Resources: Handouts, flipchart paper (or similar), bubble mixture in bowls or cups and craft materials to make bubble wands (pipe cleaners or wire recommended).
NOTE: There is a ‘How to make bubble mix' video at the end of the presentation, which explains to teachers how to make a simple bubble mixture for their class. The video also explains how to make a long-lasting bubble mixture. Either recipe could be used in this investigation, although some teachers may prefer to use a ready-made bubble mixture. DE recommends watching this before the lesson, in order to prepare the mixture 24-48 hours in advance.
Instructions: The handout provides the children with instructions on how to make a bubble wand.
Support handout (1): This handout provides a scaffold for the children to record their predictions and results from the investigation.
Core handout (2): This handout provides space for the children to record their predictions, results and conclusions from the investigation. A word bank has been provided to support their writing.
Stretch handout (3): This handout provides space for the children to record their predictions, results and conclusions from the investigation.
Enquiry Skill - Recording data, results and findings
Using tables, a variety of graphs, labelled diagrams and models to record observations, measurements, results and findings.
Enquiry Approach - Pattern-seeking
Identifying patterns and looking for relationships to make links between scientific concepts.
Use the starter video to get the children thinking about bubbles. Ask the children what questions they might have about bubbles and record them on flipchart paper (or similar) to be looked at again later on.
Use the presentation slides to explore the shape of bubbles with the children. Ask them to consider why the bubbles they see are round/spherical and explore other 3D shapes. Ask the children if they think they could make a differently shaped bubble and how they might do it. Spend some time discussing their ideas and support them in considering how changing the shape of a bubble wand might produce differently-shaped bubbles.
Using the handout, ask the children to read and follow the instructions to make a variety of differently-shaped bubble wands from pipe cleaners (or similar). Then, ask the children to predict what shape their bubbles will make, before following the method to investigate this and recording their results. They could use the 3D shape names to predict, either by writing or drawing them, but they may also want to write and draw general shapes, such as a star or a heart. The video after the mission assignment shows the children how to make bubble wands using different materials.
NOTE: There is a ‘How to make bubble mix' video at the end of the presentation, which explains to teachers how to make a simple bubble mixture for their class. The video also explains how to make a long-lasting bubble mixture. Either recipe could be used in this investigation, although some teachers may prefer to use a ready-made bubble mixture. DE recommends watching this before the lesson, in order to prepare the mixture 24-48 hours in advance.
Challenge Task: Ask the children to explore if they can make different sizes of bubbles by making different bubble wands.
Plenary
Ask the children to share their results, including any differently sized bubbles they managed to make during the challenge task. Use a bubble wand or similar equipment to demonstrate making big and small bubbles for children who didn't get to the challenge task. Is it possible to make a bubble that isn’t a sphere? Watch the final video to find out why it isn't possible!
Expert Film: Sam explains how bubbles are used in a variety of different careers.
Teacher Mastery
Bubbles are round because the soapy film that makes the bubble always tries to pull itself into the smallest possible shape. The smallest shape that can hold a given amount of air is a sphere, which is a round, ball-like shape. This happens because of surface tension — the tiny pulling forces between the water and soap in the bubble’s skin. These forces act evenly in all directions, so when air is trapped inside, the bubble spreads out smoothly and becomes round. Even if the bubble starts off in a different shape at the wand, once it floats away, these forces quickly pull it into a sphere.
However, bubbles can sometimes appear to be different shapes when they are pressed against something or squished together. For example, in a glass of fizzy drink, bubbles rise and crowd together against the sides of the glass and each other. When this happens, they cannot stay perfectly round, so their soft, stretchy skins flatten where they touch. This can make them look like flat circles, hexagons, or other patterns. Even then, each bubble is still trying to be as round as it can — it is just being pushed into a new shape by its neighbours or the surface around it.
Additional Activities
Here are some additional activities that your class could complete throughout Science Week.
1. Investigate questions about bubbles
Choose some of the questions that the children posed at the start of the lesson to investigate. Some of the questions might be: “Why do bubbles pop?”, “Why do bubbles have rainbow colours?” or “How high or far can a bubble go?”
2. Investigate how bubbles are made
Use the Y4-6 lesson plan to investigate different bubble mixtures.
3. Make bubble art
Use the bubble wands that the children made and some dyed bubble mixture to make colourful bubbles. If these are ‘popped’ on white paper or card, they will leave a colourful circle shape behind. Investigate adding other things to the bubble mixture, such as glitter.
4. Investigate bubble wands
Use a collection of household objects and craft materials to see how many things can be used as a bubble wand. Can you blow a bubble through a kitchen roll tube? Can you blow a bubble using your hands?
5. Make elephant toothpaste or volcanoes
Add bicarbonate of soda to vinegar and observe the reaction. Observe the foam that’s created – it is made up of lots of tiny bubbles.
Address
Developing Experts Limited
Exchange Street Buildings
35-37 Exchange Street
Norwich
NR2 1DP
UK
Phone
01603 273515
Email
[email protected]
Copyright 2026 Developing Experts, All rights reserved.
Unlock expert-designed lessons, resources, and assessments tailored for educators. No credit card required.
Claim Your Free Trial →
