How to Make Slime Without Borax + Lesson Plan

I've been playing with slime recipes recently, and I have to say this is my favorite one so far! This slime is fool-proof - I've never had a batch fail on me. It's stretchy and squishy and all the things that slime should be. :D

Also, this slime is borax-free! (Great for those who are worried about using borax in something that will be touched so much with bare skin.) It's also made with two common things found in many homes: baking soda and saline contact solution!

The base of this slime recipe is Elmer's school glue (clear or regular), which is easy to find online if your local stores are out of it.

Educators, Parents and Students: check out our free Lesson Plan on Step 8!

Slime Photo Challenge and Giveaway!

Make some slime and get a giveaway pack. Visit Step 9 for full details.

Ingredients:

• 5 oz bottle Elmer's school glue OR slightly less than 2/3 cup
• 1 tablespoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons saline contact solution (needs to contain boric acid)
• Food coloring as needed
• Glitter if wanted

Double check that the saline contact solution you're using has boric acid as an ingredient, otherwise the recipe will not work.

Tools:

• Bowl for mixing
• Measuring spoons
• Spoon for mixing
• Small air-tight container for storing - ziploc baggies are a cheap and easy way to go. (optional)

In a small bowl, stir together the glue and the baking soda. Make sure the baking soda is entirely incorporated - there should be no dry bits left. The mix will look fairly cloudy.

Add a couple drops of food coloring and mix. Add more as needed to reach the color you want!

Add one teaspoon of contact solution and stir well. The mix will start to become really sticky - stringing from the sides of the bowl and getting stuck to the spoon.

Add the second teaspoon slowly, stirring constantly. As soon as the mix starts to pull together and come away from the sides of the bowl, you've added enough!

At this point, you should have a slightly sticky lump of slime. :D

When you first remove the slime from the bowl, it will be sticky and thin. To remedy this, you've got to knead it!

Work the slime between your hands and on a clean surface - stretching and compressing it. This will help it become less sticky, softer, and also allow it to stretch properly.

Once it's nice and stretchy, you're ready to play with it!

The slime sticks to itself like crazy, so you can use the blob of slime to clean up your bowl and spoon. Press the slime against any bits left and they will come away cleanly. :)

This slime can be played with multiple times as long as you store it in an air tight container! As it ages, it will lose elasticity, but it's possible to knead it and bring some of it back.

You may find that it releases a bit of liquid as it's stored - knead that back in and you'll have nice stretchy slime again in no time. If the slime snaps when stretched, kneading will help make it softer again too!

Enjoy your slime!

P.S. I'd love to see pictures if you make it! :D

Looking to mix up your science class? Slime is a great way to bring making into the classroom and explore the scientific concepts of matter and non-Newtonian fluids. Check out our latest Instructables Maker Lesson Plan: The Science of Slime Investigation!

You'll find the PDF lesson plan attached to this step. In it, you'll find a lesson plan, teacher information guide and student data sheets.

Use our Maker Lesson Plan along with the recipe for a fun slime activity!

When you post a photo of your slime on:

• This Instructable as an "I Made It",
• Twitter,
• - or - Instagram,

we’ll send you an Instructables giveaway pack!

Additionally, Instructables staff will feature the best recreations of this slime recipe on our Twitter and Instagram Stories (and tag you, of course).

Here's how to participate:

• Create your slime by following the detailed instructions in this project.
• Post a photo of your slime to Instagram and/or Twitter, tagging @instructables and #IblesSlime. (You’ll have to follow us on each platform so we can DM you.)
• Alternatively, post your creation as an "I Made It" at the bottom of this project.
• Giveaway opens on March 18, 2019. We must receive submissions and iterations of this project by April 8, 2019 (11:59pm Pacific Time) to be eligible for this offering.
• Participants will be contacted on the Instructables site via PM by the end of April 2019 to claim their giveaway pack.