How to Host a Boba Slime Program at Your Public Library's Anime Club for Teens

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I have a creative mind that doesn't turn off. Ever. I have so many ideas that there isn't enough time to implement them all in real life. I created this site to share programs I have created, re-created, and borrowed to help other librarians through their journey, too! I kind of also need a place to keep these ideas organized. I'll share what worked, what didn't, what I learned, feedback, supply lists, etc. Enjoy!

Boba Slime

My first shared program was one I just implemented last week - Boba Slime! Our Anime Club, held once per month, regularly sees about 10-12 teens (open to kids in grades 7-12). This particular meeting had 22 attendees - all excited to make this slime. It was easy, low-mess, and the supplies per kid were fairly low-cost.

Supplies I used:

• Plastic Trays (one of my MUST HAVE supplies! You will use these time and time again)

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• Condiment Cups (I keep every size on hand. Great for pre-measuring plus a million other uses!)

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• Large Popsicle Sticks (these make great mixers! I always have these on hand)

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• Kraft Paper (I use this to cover the tables when we're making something messy. Completely optional. I'm linking the paper and dispenser I use)

  • Paper: https://amzn.to/44s1toE

  • Dispenser: https://amzn.to/3y5DJuu

• White Glue. Individual bottles will be your friend here and save you measuring glue over and over again. Save and re-fill when you have more time!

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• Food Coloring (these are super vibrant and cost-effective)

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• Baking Soda (buying in a lidded container will make your life easier!)

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• Contact Solution (must contain boric acid)

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• Cups (9oz with domed lid, no hole!)

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• Black Beads (no hole)

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• Kawaii Face Stickers

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• Boba Straws

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Basic Slime Recipe:

• One bottle of glue (or 4-5 oz if using a jug)

• 1/2 tsp. of baking soda

• 1/4 cup of water

• Food coloring

• 1-1 1/2 TBS of contact solution (must contain boric acid)

Instructions:

1. Pour glue into the 9 oz. plastic cup.

2. Add baking soda. Stir well.

3. Add 1/4 cup of water + 4 drops of food coloring. Stir well.

4. Add contact solution slowly! Adding too much will make the slime very dense, and not, well, slimy.

5. Once it starts to come together after a minute or two of stirring, it can be dumped into the tray to fold/kneed until it completely comes together. The linked trays above are PERFECT for this.

6. Keep kneeding. You may need to add a few drops more of the contact solution. It will eventually start sticking to itself and come off of your hands.

7. Meanwhile, add the boba beads to the cup, then drop your slime back in!

8. Cut a boba straw to fit, and stick it inside. Close lid.

9. Decorate lid with stickers.

Set-Up:

I set up my Anime program with a U shape of tables, facing a TV we watch Anime on. Near the door, I had a table set up with the trays, cups, glue bottles, and stir sticks. I had another table across the room set up with the baking soda, food coloring, contact solution, boba beads, stickers, and straws (I sat at this table). A 1/4 cup measuring cup was set out by the sink.

Process:

The slime was the first thing we did, so as they came in, they each grabbed a tray, a bottle of glue, a cup/lid, and a stir stick, which I had all set out near the entrance to the room. They were instructed to empty the contents of their glue bottle into the cup. Once they finished that, they came to my table and I dumped in the baking soda (measured straight from the container) and I sent them back to their table to stir. Once it was mixed, they went to the sink to put 1/4 cup of water and came back to my table to choose their food coloring. Went back to their table to mix. Came back one last time for their contact solution, which I had pre-measured in the condiment cups (becuase you don't just dump it all in at once). Mix it a bit in the cup, then pour it into the tray to kneed and mix with hands until it all comes together. Finally, they came to back to my table to get their boba beads, pick their straw, and pick out stickers.

Results:

The set-up worked really well. The kids had a blast kneading it and playing with it and begged to make seconds! Clean-up was minimal - just using a piece of slime to collect the bits left behind on the trays (stubborn bits can be rinsed away easily), and I collected the empty glue bottles to re-fill. I have plenty of supplies left over to do it again.

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