Forever Blowing Bubbles

In this Remarkable Idea, students can collaborate and perform a great experiment using bubbles!

This activity addresses:

Cause and effect
Spatial awareness
Working in a group
Measuring distances
Forces: speed of fan vs. distance traveled
Alternative methods of access

What you need:

BIG or LITTLEmack (with symbol for bubbles)
Big, Jelly, or Mini Beamer Transmitter and Original Receiver 2 (one with symbol for fan one with symbol for bubbles)
PowerLink 4
Switch Adapted Bubble Machine and bubble solution Symbols for fan and bubbles (2)
Electric fan
Newspaper
Tape measure
Something to mark distance labeled 1,2, and 3

Preparation:

1. Plug the Switch Adapted Bubble Machine and fan into the PowerLink 4.
2. Create bubble and fan symbols using the AbleNet Symbol Overlay Maker app.
3. Link the Original Receiver to the Big, Jelly, or Mini Beamer Transmitter for the Switch Adapted Bubble Machine and fan plugged in to the PowerLink 4.
4. Record ‘I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles’ on BIG or LITTLEmack.
5. Put newspaper on the floor to keep it from getting slippery with bubble solution.

What to do:

1. Have the students decide on first setting for fan.
2. Turn on the Switch Adapted Bubble Machine.
3. Turn on the fan.
4. Have a student play ‘I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles’ on BIG or LITTLEmack.
5. Let the bubbles blow until the poem is finished.
6. Record which bubble travels the greatest distance and mark the spot where it lands with the first bubble marker.
7. Measure the distance from Switch Adapted Bubble Machine to tin can. This is recorded against the speed setting of the fan.
8. Repeat process using different speed settings on the fan and different positioning of the Switch Adapted Bubble Machine.
9. Re-position the fan angle and speed. Record which fan position and speed has the greatest effect on distance traveled.

Script:

Recording of ‘I’m forever blowing bubbles’ into BIG or LITTLEmack.
“I’m forever blowing bubbles.
Pretty bubbles in the air.
They fly so high, nearly reach the sky.
Then like my dreams, they fade and die.
Fortune’s always hiding.
I’ve looked everywhere.
I’m forever blowing bubbles.
Pretty bubbles in the air.”