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Afterschool Lesson Plan Database

Lesson Plan

This lesson was excerpted from the Afterschool Training Toolkit under the promising practice: Engaging Families and Communities

Description:

This sample lesson is one example of how you can implement the Engaging Families and Communities practice and involve parents in inquiry-based learning. In this activity, students and parents work together with different materials to investigate what makes a good bubble blower.

Learning Goals:

• Practice scientific inquiry: question, hypothesize, observe, record, analyze, communicate results, and plan further investigations
• Keep journals or records of scientific investigations
• Compare results from multiple groups and draw conclusions
• Parents and students work together to understand the relevance of science in their lives

Materials:

1. A gallon of bubble solution (1 gallon of water with 1 cup of water removed, 1 cup of dishwashing liquid, 50 to 60 drops of glycerin)
2. Plastic table cloths or large trash bags
3. Newspapers (to cover floor and tables)
4. Bucket, squeegees, sponges, paper towels, and vinegar (for clean-up)
5. Bubble blower materials such as straws, wire mesh, strainers, scissors, spools, plastic/styrofoam cups, funnels, slotted spoons, spatulas, paper towel and tissue rolls, wire of different gauges, pipe cleaners, different-sized washers, rubber bands, rubber rings for glass jars, and turkey basters
6. Aluminum pie pans or flat plastic containers (for bubble solution, 1/table)
7. Signs posted "Objects that work" and "Objects that don't work"

Preparation:

2-3 weeks before the event

• Work with parents and staff to plan the activity and create a program.
• Collect and organize materials.
• Write and distribute invitations to families or have students write personal invitations.
• Notify school-day teachers and administrators and ask them for support.

Day of the event:

• Place containers of bubble solution, plastic table clothes (if necessary), and newspapers on each table.
• Have bubble blowers and clean-up materials in central area that's easy to access.
• Posts sign on side tables or have two boxes with "works" and "doesn't work" signs.

Safety Considerations:

• Participants may wear safety goggles or glasses to protect their eyes.
• Participants should wear clothing that can get wet and slip-resistant shoes.
• If solution gets in a participant's eyes, instructors should wash the 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 to clean up.
• After the investigations, participants should wash their hands to remove any soap solution.

What to Do:

• Engage students and families by introducing the lesson and asking guiding questions: Who has blown bubbles? What makes a good bubble blower? Students should be encouraged to introduce and lead the investigations without giving away the answers if they have done this activity before. Distribute materials and explain that each table will have bubble solution and a set of materials so participants can see what makes a good bubble blower.
• Explore the various bubble blowers with students and parents. Once an object has been tried, it should go in the "Works" or "Doesn't work" box or area. Circulate among the teams to check in and ask questions. How do they determine what works and what doesn't? How many times do they try each bubble blower?
• Explain the results. After each team has had an opportunity to work with several blowers, assemble the whole group and ask each team to explain what makes a good bubble blower. Did every team find the same answer? How did they reach their conclusions? What do the most effective and least effective bubble blowers have in common?
• Extend learning if time allows. Students and parents may record their findings, write about what they learned, and draw pictures of the bubble blower that worked. Family teams can design and build a bubble-making machine or explore other objects in their home to find good bubble blowers.

Evaluate (Outcomes to look for):

• Parent involvement in planning
• Parent and student attendance and participation
• Answers and questions that reflect an understanding of inquiry and investigation
• Answers and questions that reflect an understanding of what materials make a good bubble blower and some ideas why, as well as what materials that don't and why

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.