The last couple months Lila and I have had the privilege of partnering with Hero Elementary, a show she truly loves. All opinions are my own.
Just like our previous PBS KIDS Hero Elementary inspired posts (DIY snow and paper bag snowflakes), this one comes with another fun activity! The slimy idea couldn’t have come at a better time. Lila worked on her slime project when we were stuck indoors – thanks to the winter storm that hit Texas recently.
In case you are unfamiliar with the show, it’s about a group of Super Students who use science to problem-solve their way through each episode. Lila is a very curious child to begin with and becomes increasingly inquisitive (in a good way!) when watching Hero Elementary. I also appreciate the lessons in kindness and teamwork, especially because Lila has active little brothers in her life.
Lila and I actually talked about the DIY snow we made compared to the real snow we experienced in February in TEXAS. It was definitely a teachable moment having made the shaving cream and corn starch snow so recently.
This homemade slime activity is actually really easy because most of the ingredients can be found in your pantry. The only item you may need to purchase is contact solution – make sure it contains both boric acid and sodium borate. Check the link for ingredients and instructions.
We’ve always played with premade slime and added things to it, like glitter, or beads. You can also do that with homemade slime. Your kids can learn about chemical reactions, too. Like when the contact solution transformed the slime from a sticky goo that is hard to remove, to a more gelatinous blob that you can dig your hands into and come out clean!
When Lila poured the contact solution in, we watched the texture change as she stirred. Once the kneading started, she noticed that the slime came completely away from the sides of the bowl and didn’t stick to her fingers anymore like it did at first. Not in too much depth, we discussed how the contact solution had specific ingredients that reacted with the glue and water that changed its consistency.
I truly value these types of scientific activities. Sometimes it feels difficult to find time for meaningful learning, but when you are able to use that quality time to combine a fun activity with a lesson, it feels like a huge parenting win.
And guess what? The result is a something your child handmade that will entertain them for hours afterwards and for weeks to come! Just make sure to store in a properly sealed container.
Then when Lila asks for some screen time, I will gladly set her up with the PBS KIDS App for some more Hero Elementary. Be sure to check it out for yourselves, too! On PBS Kids, PBSKids.org, or on the PBS KIDS App. I have a soft spot for their bilingual teacher, Mr. Sparks. 🙂
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Hero Elementary.
