of different types of slime.
• Use simple tests to identify which slime has the properties best suited to the design brief.
• Create a simple bar graph showing the results of their tests.

Educational Standards Each TeachEngineering lesson or activity is correlated to one or more K-12 science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) educational standards. All 100,000+ K-12 STEM standards covered in TeachEngineering are collected, maintained and packaged by the Achievement Standards Network (ASN) , a project of D2L (www.achievementstandards.org). In the ASN, standards are hierarchically structured: first by source; e.g. , by state; within source by type; e.g. , science or mathematics; within type by subtype, then by grade, etc .

Ngss: next generation science standards - science.

Common Core State Standards - Math

View aligned curriculum

Do you agree with this alignment? Thanks for your feedback!

Teacher needs (for preparation):

• borax, at least 120 mL (4 oz.) to supply 12 groups (available at most grocery stores in the laundry section)
• white all-purpose glue, like Elmer’s School Glue or similar, 1 gallon to supply 12 groups
• measuring cups, 120 mL (1/2 c.) and 240 mL (1 c.)
• 2 large bowls, jars or buckets, 6L (~1.5 gal.) capacity
• plastic cups or small containers, enough for 2 per group, 240 mL (1 c.) capacity

Each group needs:

• 120 mL (1/2 c.) borax water (see Procedure – Before the Activity)
• 240 mL (1 c.) glue water (see Procedure – Before the Activity)
• tablespoon and teaspoon measuring spoons
• 3 plastic baggies, sandwich size or larger
• permanent marker
• Slime Mixtures Handout , 1 per student
• Slime Design Brief Handout , 1 per student
• Properties of Slime Handout , 1 per student
• Slime Graph Worksheet , 1 per student
• Slime Letter Template , 1 per student

For entire class to share:

• food coloring in four colors (like red, yellow, green, and blue)
• poster paper
• playground ball or basketball

A basic understanding of making observations using sight and touch.

Ability to safely and accurately use simple measuring tools, like measuring spoons.

(Prior to starting the activity, find a common playground ball or basketball.)

My favorite toy to play with at recess is a basketball. I like that I can both bounce it and kick it. Let’s think about the physical properties of a basketball. Physical properties are the traits we can use to describe the basketball, like its color, size, shape, and texture. What properties do you notice?

(Ask a student to describe one the properties of the basketball, then follow up by asking the student why that property is important to the basketball being a fun toy. Possible answers: The ball is round, which means it can be bounced, rolled, or kicked in a controlled way. A square object would be hard to control while bouncing, rolling or kicking. Repeat this process until students have identified and described five to six different properties of the ball.)

Thank you for helping me describe the properties of this ball. Can one of you tell me what the word properties means?

(Call on a student to give the definition of properties.)

When we were listing the properties of this ball, we were making observations. Observations are the information we can get by looking at an object. We could use other senses too, like listening to the sound the ball makes when we bounce it. We could also use tools, like a ruler, to observe its size. We made many observations about this ball.

(Briefly repeat the observations students made).

Can someone tell me what the word observation means?

(Before proceeding with this lesson, an additional investigation, like mystery bags or another observation-focused lesson, could be completed at this time.)

Did you know that the people who make our toys, engineers and designers, get to test and observe toys all day? They are observing which properties are the most enjoyable so that kids want to buy those toys. Today we’ll use our observing skills to be toy engineers. We’ll observe another toy – slime! Who has played with slime before? What do you like about slime? (Call on students to share their experiences with slime). What I hear is you all have certain properties that you like about slime, like that its squishy and can be stretched really far. Do you think you could help a toy designer make an even better slime? That’s what we’ll do today. We’ll observe new slimes and decide which one is best based on our observations of their properties!

For decades, slime has been a popular science project for kids. The properties of slime teach students about viscosity, polymers and chemical reactions. Slime is just a mixture of household items. When these items come together they create a polymer substance that acts like both a solid and a liquid, depending on how you play with it. This is called a non-Newtonian fluid.

