One of the easiest activities I make with my kids is slime. Also known by the name of flubber, gak, and slime, this form of play dough takes mere minutes to make and is such a fun form of sensory play! Because Christmas season is nearing, we decided to make this slime “icicle coloured.” Our FAVOURITE thing to do with this medium is to put it into a colander or onto a cooling rack, tie it so it is hanging about 2 feet off of the floor, waiting for the slime to ooze down, and then letting my kids cut the icicles or dripping slime.
Here is the how-to for dripping slime.
Dripping Slime Activity
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What To Use
- Standard-sized bottle of Elmer’s white glue (120 mL)
- Food colouring (optional)
- Glitter (optional)
- 1 tsp. Borax
- 1 cup warm water
- 1/4 cup room temp water
- Colander or cooling rack for baking
- Scissors
- 2 even pieces of string
Instructions
In a cup of warm water, mix 1 tsp of Borax until fully dissolved. Then, set aside. Make sure to set aside because mixing it in too soon will mean you won’t be able to add colour or glitter to your mixture. In a separate bowl, combine 1/4 of room temperature water (this will just make your final product a little larger than if you didn’t use it), the entire bottle of Elmer’s glue or similar, glitter (optional), and as much food colouring until desired colour is reached.
Mix well. I do recommend using fine glitter as bigger pieces of glitter tend to fall out when the slime is manipulated. Add water borax mixture. Then mix with your hands (there will be water left over in the bowl, simply discard water. Option to let the mixture stand for excess water to bead off.
Then, fasten a colander or cooling rack across two chairs. We have also used cupboard handles or our chandelier. Wait about 3-5 minutes for icicles to drip and then cut away!
What they’re learning
- Cause and effect as well as the other benefits of sensory play.
- What is a chemical reaction: the borax chemically reacts with the glue making a liquid into a solid.
- Fine motor skills, how to use scissors and hand-eye coordination!
You can make it seasonal by changing the colours and adding glitter. We made Christmas Tree slime as well as blue for dripping icicles (photographed below).
Want more activities like this? Be sure to click below to check out a book I co-authored!
More great ideas like this:
How to make bouncy balls – a fun, hands-on science lesson
Three Simple Science Experiments for Preschoolers
Why Sensory Play is so Important β Backed by research
Twitchetts.com says
Will tag you when we do this!! Can’t wait!
mamabyfire says
This looks like so much fun! I keep wanting to make the goo for my kids but I haven’t yet! This is a perfect activity to introduce it to them. Thanks for sharing!!
andthreetogo says
How funny, making flubber is on my list of things to do with my daughter this week! Now I will add this experiement to the fun! Thanks!
mommyinsports says
I’ve never made goo! I am totally trying this – perfect for a winter activity where we don’t have winter!!
Funny Nanny says
This is great idea! I miss working with bigger kids and doing fun things like that one. I am definitely remembering this for future π
CourtneyLynne says
Hehehehe how fun!!!! Im going to have to try this with Haylie!!! I’m sure she will love it π
Alana says
Seriously, this dripping slime activity is so much fun!
triciathegoodmama says
What a great activity! I was just saying that I need to start letting my son use a scissors. This is a great place to start. Thanks for sharing!
Theresa says
I love that the icicles drip through the cooling rack. It looks really cool!
Jules Ruud says
I love this idea. I remember seeing Katie’s scope about making the goop, but I forgot just how easy it was. I really need to try it, Caleb would love the texture on his hands, I just know it.
workingmommagic says
We are obsessed with this stuff.. and I loved your scope on it! (and for the life of me, I cannot find freaking elmers glitter glue!)
Alana says
You know what, the glitter glue does not have the same consistency and isn’t as fun. I say just add glitter and colour ? enjoy!!!!
Cindy Calzone (Hometown Queen Bee) says
This looks so fun…I hope my son (almost 7) isn’t too old for this activity!?!
deanna says
This looks like so much fun. We have made slime but never ,like this. We can’t wait to try it!
Jennifer C. says
Wow, this looks like so much fun! Gonna definitely have to try this with my little guy!
Deborah says
I saw your scope on this and I just need to pick up the glue to get our icicle making on!
Homemade Experience says
This is disgustingly awesome, and both of my kids would absolutely love it! π
Alana says
Tessa, it is so, so fun! Enjoy!