STEM Bubble Wand

 

Everybody loves bubbles, regardless of age. But why all the bubble wands needs to be flat and bubble always spherical. In today’s project, we will break these stereotypes and build some 3-dimensional bubble wands and learn structural engineering. We'll also make an inverted bubble cube that mimics a tensile structure. These simple demonstrations will introduce basic geometric shapes and complex engineering concepts to kids, visually.

Things We Need

• Plastic straws
• Pipe cleaners
• A pair of Scissors
• Bubble Solution, Homemade or store-bought.
• Bigmouth bowl or container (not in the picture above)

Pyramid Bubble Wand

To built this Tetrahedron (Pyramid) Bubble Wand:

• Cut six straws of 2 inches each.
• Thread a pipe cleaner through one straw and bend the end of the pipe cleaner to secure it at the end. Then thread two more straws onto the pipe cleaner.
• Bend the long end of the pipe cleaner back to meet the starting point and twist the two ends around each other. Add two more straw sections onto the end of the pipe cleaner.
• Thread the pipe cleaner through one of the adjacent straw sections.
• Add one more straw section and bend it back to one of the straw joints to form a pyramid.
• Thread the pipe cleaner through an adjacent straw section to secure everything in place.

Add additional pipe cleaners as necessary and twist the ends together to secure.

Cuboid Bubble Wand

• Cut eight straws of 2 inches each.
• Thread a pipe cleaner through one straw and bend the end of the pipe cleaner to secure it at the end. Thread three more straws onto the pipe cleaner.
• Bend the long end of the pipe cleaner back to meet the starting point and twist the two ends of the pipe cleaner around each other. You will now have a square shape. Add three more straw sections onto the end of the long pipe cleaner.
• Thread the pipe cleaner through one of the adjacent straw sections. Add two more straw sections.
• Bend the shape to form two sides of a cube and thread the end of the pipe cleaner through one of the straw sections on the edge of the cube.
• Repeat above step to form another side to the cube.
• Add one final straw section to complete the cube. Thread the pipe cleaner through an adjacent straw section to secure the final shape.

Add additional pipe cleaners as necessary and twist the ends together to secure.

 Dip Dip

To make bubbles, pour the bubble solution into a container with a big mouth.

Now, carefully dip your wand into the solution; some frothy bubbles will form on the top of the solution as the straws are submerged, scoop them away with a spoon, and lift the wand out of the solution slowly.

You should see a bubble cube with multiple faces! If you don’t, dip the wand into the solution again until you get an inverted bubble cube.