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Science Playdates:

Slimey – Ooh, Ah, Ohhhhhh….

This is the first edition of my Science Playdates series!

For the past three years, I have been running some really fun classes in local park districts. I’ve felt like some of the stuff we have been doing is so cool that it should be shared with the masses- so here you go! I love the idea of hosting a playdate with a science purpose! So here’s to inspiring you to organize some activities for the kids in your lives and to the reward of seeing them super excited about science!

If you are a parent, a teacher, a camp counselor, a babysitter, or someone that just likes science, I started these playdates for you; so that you can do these fun activities at home, camp, or school with your own kids or groups of kids!

Here’s the plan! It is structured like a class. You can of course adjust the class to suit your own playdate’s needs! Just have fun with it!

 

General Course Plan:

If you are going to do this playdate with more than a few kids- I highly recommend getting an assistant. I usually ran these classes with up to 14 kids. I would often hire a local teenager or another teacher that would help with set up and clean up. This particular class is VERY messy, so helpers are key. I ran my classes in park district venues that were great because I didn’t have to mess up my own house!  You can certainly do these activities at home, just be ready for the mess!

Before kids arrive:

Set up the activities (listed below) with all of the materials ready to go. Have name tags (if needed) pre-written, and a roster ready to check off (if there will be many kids). Note location of bathrooms for hand-washing and bathroom breaks. Goggles are preferred for this class.

Love these: Link:  http://amzn.to/2rEzen1

Have water pitchers or water source ready for experiments and rinsing.

Start the playdate:

If you will be having a group of kids, I recommend being formal with them and treating the playdate as if it is a class. You will have more engagement from the kids if you are acting as a teacher.

• Introductions-What is slime? How does it work? Talk about polymers, cross-linking, etc…
• Introductions- names, age, school attending
• How is science used for slime? What is slime? Talk about polymers and how liquids flow and when you mix certain things together they get caught in each other and slow down the flow…. this will happen in several of the slimes.

Move to table(s):

Pre-assign 2-3 groups- talk about messes and clean up. Talk about fun and responsibility! Each time you make a slime you will clean up in between and they can help each time. Talk about not making this mess in their house, they get to do it here, and that we still have to respect the home/park/facility by cleaning up.

For each slime, get at least one bin to make it in and then a place to throw waste in and rinse it out. I like the simple white bins from the dollar store. These would also work and be very durable and reusable: http://amzn.to/2smfuUZ

The activities:

Here are the slimes that you can make with your group. There are many more slimes out there! Here are a few that are tried and tested by me, Jen B, The Science Lady!

1. Snow– water and snow. Do this one in a plastic champagne glass- do in 3 batches so each group has enough to play with. Use the white bins to contain the mess!

Here is the snow that I like: http://amzn.to/2sqiBMv

2. Moon dough– flour and baby oil (8:1)- one small bag of flour to about 1 cup of baby oil – I buy these items at the dollar store!

3. Fluffy stuff- 2 boxes corn starch: 1 can shaving cream- also buy at dollar store!

4. STEM activity: Ooblek- water and corn starch- what makes the best batch? Give each group a bin with a pile of corn starch. Tell them to add (some number) of dixie cups of water- what happens?

Then have them change the formula. Tell them to add water slowly (in some number of dixie cups) to see what gives the coolest Ooblek. Usually you need less water than you would think. If they go too far you can add a little cornstarch to their bin. Ooblek should flow but get hard when you push on it. It is a non-Newtonian fluid. I guarantee this is an easy, safe, and awesome slime. I use this slime with kindergartners and high-schoolers- every one loves it!

5. Gak- Borax- free slime. I usually do this one as a “take-home” slime. Kids get a Ziploc or a Tupperware container to take their creation home with them. I posted a similar recipe on a recent post: https://the-science-party.com/slime-time-slime-thats-fun-and-easy/ 

Here’s the recipe I’ve used with my class: In a dixie cup, take a blob of glue and a glug of liquid starch (clearly these are not exact amounts- and don’t need to be!). I have them stir with a Popsicle stick. Once a slime has formed, they pour off the extra liquid into a waste bin and then they can keep their slime in their cup- or they can transfer it to a container to take home!

