Blowing Colored Bubbles

Blowing bubbles is inevitably a popular project. This one would be good for a teacher's aide, and can involve a lot of language.

Objectives

Children ages 4-5 years will be able to name colors Lang. IB
use a variety of approaches to solve a problem. Cog. I
and children ages 2 ½-4 can follow directions that include prepositions, e.g., in, on, around, under, through Lang. IA
and understands concept of "one." Cog. IIIC
All children participating will be able to blow through a straw.

 

Materials

Plastic glasses; red, yellow, green, blue tempera or food coloring;
liquid Ivory soap; 4 pitchers of water colored with drops of food coloring or tempera; newspapers to cover table; cotton; straws.

Procedures

l. Settle children around table with materials arranged in center. Hold up a straw and explain that we usually use straws for drinking, but today we will do something different with them. Instead of sucking as well do when we drink, this time we will blow through the straws.

2. Give each a straw and have them hold their hands in front of the holds to feel the air as the blow through. Give each a piece of cotton and let them blow their cotton balls around the table with the straws. (Note: children who can't blow the cotton ball around the table are likely to have trouble keeping soap and water out of their mouths. Let these kids practice blowing bubbles using commercial bubbles, but don't let them participate in this project.) Explain the difference between blowing and sucking and that they must remember to blow so they don't get soapy water in their mouths. Keep a candle handy and let learners blow it out with a straw.

3. Have newspaper spread on a table and give each kid a glass. Pass around soap and water and pour a little into their glasses. Let them choose the color of water they want. Demonstrate how to blow bubbles. Have them put their straws in their water and blow gently to see what happens.

4. As the children experiment, talk about what is happening. Suggest that they try blowing in different ways: slowly, in bursts, etc. and call their attention to the differences in the bubbles produced. Encourage them to tell each other how they are blowing and what happens.