The education team at Winchester Science Centre have introduced home-made, eco-friendly slime to its school workshops to teach visitors about the importance of sustainability.
Following months of research by the education team to determine which types of slime can be harmful to the environment when thrown away, a suitable replacement has been introduced to school workshops.
Winchester Science Centre uses slime to demonstrate the properties of matter to school children, but with sustainability also at its heart, the team said it was important for a change to be made to the existing slime formula.
Many types of slime are created using glue, a plastic polymer, which contributes to plastic pollution when thrown away. The slime testing team, lead by curiosity officer Jackson Hemming, spent months researching and testing different ingredients to create new slime, eventually settling on cornflour, xanthan gum and water – all ingredients that can be eaten and therefore a slime that is biodegradable.
Jackson Hemming said: “Our Matter workshop is one of our most popular school trip workshops. Its educational, fun and now sustainable.
“Changing our slime to be biodegradable is one small part of our sustainability journey that we hope will have a big impact. Our slime might be a little bit more messy, but learning should be messy!”
What’s included in a school trip?
- 45-minute hands-on curriculum-linked Discovery Workshop. Teachers can choose from: Marvellous Minibeasts, Destination Space, Matter, Rocketships, Sound and The Science of Us.
- Bespoke live Planetarium show to suit your pupils’ level.
- Lots of time to explore the two floors of interactive exhibits.
- Expert science ‘Inspirers’.
- Dedicated area to leave bags and picnic lunch area.
- A visit from 10am to 2pm during Hampshire school term time.
- Teacher previews and risk assessment advice.
For more information about school visits to Winchester Science Centre, go to www.winchestersciencecentre.org/schools-and-groups
