Boys, Gak, and Fart-y Noises

I have always loved science and science experiments and I love that N has inherited that trait. For weeks now he has been begging to make Gak but then we all came down with an awful flu and for 3+ weeks we were just too sick to do anything. THEN the weather was so nice we spent our free play time outside. Today is day 4 of straight rain and cooler temps so I decided it was a perfect Gak day. For the price of a cheap off brand bottle of school glue, food coloring, Borax (that I already had) and water my son is now super entertained by the squishiness and "fart-y" noises the Gak is making. With every fart as if its ingrained in his boyish DNA he is giggling. Well worth the 30-ish mins of making time. So if you have a few extra mins and a few bucks for the materials its super fun. I felt so excited when we added the borax solution to the glue mixture and instantly the molecules changed and the gak started to form. N was sitting next to me with his voice almost shrill with excitement as well. It was so fun!
Here's the recipe:

Materials

• Elmer’s Glue® (4 oz bottle of Elmer’s Glue-All for 2 small batches, I would suggest 8 oz for 4 small batches of different colors)
• Borax (a powdered soap found in the grocery store)
• Large mixing bowl
• Plastic cup (8 oz size works well)
• Spoon
• Measuring cup
• Food coloring (the spice of life)
• Water
• Paper towel (hey, you’ve got to clean up!)
• Zipper-lock bag (don’t you want to keep it when you’re done?)
• Water

1. This recipe is based on using a brand new 4 oz bottle of Elmer’s Glue. Empty the entire bottle of glue into a mixing bowl. Add 1/2 cup warm water to the empty bottle and shake (okay, put the lid on first and then shake). Pour the glue-water mixture into the mixing bowl and use the spoon to mix well.

2. Go ahead… add a drop or two of food coloring.

3. Measure 1/2 cup of warm water into the plastic cup and add a teaspoon of Borax powder to the water. Stir the solution – don’t worry if all of the powder dissolves. This Borax solution is the secret linking agent that causes the Elmer’s Glue molecules to turn into slime.

4. While stirring the glue in the mixing bowl, slowly add a little of the Borax solution. Immediately you’ll feel the long strands of molecules starting to connect. It’s time to abandon the spoon and use your hands to do the serious mixing. Keep adding the Borax solution to the glue mixture (don’t stop mixing) until you get a perfect batch of Elmer’s slime. You might like your slime more stringy while others like firm slime. Hey, you’re the head slime mixologist – do it your way!

5.When you’re finished playing with your Elmer’s slime, seal it up in a zipper-lock bag for safe keeping.

Enjoy!


Here is the link to the site I used for the recipe: http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/experiment/glue-borax-gak