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Have you ever watched a bubble freeze? Let's bundle up, grab a few household materials, and go outside to watch what happens when you blow bubbles outside on a cold snowy day.
There's some science behind this fun snow day activity. Check it out:
Materials needed
- Bubble solution—commercial or homemade (recipe provided below)
- Bubble wand
- A pile of snow
How to make frozen bubbles
- Make sure you have bundled up! It's cold outside!
- Blow bubbles using a bubble wand like you would in the summer. Aim the bubble wand toward the ground.
- The goal is to have the bubbles land on the snow. You might need to kneel in the snow, or use a pile of snow on outdoor furniture, planter or a bush.
- Once a bubble lands on the snow, observe the bubble for a few minutes. Watch for the bubble to turn cloudy.
- Gently touch the bubble, and observe what happens!
Helpful hints
- Don’t have any bubble solution? Make your own!
- Mix 1 cup warm water, 3 tbsp dish soap and 1 tbsp corn syrup in a small bowl.
- A pipe cleaner can be twisted into a bubble wand.
- If your bubbles don’t want to land on the snow, try catching them on a bubble wand.
- Blowing bubbles in a protected area of your yard will help the bubbles keep their shape a bit longer.
What’s the science?
Bubble solution is made of liquid soap and water. When you blow a bubble, a small amount of water is trapped between layers of soap, creating a film. The soap film traps air to form a bubble. In really cold temperatures, the water freezes in between the layers of soap. The result is a frozen layer that acts like cellophane when it pops!
More snow day fun!
Looking for more snow day activities? You can find more in this post—Snow Day Fun!
