The Science of Slime

During this hands-on experience, students will engage in a fun and educational activity that explores the fascinating world of polymers by making their very own slime. The process of creating slime involves an exciting chemical reaction between everyday materials, leading to the formation of a substance with unique properties. Students will investigate concepts such as viscosity, elasticity, and chemical reactions, gaining insight into the science behind these phenomena. 

This activity encourages teamwork, observation, and exploration as students dive into the fun world of slime creation. 

 Polymer Examples 

Standards Covered

NGSS Standards

3-PS2-4 — Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence of the effects of balanced and unbalanced forces on the motion of an object. 

4-PS3-4 — vApply scientific ideas to design, test, and refine a device that converts energy from one form to another. 

MS-PS1-4 — Develop a model to describe that matter is made of particles too small to be seen. 

PS1.B: Chemical Reactions — This benchmark involves students understanding that a chemical reaction is taking place when making slime and will have the opportunity to observe the effects of mixing certain materials together. 

MS-PS1-6 — Investigate and analyze evidence to understand the structure and properties of matter. 

MS-PS1-2 — Analyze and interpret data to identify patterns in the properties of materials that can be used to predict their behaviors. 

Crosscutting Concepts Cause and Effect — Students will observe the cause-and-effect relationship between the ingredients in slime and the resulting polymer formation. 

Structure and Function — The structure of the slime affects its function, as students will explore how the chemical makeup of the slime gives it its stretchy, elastic properties. 

Patterns — Students will recognize patterns in how the slime reacts to changes in ingredients, observing how different concentrations of materials affect the slime’s consistency and behavior.