Easy Science – Frozen Bubbles

I could’ve sworn that I’ve shared this activity before, but when I went back through the archives to look for the photos I couldn’t find the post anywhere – which means I need to share it with you!

Have you ever attempted frozen bubbles?! This is an activity that I have put on my lesson plan every year since I started teaching, but the weather really has to cooperate, so I’ve only been able to try it once, but it worked like a charm!

All it takes to make frozen bubbles are bubble solution and a very cold day.  First, a note about the bubble solution. I’ve always loved Dawn dish soap an water, but for this specific experiment you want to add a little more dish soap than you usually do. This helps to make the bubbles a little stronger so they don’t shatter as soon as they freeze.  The next thing that is really important is the outside temperature.  You want the air to be cold enough that it freezes the bubble solution. In theory, any temperature below 32 degrees Fahrenheit should work, but if you want really dramatic effects then the colder the temperature the better.

I also found that it is really difficult for preschoolers to hold onto a bubble wand when they are wearing heavy ski mittens, so you may want to keep some extra knit gloves on hand for this activity so that everyone can participate fully.

Once you’ve blown the bubbles they will start to crystallize as soon as they touch the air.  They are extremely fragile, but it’s really ok if they shatter because you can make as many as you want! My last bit of advice is to take a lot of pictures, of both the children participating in the activity and the actual frozen bubbles.  It will be cold and you won’t want to stay outside very long, so the pictures will come in handy as you talk about the experience in the classroom later.

I’d love to know if you try this activity, and what kind of results you get!