Apologia: Chemistry and Physics

Last week, L. Said she wanted to make slime this week.  The Physical Science class was happy to help.  So, the kids did the Oobleck or cornstarch activity on p.33, a 'Try It!' First.  Cornstarch like bread dough forms a nonnewtonian fluid.  Next the group did the 'Try It!' On p.68, a Flubber activity that mixes cornstarch, glue, and borax solution.  The mixture did look more like Silly Putty-but it did not bounce.  So the kids mixed borax solution with glue to make bouncy balls.  Just as a warning, my philosophy is inquiry oriented.  Rather than follow an experiment's guide lines to the letter, I prefer to have the kids mix a little of each ingredient at a time until they get the desired result, such as a ball which bounces.  The last experiment was Slime.  I had polyvinyl alcohol leftover which the kids mixed with borax solutions.  Once the kids had finished, they epwanted to try different combinations.  I had borax solution (dyed with food coloring), cornstarch, white glue, clear glue, and the polyvinyl alcohol available for them to experiment.  Educational Innovations, Amazon,  Home Science Tools, and Steve Spangler carry kits.