Silly Putty & Slime

Silly Putty & Slime Recipe & Activities

 Pour 7floz of cold water into a jug.
 Measure out 2 tablespoons of PVA/Elmer’s glue and mix well into the water.
 Add food coloring now and stir again.
 Put 20ml of cold water into a small bowl and mix in 5ml of the borax powder
(use the medicine spoon – scrape off the excess powder with the back of a knife).
 Continue stirring the jug mixture and then add the borax mix to it.
 There should be an almost immediate thickening, continue mixing for a few more minutes or until a solid ball of putty forms.
 Scoop out the putty and gently squash/knead in the hand.
 As with goop (corn flour and water) the harder the putty is squeezed the more ‘solid’ it becomes and will break into small pieces… but then ‘melts’ again.
 It should feel cold and clammy but remove itself cleanly from your hands.

• When mixing glue and water make sure any glue on the spoon is mixed in thoroughly…borax reacts with neat PVA quite violently!
• We used the cheapest economy PVA glue to make the putty – if you have a glue of greater strength it may be better to reduce the glue amount to 1 tablespoon as a trial.
• Borax doesn’t dissolve completely in this amount of water, so needs stirring just prior to adding to glue mix.
• Ingredient quantities make a ball of putty slightly larger than a tennis ball.
• Consistency improves with handling.
• Any borax powder residue left in the putty can be washed off under a running tap. 
• Please use this powder under strict supervision with the children – it would be preferable if an adult made the putty in sight of the children.
• Store in an airtight container.
• Remove from clothing by soaking in warm water.

 

• Open out your hand and after a while, putty should start to dribble down through your fingers!
• Roll with hands, squash, squeeze, flatten, stretch, pinch, Mould and shape.
• Use different colors to marble together,
• Place putty on a slightly raised surface and watch its motion and movement. Put a small bead or similar inside the putty and wait to see when it falls out! Or leave on a flat surface to watch it spread – see when the bead becomes completely visible?
• Place a ball of putty on a surface and wait for it to flatten a little then place a smaller different colored ball in the middle, wait again and continue repeating – see what other patterns can be achieved? Butterfly shapes, ladybird spots, snake stripes etc.
• Take hand and finger prints.
• Using jelly/blancmange plastic moulds, put putty inside and wait whilst it takes on the shape – turn out onto a flat surface and watch the shape disappear!
• Cut out with shape cutters and snip with scissors.
• Add glitter/sand/sequins/rice etc to the work surface for putty to pick up!
• Compare what happens if putty is held with dry hands and then wet hands (take care - this stuff’s worse than a slippery bar of soap and bounces well !!).

     Fundraising Ideas

 As an extension to selling play dough … Put half quantities of the putty in heavy duty ‘zip lock’ bags or small plastic pots with lids, glue on a yellow paper chick and a ribbon bow for an Easter event

(alter paper character and putty color for the seasonal event you are holding).
 Or let the children create their own chick from collage resources to put onto the pot or bag.

 This is a suggested warning label you could also put on the bag/pot...….

  First Aid and preventative measures 

• Safety masks could be worn by all, whilst borax powder is exposed to the air or you could prepare the borax and water solution beforehand, but mark the container appropriately and do not leave unattended. 
• Try not to disturb the powder excessively.

• Whilst borax powder is in use, closely supervise access to it.
• Keep the borax powder well out of reach when not in use.

• Close supervision needed at all times.

• Check long hair is tied up and fringes are brushed to one side (so as not to annoy person and cause rubbing of face/eye area)
• Might be a good idea to blow children’s runny noses beforehand as well !!. 
• Supervision needed

• Wear protective clothing and gloves.
• Check allergies, skin ailments of participants prior to offering the putty. Ensure adequate protective clothing for them.
• Sweep and dispose of any spilt loose powder immediately. For spilt solution - absorb with sawdust first then sweep up and dispose of.
• Store borax in a dry well ventilated area.
• Do not use near food preparation areas.
• Clean utensils thoroughly after use.
• Have a supply of hats/caps available if you think there may be a need to protect the children’s hair!