Before the Activity

• Make borax water
• For a small batch (approximately 238 mL (1 c.) enough for approximately 2 groups)
• In a small mixing bowl or jar, mix 11 ml (2 tsp) Borax with 240 ml (1 c.) warm water
• Divide solution evenly amongst two smaller containers – each group gets 120 ml (1/2 c)
• For a large batch (approximately 1.5L enough for approximately 12 groups):
• In a large mixing bowl or container, mix 71 ml (4 tbsp) Borax with 1.4L (6 c.) warm water
• Divide solution into smaller containers for groups - each group gets 120 ml (1/2 c.)
• Make glue water
• For a small batch (approximately 1L, (4c.) enough for 2 groups)
• In a small mixing bowl or jar, mix 480 ml (2 c.) glue with 480 ml (2 c.) warm water
• Divide solution evenly amongst two smaller containers – each group gets 240 ml (1 c.)
• For a large batch (approximately 6 L (1.5 gal) enough for 12 groups)
• In a large mixing bowl or container, mix 2.8 L (12 c.) glue with 2.8 L (12 c.) warm water
• Divide solution into smaller containers for groups - each group gets 240 ml (1 c.)
• Gather other materials and make copies of the print materials ( Slime Design Brief , Slime Mixtures for Students Sheet , Properties of Slime Sheet , Slime Graph , Slime Letter Template )
• Put students into group of 4 and, if necessary, identify jobs for each student or use an already established procedure to assign jobs. The jobs (Labeler, Glue Measurer, Borax Measurer, and Mixer) are described in detail on the Slime Design Brief .

With the Students

• Lead students through the Introduction and Motivation sequence and introduce key academic vocabulary.
• Hand out one Slime Design Brief to all students. Introduce students to the concept of a design brief. If needed, briefly explain the purpose of a design brief and why a toy company might use such a document (to inform engineers of the requirements for designing a new toy).
• Read the design brief and ask students to identify the purpose of the investigation. Ask students to summarize what they’ll be doing. Possible answers: Making slime and testing it, testing different slimes, creating a graph, writing a letter.
• Re-read the design brief and ask students to identify the properties they are looking for in the slimes. Answer: can bounce, can be pulled apart without breaking, holds its shape (not runny or goopy), and does not leave behind a messy, sticky goop on hands.
• Clarify for students that they are not making up their own slime recipes, but rather using already identified recipes/mixtures to make slime.
• Clarify for students that they are working in pre-determined groups of 4.
• Direct student attention to the jobs listed at the bottom of the design brief and read through each job description.
• Divide the class into pre-determined groups of four, assign roles and hand out supplies.
• If you do not want students to choose their own job, make sure to assign jobs ahead of time or use an already established classroom procedure to assign jobs.
• Hand out Slime Mixtures for Students and direct students to Slime Mixture 1. Deliberately walk students through each step and model each step of the directions.
• Release kids to make the first slime. Monitor to make sure students are accurately measuring glue water and borax water. Additionally, monitor that slime is being mixed inside the bag.

• Come back as a whole group. Review and model the directions to make the second slime, then dismiss kids to make the second slime. Repeat this procedure until all 3 slimes are made and labeled.
• Not every slime mixture will completely form together, and some need additional mixing time in and out of the bag. It helps to monitor groups as they mix slime and to offer support in cooperating together to get all the slimes mixed (see Troubleshooting Tips).
• If completing this lesson over multiple sessions, stop here to clean up slime making supplies. Make sure each group keeps their 3 slimes together and that students keep their design brief in a safe location, like a folder.
• Dispose of unused glue water in the trash can. Glue can clog drains. Additionally, if the borax water is heavily contaminated with glue, dispose of the borax water in the trash.
• Review yesterday’s work, paying particular attention to the properties identified on the design brief.
• Distribute the Properties of Slime Handout . Discuss how to test each property. For example, for “Does it bounce?”, lead students into discussion about how to test for this property. Answers might include rolling the slime into a ball and dropping it on to a desk. Make an anchor chart for each property and testing solution.

• Based on student feedback, model testing a slime to see if it has one of the identified properties, and model filling out the handout.
• You may need to model using a ruler to measure how far the slime can be stretched.
• Dismiss students to groups to evaluate each slime one at a time.
• Monitor students as they work to make sure they are testing one slime at a time and accurately filling out the Properties handout.
• If completing this activity over multiple sessions, stop here to clean up. Make sure each group keeps their 5 slimes together, and that students secure their design brief and properties handout in a safe place, like a folder.

• Review yesterday’s work and ask students to briefly describe their tests.
• Hand out the Slime Graph Worksheet . Walk student through the elements of a bar graph, then model graphing results for one property.
• Dismiss kids to groups and, using their own properties handout:
• Identify how many of their slimes met the first property (can bounce)
• Create a bar on their graph above the label “Can Bounce”
• Repeat for each property
• Come back together as a whole class and ask students to reflect on their data. Based on their findings, which slime mixture is the best mixture? Why do they think that?
• Introduce students to the letter template and, if needed, model writing a letter. Hand out the Slime Letter Template to students and allow students time to write a letter stating which slime mixture they think is the best.
• Collect letters from students and, if desired, allow students to take slime home (see Troubleshooting Tips).

observation: The action or process of watching something or someone carefully or in order to gain information.

physical properties: The traits you can use to describe something through observation and/or measurement.

