BUBBLES: a motivation for learning

A language unit for the Junior School

CURRICULUM

ACTIVITY ONE: What is a Recipe?

Write up the bubble mixture recipes on a large sheet of paper and read and discuss them with the children. Have individual children read them out.
Discuss - What is a recipe?
Invite children to share any other recipes that they know. What does the word mixture mean?

ACTIVITY TWO: Making the Bubble Mixture

Mixture One

2 teaspoons of FAB 2 or equivalent.
Two half cups of water
Two quarter cups of detergent
1 egg white
Mix ingredients and stir well. DO NOT SHAKE. Extra detergent can be added if required.
If the mixture has been standing, stir well before use.

Mixture Two

Eight tablespoons of washing up liquid.
1 litre of water
1-2 tablespoons of glycerin or unflavoured gelatin can be added to make stronger bubbles.
Food colouring can be added to make different coloured bubbles.

Before making the mixture, use water and a bucket and give the children experiences in identifying a teaspoon, tablespoon, dessertspoon, half a cup, quarter of a cup …
Have the ingredients ready on each group table and ask the pupils to point to and identify each ingredient when you point to it and read it out from the chart.
Read out the recipe step by step and have the children practice following the instructions.

ACTIVITY THREE: Making Bubble Blowing Frames and Machines

Before bubble blowing commences, help the children make the above frames from thin wire.Now help them make homemade bubble machines

Straw Machine: Tie a piece of string between two straws and dip them into the tray of bubble mix
Coat hanger Machine:Bend a coat hanger without a little kink at the top to dip into a frying pan of bubble mix.
Plastic six-pack holder: Just dip into a solution - it makes bubble galore.
Tin Can Horn: Cut the tops and bottoms off two or three cans and tape together. Dip one end into the bubble mixture. Hold at arms length and then blow through.
Thumbs and index fingers of both hands joined to make a circle. The trick is to blow a steady and controlled stream of air. Do this at arms length for best results.

ACTIVITY FOUR: Motivational Bubble Challenges

Challenge children to make bubbles that are bigger and smaller. Try blowing one big enough to cover a desk. Try blowing a bubble inside a bubble. Blow a bubble on the table top. Stop and start a new one in the middle of the bubble. Stop and repeat. They should be able to make three bubbles.
Challenge the children to make a bubble chain. Dip the straw into the mixture. Point the straw towards the floor and gently blow a bubble. Wiggle the straw to close the bubble and blow gently again. Don't wiggle too much. Continue this way to make a chain.
Make a chain of different sized bubbles.
Make double bubble domes. Blow bubbles on the table top and then gently push together to make a joined dome.

DURING FUTURE BUBBLE BLOWING SESSIONS:

Children observe and describe…

• how bubbles are formed
• how the shape changes
• what bubbles look like, eg joined, single, double, joined to anything, colours etc.

Children predict how they will make and then make …

• bubbles that are very big
• bubbles that are very small
• bubbles that are joined

FURTHER DIRECTIONS

Write stories and poems about bubbles, eg the journey of a bubble, how I made the magic bubble, what it would be like to live in a bubble.
Give children practice in following bubble blowing instructions. Have them give other children instructions to follow.
Give pupils plenty of chances to express themselves orally during the bubble blowing sessions, e.g. what they did, how they did it, what were the results, what surprises did they get …
Make a bubble vocabulary word chart. Make a bubble vocabulary word mobile.
Make a bubble dance using both bubbles and children.
Have a bubble blowing competition. What will be the challenges? How will it be judged?
Make a bubble shaped story book of children's poems and bubble stories.
Make a colourful bubble display out of balloons.
Paint colourful murals of bubble shapes and wonderful bubble colours.
learn to sing "I'm forever blowing bubbles".

Bubble Prints

Make bubble prints. In a shallow dish or tray, mix one desert spoon of powder paint, three dessertspoons of of water. Mix in 2 teaspoons of dishwashing liquid. Blow gently into this mix with straws. Place paper gently over the top to get the print of the bubbles.Children may like to outline the pattern with felt pens.

Best Bubble Tips

Bubbles like high humidity.
They prefer cool shady areas away from the wind.
The best bubble days are foggy or overcast days. best of all, try it after rain.
On fine days, go to areas near trees.
Try bubbles in the early morning as the colours can be especially beautiful.