How to Make Slime and Oobleck (Two Recipes Inside!)

The kids are on school holidays and the weather can be a little unpredictable at this time of year.

Making this simple slime recipe is a fun activity for kids indoors or outside, so give it a go today!

We have two different kinds of recipes for two very different kinds of slime — both you can play with! It’s a very, very cool excuse for a science experiment. Also, both will give your kids (and you!) a fun sensory experience they can learn from.

How to Make Slime (without Borax)

First, we’ll teach you how to make gooey, sticky slime, the kind which stretches and oozes. Many recipes use borax, which is also okay, but we want a recipe that’s a bit safer, so we’re not using borax this time.

Ingredients

• One small bottle of white school glue

• 1/2 tablespoon bicarbonate of soda

• 1 tablespoon contact lens solution (and another 1/4 tablespoon if needed)

• Food colouring (optional but encouraged!)

Method

1. Pour glue into a mixing bowl.
2. Add 1/2 tablespoon of bicarbonate of soda and mix.
3. Add a few drops of your choice of food colouring. Begin by adding just one drop and continue adding until you reach your desired colour.
4. Add 1 tablespoon of contact lens solution. Mix!
5. Once the slime begins the form, take it out and knead it with your hands.
6. If it’s still too sticky for your liking, add another 1/4 tablespoon of contact lens solution.

How to Make Oobleck

Next, we’ll show you how to make oobleck. It’s different from the regular kind of slime because it’s a substance with curious properties. It’s a non-Newtonian fluid (science, people!), which means it’s a liquid when it’s left alone and becomes solid when pressure is applied (hitting, rolling, punching!).

Ingredients

• 2 cups cornflour

• Food colouring

• A small mixing bowl

• 1.5 cups of water

Method

1. Pour cornflour into a mixing bowl. Stir in small amounts of water until the cornflour has become a very thick paste (about 1.5 cups).
2. To make the slime the colour of your choice, thoroughly stir about five drops of food colouring into the mixture.
3. Stir your slime REALLY slowly. This shouldn’t be hard to do.
4. Stir your slime REALLY fast.
5. This should be almost impossible.
6. Now punch your slime REALLY hard and fast. It should feel like you’re punching a solid.
7. You can keep your cornflour and water mixture covered in a fridge for several days.
8. If the cornflour settles, you need to stir it to make it work well again.

And that’s it! Have fun with your new slime!

For more aweSAHM kids activities – Click here!