5 Bubble STEM Activities for Elementary Students

Soap bubbles are amazing and an easy experiment to add to the classroom. Bubbles are great in the springtime for an end-of-year activity.  However, there is plenty you can do with bubbles inside, too.

Below is a list of our top 5 bubble activities, indoors or out, that help students explore the properties of water, surface tension, and the characteristics of oil and soap.


Catch a Bubble
Let's explore the structure of a bubble by catching a bubble in our hand. There is a special trick to make it successful. The supplies are simple. All you need is a tub of bubble soap solution, a bubble blower, your hand, and some paper towels. It is a great introduction to the importance of washing your hands. Click the link here.

Images of bubble blowing

Bounce a Bubble
Your students will love this one! It expands on the idea of catching a bubble to help students think critically about the materials they are using. I actually like doing this one indoors more than out, but it will work either way. Outside, you have to deal with wind and evaporation from the Sun's energy. All great learning experiences. All you need to do is take your supplies from catching a bubble and add in different types of fabric.  Make sure one of them is clean cotton. 
 

Static Bubble
Add some bubble fun to your static electricity unit. Did you know you can move a bubble with static electricity? A bubble's structure contains both positive and negative charges. When you rub a balloon on your head and bring it up to a bubble, the electric field will pull on the positive charges of the bubble. The bubble will start sliding on the table.  This activity contains so much science that it is great for all ages! Just remember, it may not work as well on a humid day.



Hand in a Bubble
Students will love getting a little messy with this activity.
1. Dip your hand into the soapy mixture. Your hand must be soapy so it can become one with the bubble.  A dry hand will pop the bubble.
2. Blow a large bubble into the tray of soap solution.
3. Carefully slide your hand into the bubble.


Hole in a Bubble
There is some setup to this, but students will find it amazing. You will get lots of oohs and ahhs! You can modify the supplies to make the circle.  It just needs to be able to hold a soap film.
1. Find a wooden ring. Plastic may work too.
2. Cut a piece of string and tie it into a circle.
3. Fill a tray with bubble solution.  Enough to submerge the ring.
4. 5. Dip the string into the soap solution.  It must be soapy, so it becomes one with the soap film.
5.  Dip the ring into the soap solution. Lift it up and make sure it has a soap film over it.
6. Carefully, without breaking the soap film, place the string into the film.  It will immediately form a circle because that is the most stable shape for soap. 
7. Take a toothpick and put it in the center of the hole in the string. Carefully move the circle around the soap film.
8. Be Amazed!

Classroom Connections
  • NGSS Matter and Its Interactions
  • Atoms and Molecules
  • Structures and Properties of Matter
  • Surface Tension
  • Static Electricity
  • STEM Skills:  Observing, Predicting, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, Testing, Engineering Design
Check out our complete
Bubbles Passport to Exploration Science Stations.
Everything you need to make an engaging unit or end-of-year exploration.


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