CHOOSE YOUR WAND! 

Plastic Coat Hanger

It's not magic, but this coat hanger wand may seem like it, because it's so easy for toddlers to use, it doesn't cost much, and it works great! Even though the opening is triangular, the bubbles will always form SPHERES.    

 

 

CONSIDER THE PAN!

Bigger than the Wand

The pan should be flat and big enough so you can lay the wand on the bottom, dipping it completely into the solution.  It needs to be high enough on the sides to hold a few inches of bubble solution.  If you have a standard sized dish pan, a child's size plastic hanger will fit.  For an adult size hanger, you'll need a larger pan.    

 

SOLUTION

Not a Problem

To make bubbles, you'll need a solution. For SMART family gatherings, we like the quick and low cost idea of buying a large bottle of ready-made solution and adding a bottle of blue Dawn dishwashing liquid. If you're on a budget and in a hurry, this approach avoids turning the solution into a problem. 

 

(STORAGE SOLUTION

Bubble solution works great if it is made in advance or saved for a few days and reused.  Keep the dirt out by storing the solution in a container with a lid.)

 

EVEN BIGGER BUBBLE

Get Into Bubbles

If you're really "getting into" making bubbles with a coat hanger, maybe you'd like to try being completely inside a giant bubble. You can use a hoolihoop for a wand.  A plastic swimming pool will work as the pan. You'll need a large amount of bubble solution for this idea and possibly a bottle of glycerin added to the recipe.

 

FINALE  

 Bubble Joke

Question:  

WHEN's the best time for giant bubbles?

Answer:  

Whenever you get a ROUND to it.   

SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS

Finding a Better Bubble

With countless recipes and instructions for bubbles out there added to your own imagination, you can devise science projects to find the best giant bubbles.  Try searching for the answers to these questions by testing and recording data.    

 

WHICH WANDS WORK? 

You can test wand designs:  hoolihoops, leather belts, hangers with yarn wraps, store bought bubble wand, and plain human hands!

 

WHICH ARE THE RIGHT RECIPES?

You can spend the summer adjusting ingredients until you are an expert bubble chemist.  

 

WHICH TECHNIQUES ARE TRIED AND TRUE?  

Test various techniques to find those that are most successful. Should you blow or wave? What happens when you dip vs. stir in the bubble solution? Can you stretch the solution with water to save money and if so, should you add soap to water or water to soap? 

 

DOES HUMIDITY HELP OR HAMPER?

What is the optimum humidity for bubbles?

Practice a daily discipline of bubbles and record the results compared to the weather.  Do you think bubbles work better on a foggy day or a hot summer day?  

 

SCIENCE METHODS TIP

To set up your experiment, change one variable (wand, recipe, technique, or weather) and keep all others the same during three or more repetitions. 

 

YOUR CONCLUSIONS

Send us your recommendations by emailing us at: smartfamilyliteracy@gmail.com.