Homemade Silly Putty at Home STEM Experiment

Learn about chemical reactions while creating homemade silly putty. Want to feel more like a scientist? Check out our lab reports and more experiments for students by going to: http://ms.spr.ly/6057w9Fxx

In this experiment, students will learn:
• What a polymer is
• What a chemical reaction is

Supplies:
• White all-purpose glue
• Food coloring (optional)
• Liquid laundry starch (you can find this near laundry detergents in the grocery store)
• Mixing bowl

Instructions:
1. Add 1 cup (250 mL) of glue and a few drops of food coloring (optional) to the mixing bowl.
2. Add 1 cup (250 mL) of liquid starch a little at a time, stirring constantly. Keep stirring until the mixture holds together like putty.
3. Test the mixture with your fingers. If it is too sticky, add more starch until the mass is smooth and rubbery.
4. The final product will bounce and stretch easily, have fun!
5. Store it in a plastic bag or airtight container.

What Happened?
Silly Putty was created! Glue and laundry starch are made of millions of tiny particles called molecules.
Molecules can join together in long chains to form materials called polymers. Silly Putty is a polymer.