This is part 3 in our series on fun Summer Learnin’ ideas! Click here and here for part 1 and part 2.
by Elizabeth Cossick, M. Ed.
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Nothing says summer quite like…BUBBLES! So, pull out the kiddie pool and strap on the water wings. It’s time for a wet romp in the backyard, with the highlight being giant homemade bubbles! Below is our favorite bubble recipe, along with three fitting books about bubbles (to make it all educational, of course!).
First, here’s how to make some rockin’ homemade bubble stuff:
Homemade Bubble Stuff
1 cup water
4 Tablespoons dishwashing liquid
2 Tablespoons light karo syrup (or 2 Tablespoons glycerin)
Mix all of the ingredients together. That’s it!
For more bubble recipes, see bubbleblowers.com.
Now, it’s time to find a bubble wand. Be creative with household items! A few to try:
cookie cutters
funnels
fly swatters
a metal coat hanger bent into a circle (watch for sharp ends)
a silicone steaming basket
mason jar lid rings
a funnel
a potato ricer
the plastic rings that come around a 6-pack of soda
And, here are some of our favorite books about bubbles, to drive home those great text-to-life connections:
Pop! A Book About Bubbles. Available here at amazon.com.
Bubble Trouble. Available here at amazon.com.
Benny’s Big Bubble. Available here at amazon.com.
There you have it: everything you need for a fun-filled day of summer fun, with just enough learning thrown in to make you happy (and solidify your title as World’s Greatest Mom).
Bubbles also make great favors for birthday parties. They are inexpensive, kids love them, and they can be easily decorated with a small piece of ribbon in the same color as the party’s theme. I think this homemade bubble recipe would be a cool thing to use as an activity for a child’s birthday party–the children could help make the bubbles (with proper adult supervision) and then they could play with them outside. To make things interesting, there could be a contest and inexpensive prizes for children who make the biggest bubble, bubble that floats the highest, most creative shape, etc.
What great ideas as we do bubbles just about every day as you can do them with all ages. Thank you. Susan
Kids of all ages love BUBBLES!!! I as a teacher enjoy them and put bubbles in my class “store” for the kids and they always go fast!
We love bubbles at Romp n’ Roll! We have used the recipe you referenced and we like it better than the store variety. Great suggestions on the wand!