1. What Is
Slime?
A lesson about Atoms and Matter.
Recommended for 3rd and 4th grade.
By Dana Bierwas
EDU 371
Spring, 2013
2. Instructional Plan
1. I will introduce the atom and matter lesson by asking the students the question “What is
matter?” I will wait for their responses, and then explain to them that when scientists talk
about “matter,” they mean every substance in the universe, from the tiniest speck of dust
to the largest star. Matter is anything that takes up space.
3. Instructional Plan
2. I will then introduce them to the 3 states of matter; solids, liquids, and gases, by giving
them examples of the different types (the table for a solid, a cup of water for the liquid,
and air in a plastic bag for the gas). We will then briefly discuss these different states,
and I will present the 3 states chart, displaying the difference between the three states.
3. I will then explain to the students that
matter is made of tiny particles called
atoms. Every substance in the universe, from
the table, to the bag of air (reference to
examples used earlier), is made entirely of
these minute atoms. Atoms are so small that
it is impossible to see them with just our
eyes, or even with a regular microscope.
4. Instructional Plan
4. I will then show the students a model of a Helium atom. I will discuss the atom model at
length, explaining that even though they are very small, atoms are mostly empty space,
and inside each atom are a variety of even tinier particles. In the center of every atom is
a tiny nucleus containing two types of particles; protons and neutrons. Protons have a
positive electrical charge and neutrons have no charge, or are neutral. Orbiting the nucleus
spin much tinier particles called electrons, which have a negative charge. They orbit the
nucleus in what is called an electron orbit. These charges are important because it is the
electrical attraction, known as a chemical bond, between the negatively charged electrons
and the positively charged protons that hold the atom together.
5. Instructional Plan
5. I will then tell the students that one important thing to know about matter is that you can
combine two different substances to create a new substance through a process called a
chemical change. Borax is used as a laundry cleaner. Glue is used in school to adhere one
thing to another. But, by combining them with water, we can create something new that
will have different properties than the original substances.
6. Instructional Plan
6. We will then discuss the components of slime (without mentioning what we are making), and
I will have them write down their predictions on the Investigative Process Information
Sheet what they think will happen when we mix the ingredients.
7. Instructional Plan
7. We will then make the slime according to the recipe supplied at the end of this
presentation.
10. The students enjoyed the slime making
process. They were all very surprised
that the ingredients that they mixed
turned into a substance that they could
play with!
11. Closing
What's happening? I will have the students refer back to
the predictions they made prior to making the slime, to see
if they were correct. We will discuss their predictions as a
group. We will discuss what caused the Borax, Glue, and
Water to create slime. I will introduce them to the process
of chemical bonding and explain that it happens when atoms
join to form new substances and the properties of these
new substances are different from the original elements
(chemical reaction). I will refer back to the beginning of
the lesson and remind them that what holds the atoms
together in the new substance they created is the force of
attraction.
I will have the students refer back to the States of
Matter chart from the beginning of the lesson, and
discuss together whether they believe the slime is a solid
or a liquid, and why. I will ask them a series of thought
provoking questions to help facilitate the discussion. Can
you pour the slime? What happens when you set it on the
table for a long period of time? What kinds of shapes can
you make in the slime? Can you break the slime? How far
can you stretch the slime? What makes slime unusual is
that when you apply pressure quickly, it will break like a
solid. Conversely, when left alone, it flows like a liquid and
forms into the shape of its container.
