Toddler Science: Sticky Slime

Happy 2020!

We are back with a super fun and easy toddler science experiment for your #homeschool or #totschool curriculum. I hope you enjoy it.

Background:

I got the idea after Max stepped in some sticky slime and it ruined his brand new socks. I was desperate to find a way to get the slime out, in an effort to save the socks. I started thinking: I have seen countless recipes for slime on Pinterest and it usually includes baking soda, right? So why not use baking soda's nemesis to dissolve the slime right out of the socks?

And thus, the experiment was developed.

Set-Up:

We took our slime-covered socks and got to work. We gather materials then created a time log to keep track of our data.

Experiment:

1. Materials:

• Slime covered items, for us it was socks. (Ps: I do NOT recommend covering an item in slime just for fun. Unless it is something that you are throwing out.)

• Vinegar

• Dawn dish soap

• Bucket to soak items

• Journal and log to collect data

• Optional: scrubbing brush and/or any other safe items that you believe will dissolve slime. This can include laundry detergent or body soap and shampoo. Get creative! :)

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2. Process:

• Soak items in the bucket and start keeping track of the time it takes for the slime to dissolve. (We did ours with Dawn and vinegar for 48 hours, while keeping a written log that we checked every time we entered the kitchen.)

• Discuss your experiment and what you hope to find by doing it. Remember, this is still school, so keep the education there. They will enjoy it so much, they won't even notice. (We created a simple hypothesis that we referred to frequently and talked about our observations as well.)

• Switch it up by scrubbing to see if it makes a difference and also taking notes on the changes in texture. (We noticed that it initially felt slimy then changed to feel gritty. In the end, we could definitely tell the slime we practically gone.)

• In the end, discuss your findings. Do you support or refute your hypothesis and why? Allow the child(ren) to give their opinions and see what they have to say. Make sure they use their collected data when thinking critically. (We refuted our hypothesis because the slime did not dissolve completely. This can be different for you based on how you modify the experiment.)

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3. Wrap Up & Modification:

• Wrap up by discussing their favorite parts to plan more engaging activities in the future. Also, be sure to talk about ways you would change the experiment in the future because that is always an important part of science. (We wrapped up by saying we will try to use the washer to get the last bits out.)

• Keep it age-appropriate. Because Max is only two, we did not follow all science protocols such as having a control, track data regularly, and all that good stuff. We made it simple but still very educational. If you have older children or more than one, go all out! Put them in groups and make one group use Dawn while the other uses vinegar then they can compare results. This is a great way to keep them engaged and having fun.

• Use items they are interested in. We used socks because of an accident that occurred. However, try this out with different textured items such as a plain t-shirt or beach towel or other items around your home. Keep it creative!

That is all there is to it. I really hope you guys enjoy this because Max LOVED it. Literally. We sat at the table for over an hour as we talked about our hypothesis this morning. He did not even interrupt me while I was speaking lol. I will be posting more ideas like this in 2020 because Max loves them so much.

- Cherisse