Pre-Activity Assessment

Brainstorming: Holding up a simple object, like a playground ball, ask students to brainstorm all of the observable properties of the object. Ask students, “What traits could we measure?”

Activity Embedded (Formative) Assessment

Worksheets/Pairs Check:  Have students work individually or in pairs on the Properties of Slime Handout and Slime Graph Worksheet . After they finish, have them compare answers with a peer or another pair, giving all students time to finish the worksheet.

Post-Activity (Summative) Assessment

Written response : Using the Slime Letter Template , students write a letter to the toy company stating which slime mixture produced a slime with the desired physical properties. Students must reference their data in the letter. 

• Which slime mixture has the best properties for playing with? (Student answers may vary, but should include evidence from their tests and observations, such as “Slime X has the best properties for playing with because it stretches a lot and doesn’t leave goop on your hands.”)

Safety Issues

• Borax is a cleaning agent and can sometimes be irritating to the skin. Wash and dry hands thoroughly if irritation occurs. Urge students to use caution when using the borax solution, and only mix slime in the bag.
• Dispose of unused glue water in the trash.

Not all of the slime mixtures will form a neat blob of slime, and some mixtures will need additional mixing time to form together. The Mixer may need to be directed to ask another group member to help mix, and you may need to prompt the Labeler, Borax Measurer and Glue Measurer to continue working on the next slime while the Mixer continues to mix the slime.

Students are easily distracted by the joy of playing with slime. Directing and reinforcing to only work with one slime at a time helps keep students focused on identifying properties. Students may need reminders to allow all four group members a chance to test the slime for each property. For groups that are really struggling with focus or cooperation, designate testing jobs (student 1 will do the bounce test, student 2 will do the stretch test, etc.).

You will want a plan for disposing of or distributing the slime after the lesson is finished, as well as where and when the slime is appropriate if you allow students to keep the slime. Alternatively, you could keep the slimes in a class fidget box or use them as an incentive. 

Many students have played with or made slime at home. Ask students to devise their own Slime Mixture recipes using the available materials, or with materials they may have at home. Can they create a better slime with the desired properties from the design brief? Additionally, ask students to brainstorm properties they want in slime and ask students to create a slime mixture that meets their desired properties.

• More advanced students can help in mixing the glue water and Borax water, or in identifying the desired traits to test for.
• More advanced students can complete this lab as part of their study of matter, or to answer the question, “Is slime a liquid or solid?”

Where is slime in the real world? Is Slime a Liquid or Solid? Video: What is Slime?

Slime is atoms and molecules – Video: What is Slime? Atoms, Molecules and Science!

Harper, A. and Nickels, K. “Slime Investigation.” Queensland University of Technology. 2008. https://cms.qut.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/23980/Slime_investigation_student_worksheet.pdf. (Provides an advanced slime investigation, primary source that informed this lesson structure and sequence)

Helmenstine, Anne Marie. “Physical property definition in chemistry.” ThoughtCo. Feb. 11, 2020. Accessed on July 27, 2020. (Source of vocabulary definition, with some adaptation) https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-physical-property-605911.

Science Learning Hub – Pokapū Akoranga Pūtaiao. “Observation and Science.” Last modified November 21, 2018. Accessed on July 27, 2020. (Source of vocabulary definition, with some adaptation) https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/

Contributors

Supporting program, acknowledgements.

The author expresses thanks to her students and the faculty and staff at Rattlesnake Elementary school.

Last modified: April 1, 2021

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A Dab of Glue Will Do

Little Learners, Big Ideas

PS PK K 1 2

Slime Recipe Test: Simple Science For Kids

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Slime is an amazing material that is perfect for kids to make and play with. Slime is the perfect example for learning about chemical bonds and polymer chains and basic chemical reactions. However, a true science experiment includes a hypothesis, experiment, and conclusion. This slime recipe test mixes science with sensory play by testing three slime recipes to find the ultimate slime recipe for stretchiness, bounciness, and squeezability.

