Kids love blowing bubbles, so learning while you play, doesn’t get any better with this easy-to-set-up 3D bubble shapes activity—a fantastic STEM project for kids using a few simple ingredients.  Follow our easy bubble solution recipe and make your own homemade 3D bubble shapes too! There’s nothing better than fun science any time of the year!

Blowing Bubbles

Bubbles, bubble blowing, homemade bubble wands, and 3D bubble structures are all incredible ways to explore bubble science any day of the year. Make your own homemade bubble solution or use a store-bought bubble solution.

Have fun crafting these 3D bubble shape structures and flex those geometry and STEM skills. Can you make a 3D bubble? How do bubbles work?

ALSO, CHECK OUT:

What is STEM for Kids?

Over the years, my son and I have greatly enjoyed building our science knowledge with more than 100 fantastic STEM activities and counting. We have explored so many areas, including engineering, coding, physical science, chemistry, biology, geology and more.

Our STEM activities have become some of our favorite projects of all time! Read on to learn more about STEM education, STEM careers, and starting a STEM program with young children at home or in the classroom.

What does STEM stand for?

STEM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering, and math. STEM stands for hands-on learning that applies to the world around us. 

STEM activities build and teach creativity, problem-solving, life skills, ingenuity, resourcefulness, patience, and curiosity. STEM is what will shape the future as our world grows and changes.

STEM learning is everywhere and in everything we do and live, from the natural world around us to the tablets in our hands. STEM builds inventors! Read more about What is STEM here.

Make 3D Bubble Shapes Activity

A few quick supplies and you are good to go. You can use a pre-made bubble solution or make your own homemade one. We have the BEST Bubble Solution Recipe here with plenty of commonly asked questions, answered for you!

YOU WILL NEED

  • Pipe Cleaners
  • Straws
  • Glue Gun (Optional)
  • Bubble Solution

CAN YOU MAKE DIFFERENT BUBBLE SHAPES?

Can you make and blow 3D shape bubbles? Let’s find out!

Use your pipe cleaners and straws to form 3D shapes such as a pyramid or cube. You can also hot glue straws together if you don’t want to use pipe cleaners to join the straws.

You can either make your shapes 2D or 3D. See how to make 2D bubble wands here.

3D Shapes Facts for Kids

If you make your bubble wand shapes 3D, you can use them as a structure for making shaped bubbles but…

ASK IT: Will the bubble shapes remain the same spherical shape or not?

Ask your kids if they think the bubbles will all come out the same every time or if they think they will come out in different shapes. Most young kids will say that the bubbles will come out in different shapes depending on their bubble wand.  

What are 3D shapes?

A 3D shape, also known as a three-dimensional shape, is a geometric figure that has three dimensions: length, width, and height. It is an object that takes up space and has volume. For kids, understanding 3D shapes can be made easier by relating them to real-life objects they encounter daily. Here are some common 3D shapes:

Cube: A cube has six equal square faces, and all its edges are the same length. It’s like a box or a dice.

Sphere: A sphere is a perfectly round shape, like a ball or a globe.

Cylinder: A cylinder has two circular faces connected by a curved surface. It looks like a can or a tube.

Cone: A cone has a circular base and a pointed tip. It resembles an ice cream cone.

Pyramid: A pyramid has a polygonal base and triangular faces that meet at a single point on top. Think of the Great Pyramid of Giza.

Rectangular Prism: This has six rectangular faces, and opposite faces are equal in size and shape. It’s similar to a rectangular box.

Triangular Prism: A triangular prism has two triangular bases connected by three rectangular faces.

When teaching 3D shapes to kids, hands-on activities and visual aids can be helpful like this bubble activity! You can also make this fun shape ornaments.

Invite the kids to experiment with the homemade bubble structures, wands, and shapes to explore bubble science. 

Can Bubble Be Different Shapes?

Did you find that your bubbles always ended up being blown into a sphere shape? Why is that? It’s all due to surface tension.

A bubble is formed when air gets trapped inside the bubble solution. The air tries to push its way out of the bubble, but the liquid in the bubble solution wants the least amount of surface area due to the clinging properties of liquid molecules.

Water molecules prefer bonding with other water molecules, so water gathers in drops instead of spreading out.

A sphere is the least amount of surface area for the volume of what is contained inside the sphere (in this case, air). So bubbles will always form circles no matter the shape of the bubble wand.

Want to learn more about Bubble Science? Click here!

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