Bubble Activity for STEM! Kid Designed, Teacher Approved
STEM activities are a great way to spark your kids’ curiosity, creativity, and problem solving skills wherever they are learning, whether that is in school, during an afterschool program, or at home. Activities related to the fields of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), can be super fun and engaging for kids, but they can also be scary or intimidating for parents and teachers who don’t consider themselves a “STEM expert.” In this article, we will guide you through a fun Bubble Design activity that you can do at home or in your classroom. Before you know it you’ll be tackling both the “S” and the “E” of STEM alongside your team of young bubble experts!
This Bubble Design activity is broken up into two parts. First, kids will take part in a scientific investigation by testing how different ingredients impact the properties of bubbles. Then, kids will tackle an engineering design challenge by using what they learned to create a long-lasting bubble recipe.
Science is the process of exploring the natural world by asking questions, doing experiments, and making observations.
Engineering is the process of imagining, designing, and testing solutions to problems.
Materials
- Water
- Dish soap
- Baby shampoo
- Corn syrup
- Glycerin (can be ordered online)
- Measuring cups (½ cup, 1 teaspoon, ½ teaspoon)
- Cups or bowls to mix in
- Bubble wand (make a bubble wand at home using a pipe cleaner or wire)
Introducing the Activity
Bubbles can provide endless fun for all! One reason bubbles are so fascinating is because they can have so many different properties. Properties are the characteristics of an object, such as being hard/soft, big/small, shiny/dull. Ask your kids to think about what they already know about bubbles:
- What are different types of properties that bubbles can have?
- What are your favorite kinds of bubbles?
Point out that bubbles can be big or small, last a long time or a short time, float or sink, and some might be able to sit on different surfaces while others might pop easily. Today, their goal will be to design their very own bubble recipe to create long-lasting bubbles.
Investigating the Ingredients
First kids will create the following recipes to explore how different ingredients affect the bubbles’ properties. Have kids create each of the recipes below and make observations about each type of bubble.
Recipe 1:
½ cup of water
2 teaspoon of dish soap
Recipe 2:
½ cup of water
2 teaspoon of baby shampoo
Recipe 3:
½ cup of water
1 ½ teaspoon of dish soap
½ teaspoon of glycerin
Recipe 4:
½ cup of water
1 ½ teaspoon of dish soap
½ teaspoon of corn syrup
As kids work, ask them questions about their observations:
- How would you describe the properties of these bubbles?
- What is different about the different bubbles?
- What is similar about the different bubbles?
- How do you think each of the ingredients impact the bubbles’ properties?
Encourage kids to make predictions (hypotheses) about how different ingredient combinations might impact the bubble properties. Have them create new recipes to test out their predictions.
Creating their Own Bubble Recipes
Now, explain that their challenge is to use what they learned from their investigation to create a brand new recipe that will make bubbles that last as long as possible. Let them know that engineers (the people who design things to solve problems) often have to work within a set of constraints (or limitations) because materials can be expensive. Their only constraint in this challenge is that they can use up to ½ cup of water and 3 teaspoons of each ingredient. They do not have to use all of the ingredients or the maximum amount of each ingredient.
Have kids make at least 3 different recipes to make long-lasting bubbles. Encourage them to write down each recipe so that they can remember what they included and record their observations. As they work, ask them questions about their design choices:
- Why did you choose this combination of ingredients?
- Did your recipe work as you predicted?
- How could you change your recipe to make even longer-lasting bubbles?
Have kids choose their best recipe and present it to the rest of the group or your family. Encourage kids to share about the process they went through to develop their recipe and what they learned along the way!
Activity Extensions
This activity can be extended in many different ways to keep the learning and fun going! Here are just a few ways that you can continue to engage your kids:
- Develop bubbles with different properties: Have your kids choose a different type of bubble property to design for. They could try to make a recipe that creates the biggest bubble possible or one that floats the highest!
- Design a bubble wand: Have kids explore the house and find materials that they think could make a good bubble wand. They could test pipe cleaners, wire, string, paper, and more. You can also challenge them to make a bubble wand that creates bubbles with different properties. They could make a wand that makes one big bubble or lots of small bubbles. Can they make a bubble wand that creates a square bubble?
- Design a marketing campaign for their bubbles. Have kids create a name and pitch for their bubbles! They can watch videos from the show Shark Tank to learn about what makes a good product pitch. Have them pitch their bubbles to friends and family to practice their public speaking skills.
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