Getting the Slime Recipe Test Experiment Ready:

With a little advanced setup, this experiment can be done in a classroom setting. For each child you will need:

• 6 ounces of Elmer’s white school glue
• 6 plastic cups
• 1/4 cup measuring cup
• 1/2 teaspoon of Borax powder
• 1 cup of baking soda
• 1/4 of a cup of starch
• 3 craft sticks
• 1 experiment test printable

Cup 1: Mix 1/4 cup of glue, 5 drops of red food coloring, and 1/4 cup of water.

Cup 2: Mix 1/2 a teaspoon of Borax powder into 1/2 a cup of water.

Cup 1: Mix 1/4 cup of glue, 1/4 cup of water, and 5 drops of blue food coloring.

Cup 2:  Mix 1/4 of a cup of laundry starch.

Cup 1: Mix 1/4 cup of glue, a tablespoon of water, and 5 drops of orange food coloring.

Cup 2: Add 1 cup of baking soda.

Doing the Slime Recipe Test Experiment

In this test, children will determine which slime recipe makes the best slime. In our experiment, the kids decided that the best slime would be the recipe that produced the stretchiest, bounciest, and squishiest slime.  Each recipe was bounced, squeezed, and stretched and then scored.

The kids used forks to mix the two cups of ingredients together (you can also use craft sticks) and then played with the slime to test it. The different colors helped the kids remember which recipe was which for easier scoring. The baking soda slime is the most difficult, as the amount of baking soda necessary to produce a slime texture can vary. The more baking soda added, the more dough-like the mixture becomes. If the slime is sticky, add more baking soda. If it is too dough-like, add a bit more glue.

Recipe 1: Borax

The borax recipe produced a slime that was stretchy to a point, but it broke easily if it was stretched too quickly. The Borax slime produced the bounciest slime, but when squeezed, it broke apart.

Recipe 2: Laundry Starch

The laundry starch slime stretched the best . It also had a squeezable texture. The laundry starch slime wasn’t as bouncy , but it still had some bounce to it.

Recipe 3: Baking Soda

The baking soda slime was not very stretchy , and it did not bounce at all . The slime was the favorite for squeezability in our test group.

Slime Recipe Test Experiment Results

In the end, the kids decided that the laundry starch slime was the best slime . It stretched without breaking, had some bounce, and squished between their fingers.

More Science Activities and Ideas

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VanCleave's Science Fun

Your Guide to Science Projects, Fun Experiments, and Science Research

Science Project: Slime/Data

By Janice VanCleave

Step 8: Data

For this Slime experiment, you will be recording the distance that each test sample of slime flows in a specific amount of time.  You should test four or more  slime samples from each Glue Viscosity.

Determine the best way for your to record your data. For example,  a sample data chart is shown. The chart provides spaces to record and average the flow distance for four testings for each Glue Viscosity. 

Guide to the Best Science Fair Projects

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Science Fair Projects with Slime

Share this post:, who says slime can’t be used as a tool for scientific inquiry, having trouble thinking up cool and creative slime science fair projects with your kids .

Science fair projects can easily turn into a massive tug of war with your kids – mainly you tugging them to get something done, and them pulling your hair out.

Kids love to make slime. 

Why not combine making slime with your science fair project? OK, you might want to say that making slime in and of itself isn’t really a science fair project – but what if you could use your slime as a tool to amp up your science fair projects?

Below are slime science fair project ideas that promote inquiry based science and will be a ton of fun for your kids.

Don’t forget to grab a small notebook and your camera as you are making your slime and using it to test things. It takes a little extra effort up front, but making your board will be a million times easier if you don’t have to completely redo your project the night before to get content!

7 Science Fair Projects with Slime Science

Because we all need more slime science fair project ideas, right?

1. Magnetic field line slime science

Slime science fair projects are awesome because kids love slime! You will need to make our recipe for magnetic slime first, then you can use it to ask questions such as:

What makes magnetic slime magnetic? 

Instead of adding in iron filings let kids choose a variety of items to add to their slime to see if it makes it magnetic. Ideas include glitter, sawdust, tiny paper confetti, little foam balls, etc.

Try to keep the objects you add in to slime small. Then test to see which slimes you made are magnetic and which are not. Is there a common thread? Can plastics be magnetic? Paper? Metal? You see how this can turn into a stellar science fair project?

What do magnetic field lines look like?

Magnetic field lines are one of the few forces of nature we can actually see (unlike gravity or the strong force). Use your batch of magnetic slime to view the magnetic field lines of a variety of different magnets. Does the shape of the magnet affect the magnetic field lines? Do stronger magnets create more magnetic field lines? What happens when you add magnets together? What if you hold two magnets close to each other?

