How to Make Slime with a Large Group of Children

Henry’s 3rd grade class has “Family Fridays” where parents or guardians are invited to come to school and lead the class in an activity. Last year, we made awesome Sharpie tiles. That project was relatively inexpensive and not too messy. This year, Henry almost wanted to repeat that project. But then he decided he wanted to make slime. Thus began my journey to figure out how to make slime with a large group of children.

We went straight to the slime recipe book we got for Christmas. I made a bee-line for the simplest, cheapest, least messy recipe in the book. Fortunately, it was also cool!

Even though I was a teacher for nearly 10 years, I never attempted to make slime with a class of 25 children. There’s a reason! But when your son who is struggling to feel successful at and connected to school gets an idea, you want to help support it.

Ingredients

• Clear glue (1/3 cup)
• Baking soda (1 t)
• Cups with lids
• Plastic spoons
• Snack-size baggies
• OPTIONAL: Glitter (1 t)
• Contact solution with boric acid (1 T)
• Warm water (1/4 cup) stored in a large pot
• Paper plates (to use as a protective surface between the cup of slime and the surface)

Henry and I prepared the glue cups in advance during our evening time together (and carried them to school in a box). We also prepared a small baggie for each child with the baking soda and the glitter mixed together.

On the day of the event, we passed out Sharpie markers with the glue cups, so the children could draw on their cups and write their names.

Then we called them to the sink to get water one by one (we brought a big pot of warm water). Then they went back to their seats, raised their hand to get the contact solution, and then started to stir like crazy. We told them to stir slowly at first to keep the water inside the cup. As it starts to solidify, you can stir it more rigorously.

Honestly, it takes more stirring than you think it would. Your hand gets tired! But this combination of ingredients will turn into slime. You just have to stir it vigorously, even as it hardens.

I warned the children multiple times not to touch the slime until it had actually turned into slime (the glue is sticky!). The only mess was that one child got it in his hair. I asked the assistant teacher to take him to the sink since all of the ingredients are washable.

Henry and his friends were thrilled to learn how to make slime! I was relieved that it went well.