All Resources

Body in a Bubble

In this demonstration, you’ll stretch a soap film big enough to surround a volunteer! 

Kids (and adults) love to be inside a big bubble.

“Age” your bubble solution overnight and follow the “Tips for Producing Giant Bubbles” for best results. 

Watch the live demo at minute 3:00.

Objectives

  • Use their knowledge of soap films and minimal surface structures to make bubbles of various sizes, shapes, and arrangements.

Materials

Key Questions

  • When does a bubble pop?
  • How does size effect the popping of bubbles?
  • How does elasticity help make bubbles?
  • What would happen if the bubble solution didn’t have elasticity?

What To Do

Preparation

  1. Make 18–23L of bubble solution and store overnight to let it “age.”
  2. Practice soaking and lifting the hula hoop straight up to form a large tube of bubble solution.

Teacher Tip: If you are having trouble finding a small kids’ pool for this activity, try asking for a “dog-washing pool.” They tend to be available in small sizes.


Demonstration

  1. Pour at least 14L of bubble solution into the bottom of the pool and wet the sides with the solution.
  2. Place the hula hoop in the bottom of the pool and the stool in the centre of the pool.
  3. Hold the stool steady (the pool floor is slippery!) as a volunteer carefully steps onto the stool.
  4. Bring the volunteer’s arms down to their sides and with a steady hand, slowly pull the hula hoop straight up out of the pool and over the top of your volunteer’s head, enclosing them in a “bubble tube.”
  5. Bring the hoop down carefully (don’t bonk your volunteer!) and hold the stool steady as he or she dismounts.
  6. Repeat with other volunteers (you’ll have lots!)

Teacher Tip: For best results, run this demonstration indoors as winds will interfere and pop the bubble if you are outside. ​

Extensions

  • Can you touch a bubble without popping it? How?

Other Resources

Exploratorium | Bubbles
Soap Bubbles | Soapbubble.dk

About the sticker

Survivors

Artist: Jeff Kulak

Jeff is a senior graphic designer at Science World. His illustration work has been published in the Walrus, The National Post, Reader’s Digest and Chickadee Magazine. He loves to make music, ride bikes, and spend time in the forest.

About the sticker

Egg BB

Artist: Jeff Kulak

Jeff is a senior graphic designer at Science World. His illustration work has been published in the Walrus, The National Post, Reader’s Digest and Chickadee Magazine. He loves to make music, ride bikes, and spend time in the forest.

About the sticker

Comet Crisp

Artist: Jeff Kulak

Jeff is a senior graphic designer at Science World. His illustration work has been published in the Walrus, The National Post, Reader’s Digest and Chickadee Magazine. He loves to make music, ride bikes, and spend time in the forest.

About the sticker

T-Rex and Baby

Artist: Michelle Yong

Michelle is a designer with a focus on creating joyful digital experiences! She enjoys exploring the potential forms that an idea can express itself in and helping then take shape.

About the sticker

Buddy the T-Rex

Artist: Michelle Yong

Michelle is a designer with a focus on creating joyful digital experiences! She enjoys exploring the potential forms that an idea can express itself in and helping then take shape.

About the sticker

Geodessy

Artist: Michelle Yong

Michelle is a designer with a focus on creating joyful digital experiences! She enjoys exploring the potential forms that an idea can express itself in and helping then take shape.

About the sticker

Science Buddies

Artist: Ty Dale

From Canada, Ty was born in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1993. From his chaotic workspace he draws in several different illustrative styles with thick outlines, bold colours and quirky-child like drawings. Ty distils the world around him into its basic geometry, prompting us to look at the mundane in a different way.

About the sticker

Western Dinosaur

Artist: Ty Dale

From Canada, Ty was born in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1993. From his chaotic workspace he draws in several different illustrative styles with thick outlines, bold colours and quirky-child like drawings. Ty distils the world around him into its basic geometry, prompting us to look at the mundane in a different way.

About the sticker

Time-Travel T-Rex

Artist: Ty Dale

From Canada, Ty was born in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1993. From his chaotic workspace he draws in several different illustrative styles with thick outlines, bold colours and quirky-child like drawings. Ty distils the world around him into its basic geometry, prompting us to look at the mundane in a different way.