Make some spider slime with your students this October! The oozing slime combined with some creepy crawling spiders makes for the perfect addition to your list of Halloween activities for preschoolers.
In my opinion, Halloween is the absolute best time of the year to explore the five senses. From the scents of spices to the texture of pumpkin guts, there’s something for each sense – especially the sense of touch. And this gooey spider slime is a great example of that!
Although the spider slime is perfect for halloween, it will also work for a bug or insect theme! (Even though they’re arachnids!)
I know, I know. There are parents and teachers out there who loathe the mere thought of slime. But I, for one, love making it! And I know the kids do too.
One of my favorite things about slime is that it can be tweaked ever so slightly to create a whole new activity. For this one, we just added some small spider toys and it transformed a plain white slime into an interactive, sensory Halloween experience.
Spider Slime
If you’re wondering how to make slime with kids, we’ve got you covered. And don’t worry – it’s not as scary as it sounds. Yes, it can be messy but that can certainly be minimized with the right setup. And, to be honest, I’m a huge fan of all the messy play ideas for preschoolers!
To top it all off, making and playing with slime is full of so many learning opportunities for the kiddos. Follow along below, as we go over how to make this creepy crawly spider slime with your class!
Spider Web Slime Materials
Slime is created by creating a chemical reaction between materials which results in a new substance. That makes the process of creating slime a science experiment! And every good science experiment starts with a list of materials.
These are the ingredients for the spider slime (I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post):
- Elmer’s school glue
- Water
- Baking soda
- Contact lens solution (ingredients must contain boric acid)
- Plastic spiders
- Jar with lid (for storage)
Here are some other basic things for any of your slime activities:
And that’s it! I’m sure there’s a possibility you have most of those items on-hand. If you’re missing anything, a quick trip to the store or a simple “add to cart” will do the trick!
How to Make Spider Slime
Now that you’ve got all of your materials lined up, it’s time to get started! This recipe is really a breeze, so let’s jump right in.
This is how we made our spider slime:
- First, pour the bottle of glue into a mixing bowl.
- Then, fill the empty glue bottle with warm water. Add to the mixing bowl and stir.
- Add 1/2 tablespoon of baking soda to the glue/water mixture and stir well.
- Add a tablespoon of contact lens solution to the mixture and stir.
- When you notice the slime begin to form and separate from the sides of the bowl, it’s time to take it out and place it on a clean surface.
- The final step is super important, so don’t skip it! Knead. Then, knead. And knead some more! When the slime reaches your desired consistency, it’s ready!
- If the slime is too sticky after kneading for a few minutes, slowly add a tablespoon of contact lens solution until it reaches desired consistency.
Now, add the toy arachnids and your spider slime is ready to go!
Playing with the Spider-Themed Slime
I can go over a few ideas of how to play with the spider slime. But, in reality, there are so many ways to play with slime and kids always come up with the most ingenious ideas for the slime.
So, set the slime out with the toy spiders and let your preschoolers have free rein with the slime (within reason)! I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised with how they choose to interact with the slime!
Regardless of how the students play with the slime, there are so many opportunities for learning.
STEM Ideas for the Spider Slime
But if the children are having trouble deciding how to play, I have a few ideas to offer. And you’re in luck, because these ideas are STEM related!
This first idea is a bit messy, but it’s a great learning activity for the kids. Have them stretch the slimy web from one object to another, almost like a bridge or ramp. Challenge the kids to see how many spiders they can fit onto the web before it, inevitably, rips or falls to the ground.
Another option is to host a spider race! Separate the slime into multiple batches. Grab a few different-colored spiders and let students knead one into each batch of slime. Then, grab a few mixing bowls or other containers and place them on the floor. Select a few students to come to the front of the classroom and conduct the race. They will hold the slime up in the air, at the same height. Then watch to see which spider spun their web to the containers fastest.
Expand the activity by having the children predict which spider they think will win the race beforehand. Create a chart with their votes before running the experiment and check at the end to see if anyone guessed the winner.
Another idea would be to pair the spider slime with a laminated set of our spider calendar numbers. Children can select a number card and use the toy spiders to practice counting and one-to-one correspondence. As they count, they will place the spiders into the slime. This is such a well-rounded activity. The kids will be practicing counting, matching numbers to quantities, recognizing written numbers, and practicing fine motor skills, all while getting some much-needed sensory input!
Slime can be played with in so many different ways. Especially when you have a fun add-on like toy spiders!
Slime Safety
As I mentioned before, making slime is really a science experiment in and of its own. And with that in mind, we must treat it as such. Children must be supervised by an adult when handling materials, when creating the slime, and when playing with the spider slime.
From the materials to the final slimy product and toys, nothing from this activity should be placed in anyone’s mouths. And if that’s a concern with any of the kids, there are some really easy ways to alter this project to make it safe for everyone participating.
- One alteration you may consider is putting the slime in a bottle, jar, or zip-top bag for safe play.
- Or safe play may just look like more hands-on attention and supervision.
- You know your students best, though! So just keep their needs in mind when it comes to safety.
Next, make sure that the kids wash their hands before and after making or playing with the slime. While I’ve never had any students develop a skin reaction to making or playing with slime, it is not out of the realm of possibility. So keep an eye out for that.
And lastly, remember that science experiments for kids at home and school are a great tool for learning and fun. So make sure the kids have lots of safe, educational FUN!
Spider and Other Spooky Lesson Plans for Preschool
Having been a preschool teacher for many years, I know first hand just how difficult lesson planning can be. It takes lots of time, effort, and organization. And that’s where Preschool Teacher 101 can help!
Preschool Teacher 101 makes lesson planning so much easier (and much less time-consuming) by providing high quality preschool lesson plans and other teaching resources. The best part? Our collection of lesson plans will last you all year long with our wide variety of preschool themes!
Our preschool lesson plans come complete with a list of book recommendations, a full week of lesson plans including daily math, science, literacy, and group activities, related printables, a skills checklist, and much more. Check out our spider-themed lesson plans by clicking on the image below. It’s a great companion to the spider slime!
Maybe you don’t want a full week of spiders in your classroom (I understand, I’m arachnid-averse. Although I try for the kids!) Maybe you still want to keep your theme closely related to Halloween. Check out some of our other spooky offerings below. There is something for every teacher at Preschool Teacher 101!
Do you love the peace of mind that comes with having your weekly lessons already mapped out for you? If so, go ahead and take the plunge and join The Pack with a Preschool Teacher 101 membership. Our memberships give you regular access to our product offerings, saving you time, money, and sanity all year long!
You can also find us on Teachers Pay Teachers.
More Spider Activities for Kids
If the spider slime was a big hit with your arachnid-loving students, here are a few more ideas to try with them:
- Spider Sensory Bottles
- Sticky Spider Web Activity
- Spider Counting Book
- DIY Spider Ring
- Spider Shape Mats
- Salt Painted Spider Web
- Little Miss Muffet Free Printable
Be sure to save this post for future reference! If you have a Halloween Activities Pinterest board, or a spider-themed one, that would be a good place to keep it.
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