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Afterschool Lesson Plan Database

Lesson Plan

This lesson was excerpted from the Afterschool Training Toolkit under the promising practice: Investigating Science Through Inquiry

Description:

This sample lesson is one example of how you can implement the practice of Investigating Science Through Inquiry. In this activity, students explore soap bubbles, what makes good bubble-blowers, and the properties of bubble-making substances. Students pose questions and conduct investigations to find answers.

Learning Goals:

• Understand scientific inquiry through questioning, predicting, observing, recording and interpreting data, and communicating results
• Use science and math tools—rulers, tape measurers, graduated cylinders—to measure and collect data
• Develop group work skills such as working together and listening to others

Materials:

• 3 gallons of different colored bubble solution (Dawn, Palmolive, Sunlight)
• Glycerin with eye dropper (available at most pharmacies)
• Pint containers, plastic (3/team—1 for each brand of detergent)
• Black plastic bags or plastic table cloths to cover the tables
• Vinegar (for clean-up)
• Sponges (for clean-up, 1/team)
• Squeegees (for clean-up, 1/team)
• Straws (at least 1/person)
• Clear rulers and/or plastic tape measurers (centimeter)
• Bucket with water (for clean-up)
• Basket or tray for materials (1/team)
• Journals or learning logs
• KWL chart (PDF, 56K)

Preparation:

One or more days before investigation:

1. Prepare soap solutions. Remove 1 cup of water from each of 3 one-gallon jugs of bottled water; add 1 cup of a liquid and 60 drops of glycerin to each jug; shake gently. Label each solution. Note this recipe makes enough soap solution for weeks of activities; about 1 cup for each group is used in this lesson.
2. Cut large pieces of plastic to cover the tables.
3. Review the lesson, print and make copies of all printouts, and assemble all materials.

Day of Investigation:

1. Pour solutions into labeled pint containers.
2. Organize materials in plastic tubs, trays, or baskets—one for each table/team—1 cup of solution, 4 to 5 straws (1/person), plastic cover, rulers, tape measure, pencils or pens, learning logs (if used, 1/person), sponges.
3. Have vinegar, squeegees, and buckets on hand for clean-up. First squeegee the area to remove as much soap solution as possible, and then sprinkle vinegar over the area and squeegee again or wipe with a sponge.

Safety Considerations:

• Students should wear safety goggles to protect their eyes.
• Students should wear smocks, oversized T-shirts, or aprons to protect their clothing.
• If solution gets in a student's eyes, instructors should wash the student's eyes with clear water.
• Instructors should have a bottle of vinegar and a mop or towel handy to clean up any spills on the floor. Newspapers can also be used for clean-up.
• After the investigations, students should wash their hands to remove any soap solution.

What to Do:

• Engage students by asking where they have seen or blown bubbles, and if they have ever used anything unusual to create a bubble. Record students' answers on the KWL chart (PDF, 56K).
  • Divide students into small groups of four, and hand out Learning Logs (PDF) and Data Sheets (PDF) for each group.
  • Designate one student in each group to gather and return materials, one student as the chief investigator to direct the investigation, one student to record the data, and one student to be the safety inspector to make sure students are wearing goggles and keeping the area clear.
• Explore bubbles in small groups. Ask students to create large bubbles by spreading a thin layer of bubble solution about the size of a large pizza over a flat surface. Next, students blow a bubble by wetting a straw and gently blowing just above the surface of the wet area. After the bubble pops, students measure the diameter of the bubble "footprint" to the nearest 0.1 cm using a clear ruler or a tape measure. Students should record their answers in their learning logs.
  • After all students have an opportunity to blow three bubbles each with one solution, they clean up their area and rotate to another table with a different solution. They will need about 15 minutes per solution.
• Explain the results. Ask students to complete their data sheets and find their and their team's average bubble size for each solution. Each team will report their results. Record each team's results on the Class Data Sheet (PDF). To see one example of a completed data chart, see the Actual Data Chart (PDF). Note that the results in this chart will be different from your students' results.
  • Have students compare their data, their team's data, and the class data as they complete their learning logs. Discuss the results and have students write a conclusion. Which liquid detergent makes the largest bubble?
• Extend students' learning if you have extra time. Read the poem "Blowing Soap Bubbles" by Gerard Manley Hopkins and ask students to write and illustrate their own bubble poem. You may want to research and study how liquid detergent is made, test several more liquid detergents, or vary the amount of glycerin used in one brand of detergent to see if that variable makes a difference in the size of the bubbles. Create a bar graph to record the average class data.

Evaluate (Outcomes to look for):

• Student participation and engagement
• Students collaborating and working together
• Answers that reflect an understanding of how to observe and measure bubbles, and find the average bubble size
• Answers that reflect an understanding of how to collect, record, and interpret data

Standards:
Click this link to see additional learning goals, grade-level benchmarks, and standards covered in this lesson.

Learn More:

Learn more about the 5Es.

Festival of Bubbles is adapted from the Lawrence Hall of Science Great Explorations in Science and Mathematics (GEMS) curriculum series, Bubble-Ology and Bubble Festival. For more information and ideas, see the Resources page.