Making Slime for Your K-5 Stem Classroom -- Multiple Recipes

Making Slime for Your K-5 Stem Classroom -- Multiple Recipes

1st Aug 2024

Planning to make slime for a large group of kids can seem daunting, but with expert advice, it can be a fun and educational experience. Here are tried-and-true slime recipes and tips from experienced educators and parents to ensure your slime-making activity is a success.

Basic Supplies Needed

  • White glue (Elmer's is recommended)
  • Borax powder or saline solution
  • Shaving cream
  • Food coloring
  • Cheap lotion or hair conditioner
  • Popsicle sticks for stirring
  • 4 oz plastic cups with lids
  • Large bowls or pitchers for mixing solutions
  • Zip-lock bags for individual portions
  • Optional: glitter, liquid starch

Recipe 1: Classic Fluffy Slime

Shared by Gina L. Rose

Ingredients

  • White glue (half-filled in a 4 oz cup)
  • Shaving cream (to fill the rest of the cup)
  • Few squirts of cheap lotion
  • Borax water (mix 1/2 cup borax in 2 quarts of warm water)
  • Food coloring

Instructions

  1. Mix food coloring into the glue and stir until fully blended.
  2. Add shaving cream to fill the cup and mix thoroughly.
  3. Add about three spoonfuls of borax water and stir until the slime starts pulling away from the sides of the cup.
  4. Dip fingers in borax water and knead the slime until it’s no longer sticky. Adjust by adding more borax water or lotion as needed.

Recipe 2: Saline Solution Slime

Shared by Hilary Holmes McKinney

Ingredients

  • White glue
  • Saline solution
  • Shaving cream
  • Food coloring

Instructions

  1. Mix glue and food coloring in a bowl.
  2. Add shaving cream and mix well.
  3. Slowly add saline solution while stirring until the slime forms and begins to pull away from the bowl.
  4. Knead the slime until it reaches the desired consistency.

Recipe 3: Jelly Slime (Non-toxic and Edible)

Shared by Somara Lever

Ingredients

  • 1 packet of jelly mix
  • 1 cup corn starch
  • Warm water (as needed)

Instructions

  1. Combine the jelly mix and corn starch in a bowl.
  2. Gradually add warm water until the mixture reaches a slime-like consistency.
  3. Allow the children to mix and play with the slime. Package in zip-lock bags for them to take home.

Recipe 4: Cornstarch and Conditioner Slime (Moon Dough)

Shared by Tara Kirschner

Ingredients

  • 1 cup cornstarch
  • 1/2 cup hair conditioner
  • Food coloring (optional)

Instructions

  1. Mix cornstarch and conditioner in a bowl until well combined.
  2. Add food coloring if desired.
  3. Knead the mixture until it reaches a dough-like consistency.

Practical Tips

  • Pre-mixing and Portioning: Pre-portion ingredients in zip-lock bags. This not only speeds up the process but also minimizes mess.
  • Protect Clothing: Use trash bags or old shirts to protect kids’ clothes from potential slime spills.
  • Use of Containers: Quart-sized zip-lock bags can serve as individual mixing containers to keep the activity organized and reduce the mess.
  • Stations Setup: Set up slime-making stations with pre-measured ingredients and have helpers assist in pouring and mixing.

Conclusion

Making slime with a large group of kids is achievable with the right preparation and recipes. Whether you choose the classic fluffy slime, the non-toxic jelly slime, or the eco-friendly moon dough, these tips and tricks will ensure a fun and educational slime-making adventure for all your students. Happy slime making!

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