Wow!” Tristan said as he watched the man on the street corner make bubbles.
Big bubbles, little bubbles, tiny bubbles too. Bubbles from a wand, some landing on his shoe.
Bubbles in the air, bubbles on the ground, Bubbles blowing on the wind, making a popping sound.
Their colors are like a rainbow, their shape so round and true. Bubbles, bubbles everywhere. Look – that one is blue.”
Tristan thought to himself.
“I just have to find out how to make those bubbles.”
So, he walked up to the man and asked him how he did it.
“Excuse me, Sir,” Tristan said.
“I have never seen bubbles like that
and I would really like to know how to make them.
They are the most beautiful things I have ever seen.”
The man stopped blowing bubbles,
smiled, and said: “Why thank you, young man!
When I was about your age, I saw someone
blowing bubbles, and, well, I asked how he made them.
He told me and once I started, I just couldn’t stop
Just a minute, while I blow some more.”
When he finished, he looked at Tristan,
grinned, and said, “Would you like to try blowing some?”
“Could I?” exclaimed Tristan.
Tristan took the wand, dipped it,
moved it gently through the air, and the biggest bubble
he ever saw rose into the sky. He squealed with delight.
The man then explained some important things
to remember when blowing bubbles.
“I can remember that,” Tristan said.
“But how do I make the solution and the wands.”
“Ah,”The man said in a whisper.
“Let me blow some more bubbles
and then I’ll tell you.’
He then took a wand in each hand,
dipped them, extended his arms, and began spinning.
Soon there was a wall of bubbles.
So many bubbles that Tristan couldn’t see
the man anymore.
Then he heard a laugh and POP!
Pop!… Pop! Pop! Pop!… Pop! Pop! .
Pop! Pop!… Pop!
When the bubbles were gone, so was
the man lying on the sidewalk was
a piece of paper.
Tristan bent down and picked it up.
It was just what he needed to get started.
A Bubble Scientist’s Basic Guide
Pop!
–
– Remember to experiment with the basic solution.
A little more glycerin, sugar, or syrup can make
a stronger bubble. Too much can ruin your solution.
Pop! Pop! – If you need more just double,
triple, or quadruple the ingredients.
Pop! Pop! Pop! –
Don’t forget what I told you earlier.
If you make your own bubble solution,
pretend you’re a scientist,
and experiment to make the mix that you like.
All solutions use Glycerin but it is expensive.
Remember that you can use a light corn syrup
or even sugar.
It is best to make your mix and let it rest for a day.
This helps make a stronger bubble.
But don’t worry. You can use it as soon as you make it.
Store your mix in a tightly sealed container.
Pour your solution into a shallow tray or
bowl for dipping your wand. Make sure it is a little
bigger
then the wand, you are going to use.
Make sure your wand can soak up some solution
for better bubbles. If you make a smooth wire wand,
wrap it in cloth so it can suck up the solution.
Blow or move the wand through the air gently.
You can catch or bounce bubbles if you are careful.
They usually pop from dust, dirt, or grease.
So wear a light pair of gloves and go on a bubble hunt.
Don’t shake or stir your bubble solution too much
when blowing bubbles.
Minerals or other additives in water can affect
solution.
It is recommended to use distilled water or boil
water
for several minutes and let it cool before using.
(Don’t forget to have an adult boil the water).
HAVE FUN!
Basic Bubble Solutions
Pop
Pour 1/4 cup liquid dish soap into a mixing bowl.
Add 3/4 cup of water.
Add 1 teaspoon of sugar into the mixture,
(Glycerin or light corn syrup can be substituted).
Gently stir your mixture until the sugar dissolves.
Pop Pop!
Add 1/2 cup of water to your mixing bowl.
Mix in 2 tablespoons of liquid dish soap.
Stir in 1 tablespoon of light corn syrup.
(Glycerin or sugar can be substituted)
Pop! Pop! Pop!
Dissolve 1/2 cup of soap powder into 1 cup of warm
water.
Mix in 2 tablespoons of sugar, light syrup, or Glycerin.
Remember-Don’t throw out your solution if it
doesn’t work with a wand, Make Bubble-Falls. Take
your solution outside and using a straw blow into the
solution. Have fun with the millions of bubbles.
Basic Wands
Be creative and use your imagination.
Anything that holds the solution across it
can be used as a wand.
The bigger the wand – the bigger the bubble – the
harder it is to blow.
Try some things around the house.
A slotted mixing spoon.
A small strainer.
Make one
Bend a pipe cleaner (chenille craft stem)
into any shape and attach another for the handle.
Have an adult bend a coat hanger into a circle
(or any shape). Cover it with cloth for best results.
Take 2 straws and thread yarn through them. Make
sure the knot is in one of the straws. Using the
straws as handles dip the yarn into the solution.
Gently remove it and move it through the air. It’s
hard to do but when you get a bubble, it will be a
GIANT BUBBLE.