KENT – It was a chance to watch chemistry in action and get hands immersed in a gooey concoction. What could be more fun for 10-year-old boys?
Raphael da Silva is no stranger to creating slime. He was one of two boys who took advantage of the Junior Library program, Teen and Tween Slime Extravaganza, Feb. 16, joined by his friend, Cooper Miles.
“I make slime 24-7,” he told junior librarians Kate Zarin and Dorothy Shackelford. “At home, I have a whole table full of slime.”
This slime is created from a chemical reaction of combining white glue with other components, including baking soda, laundry starch, contact solution and even shaving cream.
da Silva had an interesting technique for kneading the mixture between his hands, pushing it together and then pulling it apart. Miles was quickly beating the white mixture in a large bowl using a plastic knife; it looked like a thick milk. At some point, it was time to stick hands into the blob and really activate the chemical reaction.
They made at least two different versions, regular and fluffy slime. The fluffy version had shaving cream. Of course, the final touch was to add food coloring and the boys both chose blue.
“I like the fluffy slime better,” da Silva said. “It is not as rippy.”
Shackelford said the library will have another slime activity next month, in March, for kindergarten through fourth graders on one of the half days for Kent Center School.
Both boys asked if they could attend and help and were assured they’d be welcomed.