Bubble Day

Objective:
The students will follow a recipe to create their own bubble mixture and create their own structure for a bubble wand.

Materials

• Use the following recipe and ingredients: 1/4 C. of dishwashing soap (Dawn_® or Joy_® appears to work the best), 4 C. of water, and 1 T. of glycerin (optional). (There are other recipes on the internet sites listed on the Bubble Day Homepage.  You may want to experiment ahead of time to see what works best for you.)   The recipe may be modified to make more or less solution, depending on the size of the class.  Also, decide ahead of time whether the students will be working together as a whole class, in small groups, or individually to make the solution.  Have the recipe written on chart paper or the blackboard for all the students to view.
• Measuring Cups
• Measuring Tablespoon
• A large container (a bucket or large bowl, for example) to mix the solution
• Smaller containers (paper cups, for example)  for each student to have some of their own bubble solution.
• View the following links for ideas on materials to make bubble wands Bubble Geometry, or Bubble Town.  Collect some items for the students to create their own bubble wands, as discussed in the above links: straws, 2 pieces of regular white paper rolled into a cone shape, pipe cleaners, toilet paper rolls, etc. 

Procedure

1. Discuss with the students how part of science is mixing ingredients to create new end products.  Explain to them that they are going to make their own bubble solution.
2. Pass out the materials to individual students, groups of students, or work as a whole class to follow the recipe and make the final bubble solution.
3. Once the solution is complete, tell the students they will be creating their own bubble wands to blow the bubbles.  Share with them the materials which have been gathered.  Depending on the age of the students, either allow them to pick their own material and create their own design, or have younger children follow specific steps to create a bubble wand.
4. Go outside and test the solution and the wands!  Have a discussion on which wands work the best.  Why do they think that is?  Discuss how wands that are not circular in shape still create spherical bubbles.  An answer for this can be found at Why are bubbles round?, (which may be slightly advanced for the understanding of young children.)

Other Lesson Ideas

1. Test whether it's easier to catch a bubble on a wet finger or a dry finger.
2. Collect some different bubble solution recipes and test them out.  Which ones make the best bubbles?