Science Fair Slime Ideas
Slime makes a great science fair project, for a few reasons:
- Kids love it! It will be interesting to both the person doing the experiment and classmates.
- It's inexpensive, and can usually be made mostly of ingredients found around the home.
- It's made using a combination of ingredients (and usually a chemical reaction), so there are different variables that can be tweaked to get a good solid experiment.
Before doing any slime science experiment, I highly recommend reading the quick 4-page online document Brian Rohrig's The Science of Slime!*
It explains clearly and visually exactly what is happening in scientific terms when you make slime, including information about non-Newtonian fluids, viscosity, shear thinning, shear thickening, polymers, and cross-linking.
The American Chemical Society has a basic recipe for slime as well as an explanation of what is happening chemically, and suggestions for varying the slime recipe as an experiment.
The Steve Spangler Science website has a recipe for slime that explains the science behind it in detail.
You can also create a science project or report on the topic of non-Newtonian liquids. Some slimes qualify as non-Newtonian liquids because they act like a liquid in some situations but act like a solid in others. Slime appears to be solid but will flow like a liquid. This is possible because of the long chain polymers that are in slime. When the activator is added, the molecules link together and can not move as freely, but still retain some qualities of a liquid.
- Kids love it! It will be interesting to both the person doing the experiment and classmates.
- It's inexpensive, and can usually be made mostly of ingredients found around the home.
- It's made using a combination of ingredients (and usually a chemical reaction), so there are different variables that can be tweaked to get a good solid experiment.
Before doing any slime science experiment, I highly recommend reading the quick 4-page online document Brian Rohrig's The Science of Slime!*
It explains clearly and visually exactly what is happening in scientific terms when you make slime, including information about non-Newtonian fluids, viscosity, shear thinning, shear thickening, polymers, and cross-linking.
The American Chemical Society has a basic recipe for slime as well as an explanation of what is happening chemically, and suggestions for varying the slime recipe as an experiment.
The Steve Spangler Science website has a recipe for slime that explains the science behind it in detail.
You can also create a science project or report on the topic of non-Newtonian liquids. Some slimes qualify as non-Newtonian liquids because they act like a liquid in some situations but act like a solid in others. Slime appears to be solid but will flow like a liquid. This is possible because of the long chain polymers that are in slime. When the activator is added, the molecules link together and can not move as freely, but still retain some qualities of a liquid.
*Brian Rohrig is a chemistry teacher at Jonathan Alder High School in Plain City, OH. Check out his book: Pure Slime—50 Incredible Ways to Make Slime Using Household Substances! |
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All the Different Kinds of Slime
This is a list of all the kinds of slime we've heard of. It's an ever-evolving list! Because of the popularity of slime, new varieties are being born all the time! We'll keep the list updated as we hear of new slimes, and try to give a definition and video link to each.
Basic Slime - Here are some good videos
Avalanche Slime
Iceberg Slime
Rainbow Slime (Unicorn Poop Slime)
Magnetic Slime
Color Changing Slime
Edible Slime
Clear Slime or Transparent Slime
Butter Slime
Jiggly Slime
Jelly Slime
Soft Serve Slime
Fluffy Slime
Floam Slime
Glitter Slime (starts at 3:43)
Crunchy Slime or Fishbowl Slime
Sequin Slime
Glow-in-the-dark Slime
Metallic Slime
Mermaid Slime
Galaxy Slime
Cloud Slime
Slushie Slime
Jelly Cube Slime
Eraser Slime
Orbeez Slime
Remember, you can always substitute whatever slime activator you like to use for the one in the video (see basics).
Best YouTube Slime Channels and Videos
supercat13 DIY (slimekid's channel) doesn't have a lot of videos currently, but there are lots more coming soon! Please subscribe to show your support!
The CraftyGirls channel is one of our favorite youtube channels for slime. Their slime playlist is linked right here
My (slimekid's) personal favorite slime tutorials and videos are all in this playlist
Slime in the News
Slime queen Karina Garcia buys mansion from trending slime vids! 7/7/2017
11-year-old girl's hands covered in third-degree burns after making "slime" 3/27/2017
Savvy teens are making thousands off this mesmerizing Instagram trend (Money) 3/22/2017
Demi Lovato gets slimed at the Kids Choice Awards 3/12/2017
Twinkies to bring out key lime slime variety to mark Ghostbusters release (FoodBev Media) 3/8/2016
If you really must try these (yuck!) here is a link to purchase.
Slime craze causing glue shortage (News4 Washington) 2/28/2017
Slime is back! The gross, sticky, goopy mess is a hit again with kids (Philadelphia Inquirer) 2/9/2017
Will Ghostbusters bring back the glory days of Slime? (Slate) 7/8/2016
11-year-old girl's hands covered in third-degree burns after making "slime" 3/27/2017
Savvy teens are making thousands off this mesmerizing Instagram trend (Money) 3/22/2017
Demi Lovato gets slimed at the Kids Choice Awards 3/12/2017
Twinkies to bring out key lime slime variety to mark Ghostbusters release (FoodBev Media) 3/8/2016
If you really must try these (yuck!) here is a link to purchase.
Slime craze causing glue shortage (News4 Washington) 2/28/2017
Slime is back! The gross, sticky, goopy mess is a hit again with kids (Philadelphia Inquirer) 2/9/2017
Will Ghostbusters bring back the glory days of Slime? (Slate) 7/8/2016
Slime around the internet
.Here is a WikiHow article on How to Make Slime. It includes recipes and pictures to make Basic Slime, "Living" Slime, Edible Slime, and Soap Flake Slime.
Instagram #slime (with over 2 million posts and counting!)
Buy your slime instead of making it, and support independent entrepreneurs and artists on Etsy. Currently over 13,000 results for the search term "slime" here is slimekids shop
Instagram #slime (with over 2 million posts and counting!)
Buy your slime instead of making it, and support independent entrepreneurs and artists on Etsy. Currently over 13,000 results for the search term "slime" here is slimekids shop
Other slimes unrelated to crafts
- Slime is a tire sealant invented in 1989.
- The Slime is a mascot in the Dragon Quest video games.
- Slime is also a monster that you have to kill in Minecraft!
- Slime Music is musician Will Archer.
Know of any other slime references? Let us know by commenting on the blog!