Young Explorers at Play: Polymer Play – Discovering Polymer Properties

Thank you for all your well wishes yesterday. The girls are on the mend! They were well enough yesterday to get out our pink slime with the purpose of discovering it’s rather unusual properties.

I popped a few tools onto the table with the slime and let them explore:

A4 tried to flatten it with a rolling pin... — A4 tried to flatten it with a rolling pin…

...but found it wouldn't work! — …but found it wouldn’t work!

She then tried flattening with her hands.... — She then tried flattening with her hands….

...and found that worked marginally better! — …and found that worked marginally better!

A2 tried to cut a shape with cookie cutters... — A2 tried to cut a shape with cookie cutters…

...which she found possible but much harder than play dough! — …which she found possible but much harder than play dough!

She also tried to push some into a mold... — She also tried to push some into a mold…

...she didn't think it would work as the slime wasn't being very cooperative. After leaving it to settle for a while (read: discarding it after getting frustrated at it not doing want she wanted!) she found it worked a treat! — …she didn’t think it would work as the slime wasn’t being very cooperative. After leaving it to settle for a while (read: discarding it after getting frustrated at it not doing want she wanted!) she found it worked a treat!

A4 tried to roll it into a ball... — A4 tried to roll it into a ball…

..with limited success!

Both girls cut it using a pair of scissors... — Both girls cut it using a pair of scissors…

...and found that worked a treat! — …and found that worked a treat!

After they had cut it all into tiny pieces I asked them to leave it alone and see if it changed at all... — After they had cut it all into tiny pieces I asked them to leave it alone and see if it changed at all…

..a couple of minutes later..

...and five minutes later! — …and five minutes later!

Ah, the joy of slime, I mean polymer, play!