Fun With Polymers

Polymers make for really fun hands on  Geeky Moms Science Club meetings.  I can not say that we really focused on a lot of rules of science, but what exciting things that science can make.  “Poly” means many and “mer” mean segments.  Many segments.  It occurs when many segments attach to each other and make chains.  It can occur naturally or processed.  I found that the children really enjoyed the hands on feel of the activities.  This will take some planning and purchasing ahead of time

 Activity 1 Polymer Glue  

 Supplies needed:  milk, vinegar, strainer with paper towel lining, paper to glue

Really a very simple recipe, I have seen more complicated recipes, but this is simple and works.  It is said that the Egyptians used this glue in making furniture.   More complicated glues used to made from boiling animal bones.

1. I recommend that before your meeting you make a batch first, mix a cup of milk with a quarter cup of vinegar and let it sit.  If you do this with the children it will need to sit about 15 minutes to separate.

2.With the group, mix a smaller mixture, just so that they can see it begin to separate.  Have the children smell it. What does it smell like? Does the smell remind them of professional glue.

3. Take a batch and pour it through a strainer lined with paper towels, the paper towels will catch the solids or otherwise they will fall through.

4. Once strained you will have a solid mixture, have them use their fingers and paint it onto a piece of paper  and glue another piece of paper on top.  This can be a bit messy and will need to rinse hands after.

5. Leave out to dry overnight and observe what happens. To send them home you can put them in a plastic sandwich bag with their names on it and instruction to remind them to pull it out to dry.

The papers should be firmly glued together.

Activity 2 SLIME

Elmer's glue (about 4 oz per child), Borax, water, mixing bowls or paper cups, something to mix, food coloring, plastic bags (optional) put newspaper on table for quick cleanup (optional)

Can be done in individual cups, or in a group

I have always used Elmer's liquid glue, I was once told that some glues will not work so I never risked it.  Borax can be found with laundry detergents at the super market.

For Individual cups:

Have each child take about 4 oz of glue and add about 4 oz of water and mix in each child's individual cup, you can add food coloring in now

Add  1 teaspoon of Borax in another dish to 8 oz of water per 2 children warm water and stir until dissolved almost completely.  After it dissolves take borax/water mixture and add to glue/water mixture and stir.  After it begins to form slime take it out and and knead it with hands.  It will form into a fun putty like substance.

I put into baggies with kids names on it, must be kept in air tight container when not being played with.  Children will need to wash their hands.

For Large Batch:

Pour about 8 oz of glue (per 2 to 3 kids) into a bowl, add about 8 oz of water, food coloring and mix.

In another bowl stir in a teaspoon of borax into some water and stir till mostly dissolved.

Mix your borax /water mixture into your glue mixture and stir.  You will begin to see it form into a slime. Take out and need exposing all the pockets of glue to the borax mixture.

Divide into bags for the kids to take home after they have a fun time exploring their slime.

Activity 3 Snow polymer

fine polymer, salt, plates, water

Polymers are used now in many things.  On movie sets a fine mixture of polymer can be used because it can look like snow but not melt in the heat of the lights, it is used in indoor skiing because it is slippery.  It is definately fun to play with.  Plus it is used in diapers to absorb urine and to keep the wetness away.

I liked to give a plate to each pair of children and sprinkle some small polymer flakes.  Give the children some water and let them pour a little on the polymer.  My guys were amazed when it absorbed the water.  I let them play with the mixture for a short time, while I explained the uses.

After they were done we sprinkled some salt on it and they watched and played with it while it turned into a soupy mixture.

Activity 4 Large Polymer Molecules

Large polymer crystal, seeds( large seeds are easiest) water, plastic bag, paper, marker

First I let the children observe the large polymer crystals, I explained to them that some farmers are experimenting with putting these polymers in their soil.  Why? 

Then they each put about a tablespoon of polymer crystals in a plastic bag and about 1/4 cup of water with some seeds.  We observed that the polymers were SLOWLY growing and that they were absorbing the water.

Then we discussed why we think farmers would put it in the soil.  I drew out a picture showing how when it rain sometiems the waterdrains away fast, but if there was polymers in the soil it would help to absorb some of the extra water.

I sent the bags home and let them know that the polymers were going to take a little while to fully expand. I instructed them to tape the bag to a window and watch the plants grow in the polymers.  

My son and I tried this experiment in the fine polymer and they all turned to mush and mildewed.

Activity 5 Oobleck or Goo

Cornstarch, water, bowl

In a bowl mix the cornstarch with water.  Honestly I do this by feel. I just slowly add the water.  With a group of kids I do this in several bowls so that pairs of kids can play with this together.  It is fun to just sit and feel this stuff move through your hands.

Scientifically speaking it is a non-Newtonian fluid, it acts like a liquid and it acts like a solid.  But really kids just love the feel of it.

Tip: If this stuff gets all over do not worry, just let it dry and vacume up.  I have done this so many times as a former preschool teacher that I have never had it ruin anything

Side activity

Take a diaper and pull out the inner parts and put into a large bowl.  Take some water( about 4 cups plus) and add food coloring, then then pour the water mixture into the diaper parts and keep adding water until you get the consistency you enjoy.  Let the kids play with it all they want, even add toys and such.  Bonus, my son had a Star Wars birthday party, so to go with the theme we set out a bowl of this stuff in green and we called it Jabba the Hut slime ;)

I hope that you and your friends can have a great time with Geeky Moms Science Club!  I have done these experiments many times throughout the years and I still get a giggle!   Please join us at Geeky Mom's Science Club on Facebook and be apart of the change

Be the change you want to see in the world!