English National Curriculum - Science

Key Stage 3: Which mixture makes the best bubble?

Mission Objectives

Plan a fair test by identifying variables and writing a clear hypothesis

Carry out a fair test safely and record accurate, repeatable results

Analyse results to draw conclusions and evaluate reliability

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Keywords

Words and meanings to learn

investigate

to carry out a careful study or experiment to discover or learn something

mixture

a combination of two or more substances that are not chemically joined and can be separated

bubble

a thin sphere of liquid enclosing a gas

curiosity

a strong desire to learn, explore or discover new things

fair test

an experiment in which only one variable is changed at a time while all other variables are kept the same

This lesson has been written by

Samantha Batch

Samantha is an accomplished science educator whose current work centres on curriculum design and professional development, supporting teachers to deliver high-quality science education through evidence-informed approaches. She is a former Head of Chemistry and Sixth Form Tutor with extensive Key Stage 4 and 5 experience, and has worked as an AQA examiner, giving her valuable insight into assessment standards and what students need to succeed.

Samantha has written the complete KS4 Science curriculum, fully aligned with the AQA GCSE Science: Trilogy specification. Covering biology, chemistry and physics, the curriculum is carefully sequenced so that students build knowledge cumulatively and see clear connections between concepts across the three sciences. Drawing on her experience as an examiner and on research into effective teaching, she has designed it to embed retrieval practice, clear explanation, worked examples and the required practicals throughout, preparing students for the demands of the GCSE exams. Grounded in the realities of the classroom, the curriculum is rigorous for students and manageable for busy teachers.

In her spare time, Samantha enjoys playing the accordion with her local orchestra and has recently taken up cricket. 

Required Resources

  • Washing-up liquid (different brands)
  • Glycerine and sugar
  • Water
  • Measuring jugs/spoons
  • Mixing containers
  • Bubble wands (pipe cleaners/straws)
  • Stopwatches
  • Handouts (core & support)
  • Graph paper or laptops/tablets for data plotting

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