How to Make Slime with Liquid Starch Algorithm Coding Activity

I am going to give a presentation on teaching children to code offline in July. I thought it would be fun to share algorithm worksheet that featured slime. The thinking is that the teachers can help their children build the algorithm on paper. Then they can create the slime with them. I thought your children might enjoy learning about coding and making slime too.

This algorithm printable covers the basics of making slime with liquid starch. If you are looking for fun slime themes, you will want to check out A Year of Our Themed Best Slime Activities for Kids. You will find a year’s worth of fun themed slimes.

Wait! What is an algorithm? I tell my students that an algorithm is the series of steps needed to complete a task. Computer programmers or coders create the series of commands needed for a computer to complete a task.

Before You Start This Activity

I love to read my children a book based on the activity we will be doing. Horrible Harry and the Green Slime is a fun book to have your children read or to read to them before making slime.

Gathering the Supplies

You children will each need the following slime making supplies and a copy How to Make Slime with Liquid Starch Algorithm Coding Worksheet

1/2 cup clear glue
1/2 cup of water
1/4 cup of liquid starch
A few drops of food coloring
A small bowl or container
A sturdy spoon

Creating the How to Make Slime Algorithm

Your children will start in the bottom left-hand corner of the worksheet. They will draw an up arrow in the start box. This will lead them to the bowl box.

Then they will need to decide whether to move up or go to the right to get to the add glue box. Some of your children will want to take the shortest route. Others will want to take the longer route. When they decide the route they want to take, they will place an arrow in the box with the bowl in it pointing the direction they have chosen to go.

Next, your children will need to decide what direction they will need to go to reach the glue. If they chose the longer route, they will need to place arrows in several boxes that will lead them to the glue bottle.