Our first week back at school has proved to be an exciting opportunity for the children in School-Age group 3 to reconnect, get creative, and settle back into the after school program routine. What better way to celebrate a new year by engaging in a program favorite of making slime.
The group began by gathering all of the materials that they had readily available to them, including white glue and paint cups, and quickly recognized that additional ingredients were needed to achieve the right slime consistency. Together, they gathered activator and baking soda and discussed how each ingredient would contribute to the final product.
Ella and Lucy took the lead in organizing and mixing the ingredients, while Wyatt and Austin carefully followed along with each step. The group demonstrated great focus as they measured, mixed, observed, and tested the slime consistency along the way. Using resources they already had, they decided to use the paint cups as mixing containers and experimented with the consistency, making adjustments when they noticed the slime was too sticky or needed more activator.
Like many hands on activities, this experience encouraged the children to use problem-solving and critical-thinking skills as they explored what happened when different ingredients were added. They were able to make predictions, observe the outcomes, and discuss together what needed to be done.
The group were excited to share their observations, with Ella commenting, “This slime is so slimy, I love the feeling!” Their enthusiasm and curiosity with something so simple continued as they stretched, shaped, and tested the finished slime.
This activity provided opportunities for the children to engage in creativity, teamwork, independence, experimentation, and problem-solving, while allowing them to follow their own interests.
