Bubble wand test: a 20-minute preschool science experiment
What it is: a simple preschool science experiment. Students blow bubbles with wands bent into a circle, a square, a triangle and a heart, guess what shape each bubble will be, and discover that free-floating bubbles always come out round.
Time: about 20 minutes. Grade: Pre-K (ages 4 to 5).
Materials: bubble solution in shallow trays, 4 wands an adult has bent from soft pipe cleaners into different shapes (circle, square, triangle, heart), and an outdoor space.
- Show the square wand. Ask: "What shape do you think the bubble will be?" Students show the shape with their hands.
- Write or draw the guesses on a chart.
- Outside, students take turns dipping the wand and blowing gently.
- Ask: "What shape is the bubble? Is it a square?" Try every wand.
- Back inside, compare the guesses with what happened. Bubbles that float in the air are round, whatever the shape of the wand.
- Ask: "Was anyone surprised? What else could we test about bubbles?"
Safety: blow out, not in, and never drink the solution. Use it outside or on a towel so the floor does not get slippery, and rinse hands after.
Differentiation: students who need support can wave the wand instead of blowing. Students who are ready can test a big wand against a small one. English learners can use the words round, square and bubble.
Quick check: show the triangle wand and ask a student what shape the bubble will be and why.
Need it for another grade or subject? Ask us on the request page and our team will write it.
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About this resource
- Shared by
- @UpOnlyLearning · Curriculum team
- Posted
- Oct 30, 2026
- Type
- Lesson plan
- Grade
- Grades K–2
- Subject
- Science
- Language
- English
- License
- Free for classroom, co-op and tutoring use. Please don't resell.