Science Experiment: Making Soap Bubbles--National Geographic Little Kids

Make bubbles using your hand. Ask your mom or dad to help.

Photo: bottle of bubble solution, bottle of water, bottle of dishwashing liquid

YOU WILL NEED
• 16 ounces (473 milliliters) of bubble solution
• 1 ½ cups (360 milliliters) of water
• 4 tablespoons (5 milliliters) of dishwashing liquid
• 4 tablespoons (5 milliliters) of light corn syrup

HERE'S HOW

1. Mix all the ingredients together.
2. Soak your hand in the bubble mixture.
3. Curl your fingers to make an O shape.
4. Blow gently to make bubbles!

Photograph shows a boy wearing a red shirt and blowing a bubble through his fingers

Photographs shows step one, a measuring spoon being emptied into a red bowl; step two, a hand mixing ingredients into a red bowl; step three, a boy blowing a bubble; step four, blow gently to make bubbles

COOL SCIENCE

Soap bubbles are hollow balls of soapy water filled with air. A thin wall of soap pulls in as the air inside pushes out. The wall becomes thinner until—POP!—the bubble bursts.

PARENT TIP: SCIENCE

To help your child with dexterity, have him or her pour the ingredients into the bowl. If your child has trouble with manipulating a tablespoon, have your child practice dipping a measuring spoon into a bowl of water, then pouring the water in the sink.

Help your child conduct a simple experiment. Try making the bubble solution from the first two ingredients only. Have your child test the solution. Does it work? Will bubbles form? Then add the dishwashing liquid to the solution, and have your child test the solution again. Does it form bubbles? Add the final ingredient to the solution and see what happens.

Photographs by Mark Thiessen

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