Delivering chemistry outreach education has been complicated these past two years. Typically, a coordinator would choose a fun topic, round up supplies and volunteers then head to a school or library for some hands-on science fun. This hasn’t been able to happen.  Even when visiting a classroom is possible, some students are remote and not in the room and when visiting a public venue, distancing is preferred.  The way around these difficulties is with kits.  Kits can be dropped off at schools then picked up later for restocking or simply just handed out.  A kit must contain more than just the supplies for an activity, there needs to be instructions, a learning guide for the child and the supplies pre- packaged in a way to make the activity easy.  It is important to envision everything that might be needed.  If un-used supplies are not going to be returned, a coordinator must also figure out a low-cost method to package supplies. This presentation will provide the instructions for making both classroom and grab-and-go low cost kits for one of the most well-loved hands on activities, glitter slime.  Creative packaging allows for more than just making one batch of slime, but also gives the flexibility for experimenting.  These kits, though created for the new remote learning environment, will be useful in years to come since they do not require voluteer time.  It is actually possible to do more outreach with kits that can be given to science coordinators with school districts.

Chemical education outreach with glitter slime kits for classroom and home

ACS Spring 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.