Bubble Lesson Plans

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Massive Hula Hoop Bubbles

Lesson Plan:  ​

Massive Hula Hoop Bubbles

Age Group:

Preschool
School-Age

Objectives:

• to provide students with a fun and engaging physical activity that helps develop their motor skills
  
• understanding of cause and effect
  
• introduction the science of bubbles

​CDA Competency Standard:

II.4.1a

• Activities, materials and equipment encourage children of varying abilities to develop their large muscles.

a) Gross motor skills are encouraged through developmentally appropriate materials, equipment and indoor/outdoor activities

II.5.2b

• Materials and equipment stimulate children's thinking and problem-solving

b) Materials chosen are meaningful to the children

Materials:

• ​Wading pool
• Bubble solution (scroll down below lesson)
• Hula hoop
• Rope and pulley system (for extension activity)
• Carpeted wood block (for extension activity)

Procedure:

1.  Introduction: Begin the lesson by discussing the activity. Explain to the students how they will be creating massive bubbles using a hula hoop and bubble solution.

2.  Preparation: Fill a wading pool with about 2 inches of bubble solution and place a hula hoop in the pool.

3.  Hypothesize: What will happen and record. Can that big a bubble be made? Can it come out of the pool? Can you stick your finger in it without it popping? Later check to see the results.

4.  Activity Time: Instruct 2 or 3 children to lift the hula hoop up from the pool to create a massive bubble. Encourage them to experiment with different speeds and techniques to see how it affects the size and longevity of the bubble.

5.  Discussion: After the activity, gather the students and discuss their observations. Ask them how the speed and technique of lifting the hula hoop affected the bubbles and what they learned from the activity.

Extension Activity:

Show the students a contraption where a child stands on a block of carpeted wood and there is a rope over their head. The rope is attached to a pulley that holds strings on three sides that have been drilled and tied into the hula hoop. Demonstrate how the child can pull the rope to lift the hula hoop around them, encapsulating them in a huge bubble.

Assessment:

• Did the children cooperate to create a massive bubble?
• Record the child's process and thoughts about how to make bubbles and how to change the results.

Note:  Please provide appropriate supervision to the children in your care when completing all activities. You will need to decide what types of activities are safe for the children in your care.  Appropriate and reasonable caution should be used when providing art and sensory experiences for children.  Toddlers require special caution, only use non-toxic materials, and do not allow toddlers to put things in their mouths that are a choking hazard. ​

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Bubbles Solution

Creating a bubble solution is a fun and educational activity that can be enjoyed by children of all ages. Here’s an improved and expanded version of the bubble solution recipe and its explanation:

Bubble Solution Recipe: To create your own bubble solution, you will need the following ingredients:

• 1 gallon of water
• 1 ¼ cup of Dawn Dish Soap
• 2 tablespoons of Glycerin

For giant bubbles, consider adding approximately 1 tablespoon of Karo® light corn syrup to the mixture. If Dawn Dish Soap is not available, Palmolive or Ultra Joy can be substituted.

Preparation Tip: When preparing the solution, make sure to pour the soap into the water, not vice versa. This will prevent creating suds in the solution, ensuring a clear and effective bubble solution.

​Creating Bubbles: Besides bubble wands, many everyday objects can be used to create bubbles. This includes plastic berry baskets/cartons, pipe cleaners, and strainers. Be creative and look around the house to find other materials you and your child can use to create different sized bubbles.

The Science Behind Bubbles: The thin surface of a pure water bubble evaporates too quickly for it to create long-lasting bubbles for us to enjoy. Therefore, we add soap and/or glycerin to water to decrease the surface tension and increase its stability. When air is blown into the solution, it can form an elastic film consisting of two layers of soap molecules with a layer of water in between. This “soap sandwich” stabilizes the molecules and protects the water from evaporating just long enough for us to enjoy the bubble.

Learning Opportunities: Invite children to help you measure, pour, and mix the ingredients for the bubble mixture. This helps with math skills like measuring, along with practical life skills such as cooking. It’s a wonderful way to incorporate learning into a fun activity.