Slime is an easy-to-make mini "science experiment" that can keep kids entertained for hours on end. It can be modified in many different ways to create crunchy, smooth, and fluffy textures.
Best of all, slime is generally an inexpensive craft that can be made with everyday household items that can be found either in your home or at a quick trip to the nearest store!
Here is a slime recipe for an easy slime texture you can make at home:
1. Normal Slime
- Ingredients:
- Mixing bowl
- Separate container for activator mixture
- Container/Ziplock bag to store slime
- Elmer's Glue (1/2 cup)
- Borax activator mixture* (1/2 cup of warm water with added1/ 4 cup - one or two tablespoons of Borax powder, dissolved into the water)
- Optional Borax activator mixture substitute: Contact lens solution (with the ingredients Sodium Borate and Boric acid; these are what enables the chemical reaction that results in the "clumping up" and formation of slime)
- Optional additionals: Food coloring, glitter, foam beads, etc.
- Optional safety: Use gloves and/or safety goggles
Borax Activator Mix Instructions: Adult Supervision Required
- Fill a small container with 1/2 cup of warm water. This can be done by heating up the water in the microwave, or boiling/warming water on the stove beforehand.
- Add a 1/4 cup or 1-2 tablespoons of Borax powder into the warm water.
- Stir until completely dissolved.
- The Borax solution will be diluted by the water, making it safer to use.
- This will create the activator liquid used for making slime.
Slime Making Instructions:
- Wash your hands before and after making slime!
- In the mixing bowl, add 1/2 cup of Elmer's glue
- Optional step: Add food coloring
- Add a small amount of borax activator mixture into the mixing bowl
- Start mixing the solution with the glue, and keep adding small amounts of borax activator.
- Once the slime begins to pull away from the edges of the bowl, add smaller amounts of borax into the mixture while continuing to stir/mix.
- Poke/touch the slime to test the level of stickiness.
- Once it begins to stick only slightly, take the slime out of the bowl and begin to knead it. This will help mix it even more and it will continue becoming stiff/formed.
- If the mixture is still sticky, add activator as required.
- You're done! Now that the slime is formed, you can add in additionals or keep it the way it is.
- Store your slime in an airtight container or bag in a cool and dry area to keep it in the best condition.
- Wash your hands after playing with slime!
Enjoy your new slime - I personally love the different textures and looks you can create with slime, it adds to the fun!
*Disclaimer: Borax activator mixture is considered SAFE when used properly in accordance with the activator mixture instructions and adult supervision.
Emmy award winning television personality and STEM expert Steve Spangler explained in an email interview with How Stuff Works that "The borax controversy was a great example of science illiteracy, especially when it comes to chemistry... Sodium tetraborate (borax) is perfectly safe when used as directed, and it's one of the only chemicals known to link together long chains of glue molecules to make the traditional glue-based slime."
Additionally, Dr. Shireen Banerji of the American Association of Poison Control Centers and clinical manager of Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center stated in an email with How Stuff Works that "I would not consider borax toxic when making homemade slime and following the instructions and with supervision. The last phrase is the caveat! ... when it is used appropriately and directions are followed for slime recipes, and an adult is supervising, I would not consider it dangerous."
Source: https://science.howstuffworks.com/borax-harmful-or-helpful.htm
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