Day 1: Polymerization
STEP 1: Slime is a non-Newtonian fluid, meaning it behaves as both a liquid and a solid depending on how you interact with it. The key ingredient, a polymer like glue, forms long chains of molecules that become tangled when mixed with an activator such as borax or contact lens solution. This cross-linking process changes the viscosity of the substance, giving slime its stretchy, gooey, and moldable properties! Watch the below video to learn more about the chemistry of slime.
STEP 2: Now that you’ve learned a bit about the chemistry of slime and polymerization, let’s explore some exciting new qualities we’ll be adding to our slime. Watch the short videos above to learn about bioluminescence and magnetic bacteria. These videos explain the science behind glowing organisms and magnetotactic bacteria—concepts we’ll be using to create slime that either glows or responds to magnets!
STEP 3: Regular Slime
- Make your slime base: Pour 6 oz (¾ cup) of glue into a bowl. This is your “life starter”—like the basic building blocks that life began with.
- Add structure: Mix in ½ tablespoon of baking soda. This helps your slime take shape—like early molecules helping cells form.
- Give it personality: Add food coloring or glow-in-the-dark powder and stir. This gives your slime a unique identity, just like real organisms evolved special traits like glowing to survive!
- Bring it to life: Add 1½ tablespoons of contact solution and stir. Your slime will start to thicken and come alive!
- Stretch and improve: Use your hands to knead it. If it’s too sticky, add a few drops of contact solution and keep kneading.
- Add new powers: Want magnetic slime? Once your slime is formed, knead in a little iron dust. Now your slime can “sense” magnets, like magnetic bacteria do!
- Test and reflect: Play with your slime—stretch it, squish it, observe it. Then talk with your group:
- What makes your slime act like a living thing?
- Is it flexible, responsive, or unique in any way?
- What adaptations did you give it (like glowing or magnetism) and why?
STEP 4: Foam Slime
- Make your slime base: Add ½ tablespoon of baking soda to a mixing bowl
- Add structure: Pour in ¼ cup of water and stir gently until the baking soda dissolves. This helps set the foundation
- Add volume and shape: Add 2 cups of shaving cream and gently fold it into the mixture. This gives your foam its light, airy body.
- Bring it to life: Measure and pour in 1½ tablespoons of contact solution. Stir gently until the mixture begins to come together.
- Give it personality: Add a few drops of food coloring or glow-in-the-dark powder and stir until the color is even throughout.
- Pour in the core: Add ⅔ cup of white glue and stir everything together. The mixture will start turning into stretchy, bouncy foam.
- Stretch and refine: Knead the foam with your hands until it feels smooth and less sticky. If it’s too sticky, add a few more drops of contact solution and keep kneading.’Add new powers (optional): Knead in extras like iron dust for magnetism, foam beads for texture, or more glow powder to light it up!
- Test and reflect: Play with your foam lava—squish it, stretch it, and shape it. How is it like a living thing? What traits did you give it to help it adapt or stand out?
STEP 4: You’ve created two very different types of slime—classic stretchy slime and foamy lava slime. Now it’s time to go beyond just playing and become a slime scientist! Every organism on Earth has to survive, adapt, and respond to its environment. So what can your slime do?
Choose one or more tests below to compare the two slimes. Record your results, make observations, and come up with a claim about how they are similar or different—and why. You can even invent your own test if you have an idea!
Investigation Options:
- Stretch Test: Which slime stretches farther before breaking? Measure using a ruler or tape measure.
- Bounce Test: Drop a ball-sized piece from the same height. Which one bounces higher—or does either bounce at all?
- Magnet Test: If you added iron dust, test your slimes with a magnet. Which one responds better? Try different distances!
- Glow Test: Turn off the lights! Which slime glows brighter or holds its glow longer?
- Strength Test: Pull slowly on each type of slime. Which one breaks more easily? Which is stronger?
- Absorption Test: Put each slime on a paper towel for 5 minutes. Which one leaves more moisture behind?:
- Temperature Test: Try putting a piece of each slime in the fridge for 5 minutes. Does the texture change? What about stretchiness?:
- Texture or Sensory Test: Close your eyes and feel each slime. Which one is softer? Rougher? Stickier?
Write Your Claim: Based on your test(s), how are the slimes similar or different? What do you think causes the difference? Can you connect it to what you learned about polymers, bacteria, or adaptations. Share your findings using the QR code below. Be sure to type your first name in the “Subject” line when you upload. Click here to see all posts.