You can dress up the slime with glitter, food coloring, or start with glitter glue. Even add tiny sytrofoam balls to make it super cool and awesome.

Here’s a link for some slime additives: http://amzn.to/2smaDTK  

Have fun with it!  It’s very safe and fun to play with!

6. Dinosaur dig– Frozen snow. You need to make this slime at least a day in advance because it is frozen. I buy disposable pie plates, baking soda, cheap objects from the dollar store, and water droppers for this experiment. Kids will be digging for treasure like a scientist would! Basically, I add a layer of small toys from the dollar store- like jacks, little cars, mini-dinosaurs, etc…. Then I cover them with baking soda, carefully add water, add more baking soda to make sure everything is covered, then put the pie plates in the freezer. When frozen, they are ready to excavate!

Set up cups of water and cups of vinegar- probably one cup of each for each group. They should have some sort of dropper to melt/react the frozen pie plates. They get a pie tin with the buried treasures and then get to have some fun digging! Popsicle sticks could be useful too to pick out their artifacts. They get to keep their treasures- they can be put in a Ziploc or Tupperware container to go!

It’s a Wrap!

At the end of the play-date, I would have the kids help clean up and then vote on their favorite slime. You might be surprised by which one is their favorite! Take some pictures and post them!

Here’s your Amazon.com shopping list!

These are all products I’ve used or a product similar to one I’ve used:

• Goggles: Love these: Link:  http://amzn.to/2rEzen1
• Here is the snow that I like: http://amzn.to/2sqiBMv
• White bins for messes: http://amzn.to/2smful

• I buy a big gallon of glue: Link:  http://amzn.to/2qAS3Ua

 

• I like this liquid starch:  http://amzn.to/2qANclF
• These mini dinosaurs would be great for your Dinosaur Dig activity: http://amzn.to/2rppT2Z
• Pretty much all of the other materials needed for this playdate can be found at the dollar store or grocery store.

Final thoughts:

So setting up all of these activities is A LOT OF WORK! I’m not going to lie! But, the reward of your kids loving all of them should pay the price for the work!! My kids have loved helping me set up these slimes and have loved playing with all of these slimes. I’ve been lucky to see the joy of many other kids loving these slimes- and I know your crew will love them too! And who knows- maybe they will be inspired to be the next cutting edge Polymer Science Engineer (cause that’s what all of this is really all about- right?)!

If you are looking to plan a complete science party, check out this post from my blog: 

https://the-science-party.com/throw-a-science-party/

If you are looking for another simple slime idea, check out this post from my blog:

Slime Time! Slime that’s fun and easy!

Take lots of pictures- and you’re done!

Feel free to post pictures, comments, or questions!

Hope you have a great Science Party!

Thanks guys!

Jen B, the Science Lady

jenbthesciencelady@gmail.com

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links to amazon. If you purchase any of these items, I will get a certain percentage of the purchase cost.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Throw a SCIENCE PARTY!

A friend of mine from school was asking what kinds of activities we do at a science party…

I figured since I’m not doing science parties this summer, I’d share a good ‘set-list’ in case you wanted to throw your own science party this summer. I’ll post separate instructions soon for the individual parts- but thought I’d give an overview to start!

General Science Party Plan: Here are some of the materials I gather up before hosting/throwing a science party. The Dollar Tree has great cheap supplies.

General supplies:

• Goggles: Love these: Link:  http://amzn.to/2rEzen1

• Name tags
• Lab coats or aprons
• Plastic table cloths
• Plastic bowls for mess
• Food coloring
• Dish soap
• Wipes
• Clean trays
• Other supplies/toys are listed- many with affiliate links where you can find them and purchase them.

The Party- Start up: I usually make sure I have an open area for kids to sit when we do some demonstrations and then a big table to do hands-on activities.

• Kids enter party, get goggles.Birthday child gets special lab coat. Everyone gets name tag.
• Need long interactive table and space for floor semi-circle.

Introductory demos: Semi- circle: These are done on the floor/ground. Then kids get up for interactive activities. 

