Duration: 1 session
SPIRIT Skills:
- Sense of wonder
- Critical thinking
- Problem-solving
- Connectedness
- Valuing people and nature
Brief Description:
Students learn/review the scientific method, explore kid-friendly bubble research, and choose a few testable variables. They write simple hypotheses and agree on fair testing rules.
How does this develop particular SPIRIT skills:
- Strengthens sense of wonder by turning curiosity (“Why do bubbles pop?”) into testable questions
- Builds critical thinking by comparing sources/recipes and deciding what seems most reliable or logical
- Develops problem-solving as teams choose a fair test plan and select variables that can actually be tested
- Builds connectedness through shared discussion, negotiation, and joint decision-making
- Supports valuing people & nature by considering safety, cleanliness, and responsible ingredient use.)
What do we want to achieve regarding SPIRIT skill development (student understanding and/or behaviour)?
As a result of this activity, students will be able to:
- Sense of wonder: generate at least one “I wonder…” bubble question and turn it into a testable question.
- Critical thinking: compare two recipe ideas and explain which seems more promising and why (based on reasons, not guessing).
- Problem-solving: choose one variable to change and one thing to keep the same for a fair test.
- Connectedness: reach a group agreement by listening, voting, or combining ideas respectfully.
- Valuing people and nature: identify at least one safety/sustainability rule for ingredients and cleanup.
Academic/Curriculum Objective connection
Scientific method: question, hypothesis, variable identification; research literacy.
Materials and tools needed for implementation
Devices/printouts, scientific method poster, hypothesis worksheets, “variables board.”
Preparation notes
Curate kid-friendly sources; provide a comparison template; set a time limit for research.
Guided Questions
- “What do you think makes bubbles stronger?”
- “Which ingredient or wand feature will you test first—and why?”
- “How will you make sure your test is fair?”
Stage Debriefing Questions (Optional)
- Which hypothesis are you most excited to test?”
Tips and Tricks for dealing with stage challenges
- Challenge: Too many ideas at once.
Tip: limit to 1–2 variables per team. - Challenge: Copying random online recipes.
Tip: require a “because…” reason for each choice.