Did you know? This project won the first place blue ribbon and a district gold medal for one young scientist in a science fair?!?

Project ingredients:.

• Clear slime  (Clear glue, baking soda, contact solution with boric acid, and water)
• Iron filings

2. Glow in the dark slime science

Glow in the dark science fair projects are super cool. Truly awesome . Just imagine if you could make glow in the dark slime the center of your science fair projects? I mean seriously, how cool would that be?

The problem is, it seems like making glow in the dark slime is just for fun. How can you do science with it? Here are some slime science fair project ideas you could do with glow in the dark slime!

First, see our recipe for glow in the dark slime , and proceed from there.

See how the light color affects the glow.

This project requires you to learn how glow in the dark powder glows (yay science!). OF course, why stop there – that is more like a research project and not a science project that asks a question, forms a hypothesis, and challenges you to think of a test, then record results.

Glow in the dark powder absorbs light during the day or from a flashlight and then re-emits is slowly over time.

I will save all the cool details on how this works for you to discover, but here is an interesting question: If the glow in the dark powder absorbs light and then re-emits it, does the color of incident light matter (that is does the color of light you shine on your slime matter)?

You can test this by figuring out a way to measure the intensity of glow in the dark slime after, say, 10 seconds of intense red light, orange light, yellow light…you get the idea. One idea could be to take a photograph of the slime in the dark, at the same camera settings and comparing the images.

See if all glow powders are created equal.

There are lots of different colors of phosphorescent materials that glow in red, green, orange, blue, yellow, purple. The whole rainbow is available, which could make for a really cool experiment.

If you make one big batch of clear slime, split it up, and add in measured amounts of different glow powders into each small chunk, do they glow the same? Yes it glows? Why? No? Why ?

It really makes you wonder, doesn’t it? And that moment of “hmmmmm I wonder” is where all science projects should live.

• Glow in the dark powder
• Contact solution  (with boric acid)
• Baking soda

3. Electric slime

Electric slime is a fun and creative way to make circuits while playing with slime at the same time! Who wouldn’t want to hang out and make fun LED colors all day? Check out our post on making your electrically conductive slime light up and ask yourself this:

Can I make better conductive slime?

This requires you to learn about substances that are conductive and try to mix them into your clear slime base. Test the slime either by looking at the amount of light emitted from your diode or using a multimeter to discover if you made even better conductive slime.

Can I make insulating slime?

This is the reverse of the above. If you can engineer more conductive slime, can you engineer slime that doesn’t conduct at all?

Can I make any color of the LED?

RGB leds allow you to color mix and create a wealth of fun colors. Can you make any color? Is one color more prominent than others? You could make a color map of your slime and LED as a function of location of the battery wire in the slime, then try to figure out why that is.

• Clear slime
• RGB LED  ( these ones  are pricier but a lot larger and more fun for littler hands)
• 9V battery  (you can get 2 for $1 at the dollar store)
• 9V battery cap

4. Test-taking slime science

Here is a cool slime science fair project that I saw at my daughter’s school and just had to snap a shot. It was so well done and incredibly creative.

The student aimed to test if slime made you a better test taker! She used a timed test and the tested the ability to smoosh slime during the test or not. Then, she recorded and graphed the slime with and without scores. 

5. Change the chemistry of slime

Slime is an art. While it is forgiving, you still have to be careful because you can certainly ruin a batch of slime. Which makes you wonder, how important are the ingredients you use in slime? I wonder… Check out our five slime recipes to get started on this project.

Mix up the proportions of your slime recipe

What happens if you double the amount of borax? What if you skip adding water? While you don’t typically have to be measuring your ingredients on the dot when it comes to slime, if you totally botch it your slime will turn out different.

The questions it, different how? You could devise a series of projects that alter the quantities of an ingredient (your variable) and look at how it affects the stretchiness, gooeyness, sliminess of the slime.

Swap out ingredients for your slime recipe

Some slimes use baking soda, what happens if you choose a different base to do this job? Some slimes use boric acid, what if you use a different acid? Does the type of acid or base used matter? What if you use oil instead of water? Does the type of glue matter?

There are a ton of ways to mix up the ingredients in slime and record how that affects the end result. This makes a perfect science fair project. 

6. Engineering slime science

Engineering slime will mean taking our third slime science project idea (mixing up the ingredients) one step further by asking how you can engineer a slime to excel at a particular task. Check out our slime recipes to use as a jumping point.

