how2GASES Experiments 

Progression #2.  Just Blow...Blow up a beachball, and ask what's inside the ball. Next, blow up a balloon in plain view of your class, and again ask them what's inside the balloon. Release the air from the balloon and ask them what happened to the air in the balloon, where did it go?

Continue the exercise by blowing some bubbles, using either store-bought or homemade bubble solution. If you are making your own bubble solution, try to add glycerin (available at Walgreens) to the solution to give your bubbles longevity. Once again ask your class what is inside the bubbles. Depending on the weather, you may wish to conduct a portion of this demonstration outdoors to minimize mess and/or to make larger bubbles using a wand.

Bubble Bookmark.  Provide your class with bowls filled with bubble solution and food coloring or tempera paints, and make a bubble painting with your class.  This can be a “free” art project or provide your class with a bookmark template that reads, "science is fun." Have them blow bubbles into the bowls using straws and swipe the bookmark across the surface of the bubbles. For younger children, you may wish to blow the bubbles for them and guide them in swiping the bookmark across the surface of the bubbles.  

Embedding Opportunities for Further Learning. The rationale for including the bubble painting bookmark activity is that you provide children with a built-in opportunity to discuss what they did in science when they bring their bookmark home. Because of its functionality as a bookmark, your class can also use it when they read with their parents.

Progression #3: Air Pressure

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