Classroom STEAM Challenges: Bubble Wands

My year started out with this fun and engaging STEAM challenge while the weather was still wonderful – and it will be again! The challenge was set up with a story about how I had been at a state fair and observed a lady selling her personally crafted bubble wands and proprietary bubble solution. I was confident that my class could design their own wands and discover the best homemade bubble solution recipe on their own. Below is the general lesson plan this challenge activity followed which could easily be adapted to another multiday challenge topic.

Day 1
Planning: Research options and determine the necessary materials. Students completed a planning worksheet with a drawing of the wand, a materials list, and the exact bubble solution recipe to try. As a class, we compared recipes and picked three unique ones to try (within reason). Preplanning provided the opportunity to remind students what materials are reasonably expected to be available in class versus what a student might want to bring from home for the next class period. The planning step of this challenge was also necessary from the teacher standpoint to know what items needed to be made available and the associated quantities. For example, dowel rods could easily be required, but how many, or what are the necessary lengths to purchase?

Day 2
Creating: Students had 20-25 minutes to assemble their bubble wands and mix up the desired bubble solutions.
Testing and Problem Solving: Outside, the wands and solutions were tested. Students needed to compare the usability of the different solutions with their wands. There was a clear winner when it came to the recipes. Extra materials were made available while outside to aid in problem solving and success of their wands and experiences.
Reflection and Debrief: As a class, we made determinations as to which wands and solutions worked the best. Why did some work better? How could wands be improved? What did we do when our plans didn’t work as expected?

Day 3 (optional)
Modifying: Students had 20-25 minutes to modify and improve their bubble wands. Either they upgraded their previous design or completely started over based on their new-found knowledge.
Testing: Outside, round two of testing the upgraded wands and solutions.
Reflection and Debrief: We engaged in a class discussion of the findings and the experience as a whole. Students completed an individual written reflection on the challenge to round out the experience.

See my other post Classroom STEAM Challenges for more challenge ideas.