New draft Experiences and Outcomes
Our Physical World - Materials - Properties & uses

First Level - I have explored the properties of different materials and can use my experience to choose appropriate materials to solve a practical challenge.   SCN 115X
Second Level - Having planned and carried out an investigation into a property of a material, I can evaluate the effectiveness of the materials for its purpose.  SCN232X               

Bubble Stuff

It took a mere few seconds for ‘bubbleologist’ Sam Heath to encase 50 children in an iridescent, glistening bubble of soap and water to set a new Guinness World Record at the Science Museum in London.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-496042/Fifty-children-wrapped-record-breaking-bubble.html

One of the best mixtures to explore the properties of bubbles :-

Materials

1 part washing up liquid e.g. Fairy
8 parts of water (soft or distilled water works best)
½ part glycerine (found in small bottles in supermarkets beside food colourings. It is used to soften icing)

Method

Mix the ingredients carefully in a basin and store in a large plastic bottle. The mixture works better if stored overnight and can be reused for several weeks. You may need to top up as the volume will decrease with use. Equipment for making bubbles can include plastic straws, pipe cleaners, funnels and hula hoops. Use a child’s paddling pool to create giant bubbles by pouring the bubble mixture into the base of the pool and covering the hula hoop with mixture. Place a small low standing stool on the base of the paddling pool so that the pupil can stand in the mixture without getting wet. Gently pull the hula hoop up and over the pupil so ‘enclosing’ them in a bubble. Care should be taken when stepping on and off the stool. The hula hoop may be covered in string which will allow more bubble mixture to enclose the pupil. See the photographs.

Further Investigations

Explore the best combinations of ingredients for the longest lasting bubble. Some recipes suggest adding syrup, especially corn syrup as this makes the bubble more flexible.

Thirsty work: Just what is in bottled water?