1. Bubbles if outside- make homemade bubble mixture (recipe below)- can make bubble snakes like these (I’ll post directions in a separate post):

• This recipe is great: Measure 6 cups of water into one container, then pour 1 cup of dish soap into the water and slowly stir it until the soap is mixed in. Try not to let foam or bubbles form while you stir. Measure 1 tablespoon of glycerin or 1/4 cup of corn syrup and add it to the container. Stir the solution until it is mixed together

2. Science toys to get the party started- Parachutes- let birthday kid throw it, ask questions to the group.  Try an energy stick.Here are the affiliate links for products:

• I like these parachutes: Link: http://amzn.to/2sdPKHX

 

• This energy stick is fun and easy:Link: http://amzn.to/2rEPOmG

 

3. Tornado– why is this like a tornado? How does it work?

• I like this tornado connector: Link: http://amzn.to/2qABDyX
• water/glitter
• Two 2-Liter bottles

 

4. “Toast the birthday kid!” – Density column- Why do the layers happen? Why do some things float and some things sink? Talk about solids, liquids, and gas. Layer your liquids and amaze the kids!

• Champagne glass
• vegetable oil- yellow
• tap water (with food coloring) red
• dish soap- blue
• bolt/money

5. Cloud in a bottle- this one is so cool and so easy!

• Use about a cap full of alcohol, spread around the inside
• cap with the stopper
• pump three air pumps into it, pull stopper off
• should make a cloud

 

Interactive Demos: Have a helper set these two up while you do the beginning demos.

1. Milk-dye lab – Why does the soap cause the colors to move?

• Set up milk at beginning of the party. Add food coloring too if time. Soap dishes with cotton swabs. Tell kids the procedure ahead of time! Tell them to take their time!!
• food coloring/glitter
• white Styrofoam bowl/pie plate
• whole milk
• soap and cup
• cotton swabs

2. Slime/Gak- Why do the two things added together make a slime? You are making polymers, chains get caught together.

 

 

• Set up baggies with place for name- set up before, Elmer’s glue- blob in cups when arrive, liquid starch ready to go…
• plastic cups to share (8 oz)
• wooden sticks for stirring
• Add starch when ready, stir, and Voila! Slime….
• More slime recipes to come!  This one is very basic and easy and works!
• I buy a big gallon of glue: Link:  http://amzn.to/2qAS3Ua

 

• I like this liquid starch:  http://amzn.to/2qANclF

Closing demos:

Dry ice demos

• dry ice in cooler (Seek out well in advance- some ice cream shops sell it)
• tongs
• warm water
• graduated cylinders:  Link: http://amzn.to/2sedHyO
• big bowl 
• liquid soap

Demos to try:

 

• Quarter- hold the quart to the dry ice, makes cool noises
• Add to warm water, can add food coloring in large plastic graduated cylinder or vase
• Add soap to the water, watch as bubbles up- kids can each hold bubbles, can reload with warm water and ice once it slows down
• Alien bubbles- try it out! Use the bucket with the funnel attached. bubbles can land on towel or gloved hands. I’ll post a separate directions entry on this one- it requires some DIY setup. 

 

Closing demos – Rockets:

Mentos Geyser- Why does the candy make the diet coke erupt? Catalysts

• 2 Liter diet sodas- diet is better b/c it doesn’t leave a sticky residue. 
• Tray for mess or do outside
• Mentos candy
• Geyser Tube: Link: http://amzn.to/2rFcuTU

Closing- things with air

Small air blaster. These are really fun: 

 link: http://amzn.to/2qBaDLJ

Giant smoke ring blaster. Need to construct with large garbage can- I have directions in a previous post!

 

Stomp rockets: These are a great way to end a party- every kid gets at least a turn and you can make it a competition to see who gets their rocket the highest. Discuss the science behind the rocket blast.

We like these: Link: http://amzn.to/2qBiokK

 

Take lots of pictures- and you’re done!

Feel free to post pictures, comments, or questions!

Hope you have a great Science Party!

Thanks guys!

Jen B, the Science Lady

jenbthesciencelady@gmail.com

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links to amazon. If you purchase any of these items, I will get a certain percentage of the purchase cost.