Bubble snakes are super easy to make and great fun for kids of all ages. Younger children will enjoy blowing lots of bubbles easily, while older children can design their own bubble makers and even create an investigation using them.
What you need to make a bubble snake
Small tube or plastic bottle
Elastic band
Bubble mix – shop bought or make your own
Old cloth or sock for the end
Sharp scissors or pen knife
Bubble Snake Instructions
First you need to cut the bottom off your water bottle – ask an adult to help and be careful as the end might be sharp.
Cover the end of the bottle with a piece of cloth and secure tightly with an elastic band.
Dip the cloth end into bubble mix.
Blow carefully down the other end of the bottle and watch as a bubble snake appears!
Remember to blow down the bottle NOT suck!!
Make it an investigation
Experiment using different types of bottles ( with wider and thinner bases .
Try blowing softly and then with more force.
Extension Tasks
Can you spot a rainbow in the bubbles?
Try adding food colouring to your bubble mix to make a coloured bubble snake!
Why does this work?
When you blow air through your Bubble Snake, hundreds on tiny bubbles are created. The bubbles stick to each other which gives you a big long snake!
So why are bubbles round?
Bubbles consist of a thin film of soapy water filled with air. When you blow a bubble, the film expands outward. The forces acting between the molecules of the bubble cause it to form the shape that encloses the most volume with the least surface area — a sphere.
Why can you see colours in bubbles?
Colours are seen because of the light diffraction through the soap film.
How can you make this a science fair project or investigation?
Try using different materials on the end of your bubble snake, can you predict which will make the best bubbles?
Can you find a material that will give you bigger bubbles?
What happens if you blow more slowly?
Can you find a recipe for the BEST bubble mix?
Make a double bubble snake!
What do you think of this?
More Bubble Experiments for kids
Build a bubble blowing machine like Teach Beside Me.
Make giant bubbles with a hula hoop.
Finally, how about a square bubble?
There’s just something about bubbles that everyone seems to love. This activity looks like fun for the kids. Defo one for us to try out this summer.
It left out where does the bubble mixture go? In the bottle or dip the cloth in it?