Create a slime that will make the biggest bubble

How can you mix up a batch of slime that will be stretchy enough to make a huge bubble, yet stiff enough to not just drip to the floor in a puddle of goo? This makes for a great afternoon of making lots of batches of slime!

Create a slime that you can use to build towers

We often use marshmallows to create toothpick towers. Can you think of a way to engineer a slime that could replace the marshmallows? What qualities would that slime need?

7. Use slime to make lenses

Here is our last set of science fair projects with slime. I’m sure there are a ton more ideas out there though. Make some slime lenses!

This will prompt you to learn about how light and lenses work, with the added bonus that you get to play with slime and lasers. Seriously, this is a rad science fair project idea.

Mix up a batch of clear slime and try to use that slime to make lenses that will bring light together, or spread light apart. This will require research on terminology (what is a converging lens?) and ray tracing. You could ask the question, what focal length lens can I make with slime?

• Clear slime  ( clear glue ,  contact solution , baking soda)
• Laser pointer
• Acrylic lenses  (optional but suggested)

25 Slime Science Experiments Kids Love

These Slime Science Experiments are certain to be a ton of fun. And while you might be a bit worried about the stickiness or the mess, just know that making these slimes is all for the good of Science. Plus Slime is so much fun!

Your child is going to love creating these homemade slime recipes and learning how to perfect the process.

How to Make Slime

Slime Science Experiments

Many people don’t look at slime from an educational point of view, but it absolutely is full of learning opportunities.

Creating the slime means that your child has to follow directions, add ingredients and follow a process from start to finish.

Not only does this teach them how to pay attention, but they’ll also learn how to start thinking and using their analytical skills as well.

Plus…let’s be honest. Slime is just actually really, really fun to make.

How to Make Clear Slime

How to Make Black Slime

Liquid Starch Slime Recipe

Hot Chocolate Slime

Edible Candy Slime

Super Fluffy Snow Slime Recipe

Jiggly Slime

affiliate links can be found on this blog at no cost to you.

Slime Science

Slime Recipe

Click on the links below for more themed ideas.

• Erupting Dinosaur Volcano Slime Recipe from schoolingamonkey.com
• Butter Slime from thebestideasforkids.com
• Slime Bubbles Science And Sensory Fun from lemonlimeadventures.com
• Fall Slime Science Activity from raisinglifelonglearners.com
• Magnetic Slime Recipe from thriftynorthwestmom.com
• Kids Will Love This Galaxy Slime from lifeovercs.com
• Borax Slime Recipe Science Experiment from littlebinsforlittlehands.com
• Heat Sensitive Color Changing Slime from leftbraincraftbrain.com
• Rainbow Slime from thebestideasforkids.com
• Taffimatter Glitter Slime from funwithmama.com
• Disgusting Science For Kids Snot Slime Recipe from lemonlimeadventures.com
• Kinetic Slime DIY Recipe & Experiment from momdot.com
• Perfect Fluffy Slime Recipe from raisinglifelonglearners.com
• Glow In The Dark Slime from leftbraincraftbrain.com
• Magnetic Slime Science Activity from littlebinsforlittlehands.com

As you can see, there are so many slime recipes to choose from! But who says you have to pick? Schedule one every month and bring science and slime into your home or classroom.

Do them all and then compare!

Slime Recipes

Slime Supplies

THE BEST SLIME

CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW FOR THE COMPLETE LIST OF SLIME RECIPES HERE ON NATURAL BEACH LIVING

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How to make the best slime

August 7, 2022 By Emma Vanstone 1 Comment

We’ve been busy making borax free slime today and thought it would be fun to try three different slime recipes then create a fun science investigation to see which slime was the best!

No Borax Slime Recipes

Cornflour slime.

Simply add a little water to cornflour and you get a slippy slime that can be scrunched up into a solid ball in your hands. Unclench your fingers and it flows like a liquid again. Cornflour gloop ( also known as oobleck ) is a non-Newtonian fluid which means it doesn’t flow like liquids usually do.

This type of slime is super easy to make, feels lovely and silky and if you leave it to dry is easy to sweep away afterwards.

Cornflour Chia Seed Slime

Soak a handful of chia seeds in water for a few hours and then add cornflour and a little water. This makes a lovely thick slime, which flows beautifully through little hands.

Fybogel Slime

It sounds a bit odd, but fybogel makes a brilliant slime. Add a sachet to water and boil on the hob or in a microwave, once boiled leave to cool, you should be left with a sticky, gloopy slime!

