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Making Glue Experiment

By Karen Cox | Affiliate Disclosure

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Last week, we did one of my favorite science experiments: we made glue. The kids love this, too!

In this experiment, we use the scientific method to determine what materials we can combine to make a glue that will stick paper together.

Making Glue Experiment: Science for Pre-K, Preschool

Materials Needed:

Water in a pitcher
Paper cups (3 per child)
Water droppers (medicine droppers)
Flour
Salt
Q-tips
Clipart (3 pictures per child)
Recording sheets (a printable version is available below)

Making Glue Experiment: Science for Pre-K, Preschool

Set Up:

To prepare the Recording Sheets, fold a piece of construction paper so that it has 3 equal sections. Using a ruler, draw a line across the top (with paper turned landscape style). On the line write: “What will make paper stick?” Draw lines on the 2 creases that were made when you folded the paper. In each of the 3 sections, write numbers 1-3. Label the 3 sections: water, salt water, and flour & water.

There is now a printable version of the recording sheet below to save you time!

Place a small amount of water in each paper cup (1 per child), place a small amount of salt in each paper cup (1 per child), and place a small amount of flour in each paper cup (1 per child). (You want approximately equal amounts of each substance.) Place Q-tips in all of the cups. Keep a pitcher of water nearby.

Cut out the clipart pictures in advance. We used clipart of reptiles because my class has been doing a reptiles theme, but you can use any pictures.

Making Glue Experiment: Science for Pre-K, Preschool

Procedure:

1. Pass out the cups of water (with Q-tip in the cup). Ask children to predict whether they think the water will stick paper. Give them each a clipart paper, have them spread water on the back of the paper with the Q-tip, and stick it on the number 1 on their construction paper. Have the children hold their paper up and see if the paper falls off or sticks. (It might stick initially, but as soon as the water dries, it will come off.) Doing this establishes that the water by itself does not work as a glue.

2. Pass out the cups of salt (with Q-tip in the cup). Have children pour their water from the first cup into the salt and stir with the Q-tip until it dissolves. Make your predictions first, then give them a second clipart paper, spread the mixture on the back, and stick it on the number 2. Check to see if the paper sticks.

3. Pass out the cups of flour (with Q-tip in the cup). Refill the water cups (you want the water and flour to be approximately equal amounts). Have children pour their water into the cup of flour and stir with the Q-tip until it is mixed well. Make your predictions first, then give them a third clipart paper, spread the mixture on the back, and stick it to the number 3.

Compare the results of the experiment to your predictions. Since only the flour and water combination worked to make paper stick, you can let the children use the flour mixture to stick the other 2 clipart papers onto the third area (just make sure they don’t stick it in the areas labeled “water” and “salt water”).

Making Glue Experiment: Science for Pre-K, Preschool

Download the Recording Sheet

Note: This is a free printable, just click to download.

Download: Glue Experiment Sheet

This file includes the recording sheet, plus some clipart pictures you can use as pieces to glue on the page. It includes a set of farm animals, a set of bugs, and a set of wild animals clipart in case you are doing one of these themes at the time you do this experiment.

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20 Comments

About Karen Cox

Karen is the founder of PreKinders.com. She also works as a full-time Pre-K teacher in Georgia. Read more...

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. GaJam says

    April 2, 2010 at 1:11 pm

    Cold, cooked white rice (mashed between fingers) works great also!

    Reply
  2. Lori Sizemore says

    April 13, 2010 at 12:30 pm

    Thank you for this experiment! we are planning a Family Science Day and I was looking for some ideas this is Perfect!

    Reply
  3. connie Hall says

    December 2, 2010 at 12:17 pm

    great site
    thank you

    Reply
  4. ckayd says

    November 23, 2011 at 9:57 pm

    Thanks for sharing all you ideas. The science is great!
    ckayd

    Reply
  5. Ahlam says

    November 19, 2014 at 6:11 am

    tomorrow is my science day in my kg i’ll try this I’m sure they will enjoy this.

    Reply
  6. paksc says

    January 22, 2015 at 2:05 pm

    I like this experiment. I will try at my science club.
    Thanks

    Reply
  7. Robin says

    April 13, 2015 at 2:32 pm

    Looking for a science project idea for my son’s preschool class science project assignment and this is perfect!!! Thanks – I am new to your site and LOVE all the ideas I have seen 🙂

    Reply
  8. Irda says

    November 3, 2015 at 6:18 am

    Thank you so much …I’ll make it today.

    Reply
  9. Chermette says

    March 20, 2017 at 10:08 pm

    This is such a helpful site. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  10. Marina Joslin says

    March 21, 2017 at 1:01 am

    Thank you for sharing, Karen. I’ll try it this week!

    Reply
  11. Carmen says

    March 21, 2017 at 1:56 am

    I lived on a farm 70+ years ago and my mother let me use egg whites for glue. But probably not sanitary enough nowadays!

    Reply
  12. Brithe says

    March 21, 2017 at 2:34 am

    Very good simple experiment. Thank you so much.

    Reply
  13. Mary Bezold says

    March 21, 2017 at 10:04 am

    You can also do this with milk, it works great withcolored tissue paper!

    Reply
  14. cheryl says

    March 21, 2017 at 1:21 pm

    I do so love your experiments… so simple but effective

    Reply
  15. Emma says

    March 21, 2017 at 3:22 pm

    Thanks Karen. This was one of the best science projects EVER! My kids had a BLAST! It was easy and thanks to the printable, not time consuming. I will make this part of my STEM lesson plan.
    Emma G
    Premier Learning

    Reply
  16. Shirley Harrington says

    March 22, 2017 at 1:25 pm

    Thank you for this wonderful ideal. I love it !!!

    Reply
  17. sangita says

    March 23, 2017 at 10:47 am

    Thanks for sharing .Good experiment for kids !! I will try this in my school .

    Reply
  18. SHASHA ISHAK says

    March 23, 2017 at 11:30 pm

    thanks for sharing, will try this with my niece and nephew :)!

    Reply
  19. Sonya says

    February 28, 2018 at 6:16 pm

    Can you use plastic cup instead of paper?🤔

    Reply
    • Karen Cox says

      February 28, 2018 at 8:16 pm

      Yes, you could. I used the paper cups because with 22 students it was less expensive to buy that many paper cups.

      Reply

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Glad you're here! You'll find hands-on learning activities, themes, and printables for Pre-K, Preschool, and Kindergarten kids. I'm Karen Cox, a Pre-K teacher in Georgia. I have taught 4-5 year olds for 20+ years! Read More…

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Welcome!
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Welcome!
Would you like to join my FREE weekly update newsletter? Join 85,000+ subscribers!
We collect, use, and process your data according to our Privacy Policy.
Don't worry - we never sell or share email addresses!