TITLE:    SENSATIONAL SLIME

AUTHOR:   Jan Noyes, Westwood Elementary, Enumclaw, WA.

GRADE LEVEL:     Appropriate for grades 1-4.

OVERVIEW:  Predicting, observing, and drawing conclusions
are key elements in the scientific process.  This activity
is designed to foster utilization of these skills while
performing a hands-on experiment.

OBJECTIVES:  Students will be able :

     1.  Predict what will happen when the two given
solutions are combined.
     2.  Record or discuss observations during the
experiment.
     3.  Explain properties of slime the likenesses and
differences between it and gelatin, (ie. Jello).
     4.  List or discuss conclusions based on observations.

RESOURCES/MATERIALS:  polyvinyl alcohol (contact
local high school lab), borax, paper cups of two different
prints or colors, hot plate, large coffee can in which to
heat solution, large spoon to stir, tongue depressors to
stir mixed solutions, graduated cylinder, 1000 ml beaker,
water, food coloring, paper, and pencil.

ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES:

     1.  Teacher prepares two solutions, (prepare early in
the morning for afternoon use), following the directions
below:

          Solution 1:  40 grams polyvinyl alcohol in 1000 ml
water.  Heat the water until just too hot too touch, then
gradually sprinkle the polyvinyl alcohol powder into the
water while stirring continuously.  Continue heating and
stirring until the solution is clear and then for two more
hours.

          Solution 2:  8 grams of borax dissolved in 200 ml
of water.

          A.  In a graduated cylinder, measure 40 ml of
polyvinyl alcohol; dilute with 10 ml of water to give a
total of 50 ml.  Pour the polyvinyl alcohol/water mixture
into a paper cup and stir thoroughly.
          B.  Add one drop of your favorite color of food
coloring to each cup of the above mixture and stir.
          C.  In a small graduated cylinder, combine 5 ml of
borax solution with 5 ml of water and mix thoroughly.  Pour
into a different paper cup.

     2.  Have students predict in writing what will happen
when these two solutions are mixed.

     3.  After giving each pair of students a cup of the
polyvinyl alcohol solution and a cup of the borax solution,
have one student stir the polyvinyl alcohol solution
continuously and vigorously while the other student adds the
borax solution.  The mixture will thicken, but continue to
stir until the slime is uniform.

     4.  Have students record their observations on paper.

     5.  Remove slime from the paper cup and observe its
properties, (does it stretch, bounce, etc.?).  Record
observations after each experiment.

     6.  Have students draw conclusions regarding gelation
and properties they have observed in the slime and record.

TYING IT ALL TOGETHER:

     1.  Gather class together and list predictions,
observations, and conclusions of each student pair on the
board.  Discuss data.

     2.  Placing students back in pairs, have them decide
how slime is alike and different from gelatin, (ie. Jello),
Using a T-chart.  Students may use available resources in
classroom to assist them with their task.  Collect for
perusal.

     3.  Gather class together the next day to discuss their
findings.