Bubble Fireworks

When you think of the 4th of July, what is the first thing you think of? America? Freedom? Most people think about those bright colorful explosions in the sky... fireworks! Fireworks have been a staple in our yearly celebration of America the Beautiful since the year after we declared independence from British rule in 1776. These spectacular, glittering explosions light up the night sky and remind us how special our country really is.

There's no doubt about it, fireworks are fun, but they're also hard to do during the daytime and they can be dangerous if you don't have an adult supervising the show. In this crafty DIY, we'll celebrate Independence Day ALL day with our favorite simple art project to bring the magic of fireworks to your party (without the explosions)!

Materials

• Paper (cardstock works best!)
• Markers (optional)
• Straws
• Cups
• Water
• Dish soap
• Washable paint

Gather your materials on a table top with a dropcloth or other protective barrier - this can get messy! Use your markers or other drawing utensils to draw your backyard, city skyline or your favorite place to be on the 4th of July. Mix together your water, a few squirts of soap and paint of your choice into the cups. Using a straw, blow some bubbles with your soapy mixture until it's bubbling past the rim of your cup. Take your piece of paper and gently press down on the bubbles until it is flush with the lid of the cup so it pops all the colorful bubbles you just made. As the bubbles pop, they leave explosive, colorful designs behind on your paper! Repeat this step with different colors to create a night sky that's FULL of dazzling fireworks. 

Further Exploration

• What happens when you mix colors together? Try red and yellow or blue and red!
• Does it work better with more paint? What about more soap? Why do you think one mixture works better than another?

DIY Tip

If you have a smaller scientist and fear that they'll try to suck up the bubble solution instead of blow bubbles, we suggest using a push pin to poke a small hole in the straw near the top. That will prevent the soapy mixture from reaching their mouth!

Learn the science behind fireworks and so much more at our annual Red, White & BOOM celebration on July 4th. Get your tickets now before it's too late!