How can you test slime?

We thought very carefully about how to test our slimes, and devised three tests.

The Stretch Test

This involved trying to stretch the slime between our hands.

Winner – Fybogel Slime

Remember to use the same amount of each slime.

The Viscosity Test

We set up a viscosity race to investigate which slime was the most viscous. Viscous liquids are thick and flow more slowly than less viscous liquids.

Winner – Cornflour Slime

Remember to use the same amount of each slime and time how long each takes to flow between the same two points.

The Splat Test

For the splat test we picked up a handful of slime and threw it at a piece of cardboard. We decided the best slime would be the one which made the biggest splat.

Remember to use the same amount of each slime, throw from the same distance and with the same force.

For more fun slime recipes to test, try some of the great no borax slime recipes over on Red Ted Art. We can’t wait to see how they do in our splat test!

We’ve also got a creepy Halloween slime to try.

Slime – Learning Points

This is a great activity for starting to think scientifically . For each test discuss how to make it fair, for example standing the same distance from the splat board and throwing the same amount of slime.

Try asking children to predict which slime will be the best in each test based on their existing knowledge.

More Slime Activities

Can you make a better slime? Try adding chia seeds to the Fybogel or using different amounts of water.

Links with English

Can you write a story featuring slime?

Can you write a set of instructions so someone else can follow your recipe?

Links with Maths

Can you record the time taken for the slime to flow between the two points on the viscosity board and plot the data on a graph?

If you liked this activity you might like our walking on oobleck activity too!

Science Concepts

• Thinking scientifically
• Non Newtonian fluids

Last Updated on August 7, 2022 by Emma Vanstone

Safety Notice

Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

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20 Slime Science Projects with Recipes

Categories Science Experiments

If you have done a quick search in either Google or Pinterest, then you know that there are no shortage of slime recipes out there.

Mixing up the slime and making chemical reactions, using them to make fun science experiments, and even using them to make all kinds of crazy creations is a great hands-on science activity for the classroom!

Here are 20 great slime science projects you’ve got to try. Bring slime into the science fair and used one of these slime science projects as your science fair project ideas.

From turning slime into worms to making different types of slime, you could spend hours just finding different kinds of slime! If you’re looking for a fun hands-on science activity, slime is a great place to start!

Why Try Slime Science Experiments?

Most kids really love slime. Its sticky, messy, and tons of fun to play with.

One of my favorite things to do in the science classroom is to take something that a child loves (in this case, slime) and then explore the science behind it.

We’ve also used slime to illustrate other scientific concepts, because things are just more fun with slime!

Giving kids a chance to explore science in a framework of something they love allows them to develop a love of science that will sustain them even when things get boring in high school or college.

Trying these slime science experiments will help kids establish a lifelong love of science!

What You Need for a Science Fair

You’ll want to have these supplies on hand before doing your science fair project. Shop the included Amazon storefronts to make things easier and don’t forget to download the free science fair planning checklist before getting started!

Science Fair Project Planning

When you’re planning your project, you want to keep everything organized. Click the image below to get my free science fair project checklist so you can start organizing your project from the start.

You may also want to check out this list of science fair project research supplies.

Supplies for a Science Fair Project

There are so many supplies for science fair projects that are individual to each project, but if you want a general list of possible supplies and inspiration for your project, check out my selection of science fair experiment supplies on Amazon.

Supplies for a Science Fair Presentation

Your science fair presentation is important! It should look presentable and eye-catching. Check out this list of my favorite science fair presentation supplies.

What You Need for Slime Science Projects

Most slime is made with a base (usually glue) and an activator. Shop some of our essential slime supplies below:

The Best Materials for Making Slime

Here is what you need to make every basic slime recipe on STEAMsational!

Elmer’s White Glue

Elmer’s Clear Glue

Liquid Laundry Starch

Borax Powder

Slime Activator

Biodegradable Glitter

Measuring Cups and Spoons

Craft Aprons

Instant Snow

Scentless Lotion

Mixing Bowls

Sharpie Markers

Slime Containers

Removable Labels

Stirring Spoons

Shaving Cream

There are a lot more slime recipes if you’d rather just make slime instead of doing science with it!

And if you want to take your slime science projects to a science fair, you’ll need these items , too.

18 Slime Science Projects that Mix Science with Messy Fun!

Take your slime activities up a notch and bring some hands on fun to the science fair with these slime science projects!

How to Make Water Slime that Looks Just Like Fresh Water!

