Alphabet Slime

Please read the procedure before beginning! After reading, please watch the video. Some activities require more time and cleanup than others. You also have the choice of performing these activities in a way that suits your needs.

Not for children under 3 years. Adult supervision is required. Follow approved procedures.

Materials

· Two Plastic Cups

· Water (not included)

· Tablespoon

· Baking Soda

· Tongue Depressor

· Clear Glue

· Saline Solution

· Vial of Food Coloring

· Small Alphabet Letters

Procedure

1. Add 3 ounces of water to one of the plastic cups (warm water works best). There are ounce (oz.) measurements on the side of the cup to help with this!

2. Using the provided tablespoon, add about half a scoop of baking soda to the water. Stir using the tongue depressor until the baking soda is dissolved in the water.  Do not add too much baking soda—the slime will be cloudy! Add the food coloring to the mixture (optional).

3. Add 3 ounces of clear glue to the other plastic cup.

4. Pour the water-baking soda mixture into the cup with glue. Stir with the tongue depressor until everything is evenly mixed.

5. Using the provided tablespoon, add one tablespoon of saline solution to the mixture, adding a little bit at a time. Stir quickly using the tongue depressor! The mixture will turn into slime. When all of the liquid is a slimy consistency, remove it from the cup and finish mixing it by hand.

6. Now it’s time to add the letters! Find the letters in your name or your favorite word and add them to the slime. What other words can you spell? Can you move the letters around in the slime to spell a word?

7. Keep the slime in the bag labeled ‘Alphabet Slime’ so that it doesn’t dry out!

Science Behind it!

Which of your five senses are you using when you play with the slime? You are using touch to feel the slime, sight to see the slime, hearing to listen to the sounds that it makes when you squish it, and you may have tried to smell the slime. The only sense you’re not using is taste—this slime is not for eating!

The slime becomes sticky when you add the saline solution because of a chemical reaction with the glue and baking soda. A chemical reaction is what happens when two or more things are combined to make something different, or when something is broken down into two or more different things. Other examples of chemical reactions include burning wood or cooking an egg.