Learning how to make water slime is surprisingly difficult. It takes the right balance of ingredients, mixing, and time to make it turn clear. This slime is a good one to use as an illustration point for why scientists only test one variable at a time.

Solar System Slime Recipe

Space is the final frontier and you can learn all about it with slime! Cover the entire solar system in this solar system slime recipe and learn about the planets there.

Fluffy Galaxy Slime Recipe

Make this super easy pastel fluffy galaxy slime and transform your slime making into an exciting, colorful experience with less mess!

How To Make The BEST Jelly Slime Recipe!

Jelly slime has a pleasing texture and is a sensory experience. Because the jelly slime recipe is lightweight, it is easy for the colors to mix quickly. Use this recipe to show how color theory basics work.

Borax-Free Bubbling Blood Slime Recipe for Kids

With the right materials, you can get slime to act a bit differently! This boiling blood slime looks like it is boiling because the pressure from the carbo dioxide gas creates bubbles on the surface of the slime.

Easy DIY Volcano Slime Recipe that Really Erupts!

Slime is used as the mountain and in the reaction for this super cool slime volcano science experiment.

How to Make a Blood Model Project for Halloween or School

Study blood and learn about the body with this fun slime 3D blood model activity.

Xanthan Gum Bubbling Slime Recipe (completely glue-free!)

Learn how to make slime that bubbles with this cool science activity featuring Bubbling Slime and chemical reactions.

Cornstarch Quicksand

A Non-Newtonian fluid is a material that acks like a solid in some cases and acks like a liquid in others. Cornstarch quicksand oobleck slime is one of the best illustrations of this principle at work.

Easy Slime Recipe with Borax

This is the first slime science activity we ever made exploring polymer chains! This easy slime recipe is still one of the best!

How to Make Slime with Salt

Learning how to make slime with salt explores how different materials interact.

How to Make Tie Dye Slime

Make your own easy tie dye slime with food coloring in this fun science activity.

How to Make Fluffy Rainbow Slime

Learn how to make fluffy rainbow slime and explore the states of matter in this fun activity.

How to Make Sand Slime out of Real Beach Sand!

Experiment with adding sand to slime to make a cool new slime creation when you learn How to Make Sand Slime .

How to Make Edible Taffy Slime You Can Really Eat!

Learn how to make slime mix with science in the kitchen with this edible taffy slime!

How to Make Slime with Baking Soda

The baking soda slime recipe does not last as long as some other slime recipes, but it's easy to clean up and kids who are sensory seekers will love the sticky and gooey feeling more than that of a few other slime recipes. This is the easiest way to learn how to make slime with baking soda.

Glow in the Dark Fluffy Slime

Make your slime glow in the dark with this super cool Glow in the Dark fluffy Slime

Stretchy, Colorful Lava Slime Recipe

Learn about volcanoes and lava using this awesome lava slime.

More Science Fair Experiment Ideas

How to Make Really Big Epsom Salt Crystals

How to Do the Classic Baking Soda Volcano Science Experiment

50 Classic Science Fair Projects for Elementary School

Easy science experiments with household materials

Share this project with a friend!

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HISA equine welfare unit probe says University of Kentucky lab did not follow testing guidelines

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — An investigation by the welfare unit of horse racing’s federal oversight authority accuses the equine analytical chemistry lab at the University of Kentucky of failing to comply with testing standards and misrepresenting its ability to test for specific substances.

Tuesday’s release of results from a six-month probe by the unit and the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) also says the university’s lab did not perform confirmatory analyses of 91 samples at the direction of then-director Scott Stanley, then reported them as negative. A re-examination has reconciled all remaining potentially affected samples, the report added, and seeks repayment from the school for non-compliance.

A separate release from the school says it is looking to fire Stanley, currently a tenured professor in its College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. Stanley was removed as director of the Equine Analytical Chemistry Lab in March, which differs from his faculty role, after launching an internal investigation of his management the previous month.

HISA and the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit also met with the school around that time over concerns about management and customer service. Kentucky’s probe found that Stanley reported a test result to a client when the lab had not tested the sample in question.

HIWU director Ben Mosier said it was “proud” to have uncovered and halted unacceptable practices that were unfair to horsemen and put horses at risk. HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus thanked the university for cooperating and credited its anti-doping and medication control program for enhancing the sport’s integrity and fairness.

HIWU plans to implement HISA lab accreditation on Jan. 1 to ensure compliance with ADMC requirements and bolster its negative sample exchange program, the release added.

AP horse racing: https://apnews.com/hub/horse-racing