What to do:
Open the soda bottle, insert the funnel. Drop in the tablespoon of salt, remove the funnel and get back! The soda bubbles over and makes a huge mess!
Take it to the Next Level
This gets really messy but it’s so much fun you may want to double your supplies so you have enough on hand for a second go around.
What you need:
Outdoor space that is okay to get messy. Unopened 2 liter bottle of soda (not diet), a plastic straw and a package of Wintergreen Lifesavers.
What to do:
Open the soda bottle, and set it in a clear spot on the ground. Open the Lifesavers and push the straw through the centers. Get all of them on the straw. Carefully now, place one end of the straw in the bottle opening and all at once, pour all the mints in. Get back! The contents of the bottle will shoot several feet in to the air.
Homemade Bubbles
Mix this up the day before you want to go out and blow bubbles. These bubbles are so good you won’t mind the wait.
What you need:
Empty half gallon milk container, Water, A measuring cup, Liquid dish detergent, Measuring spoons, Glycerin or corn syrup, Shallow bowl or disposable pie pan, Scissors and Bubble blower.
What you need to do:
Rinse out the milk container and fill it with water, then pour out 1/3 of a cup of water. Add 1/3 cup of liquid dish detergent and 2 tablespoons of Glycerin or Corn Syrup to the milk container. jeeter juice liquid diamonds Close the container and turn it over a couple of times SLOWLY to mix it up. Don’t shake it! Let it sit for 24 hours. Then pour some of the mixture into a shallow bowl or disposable pie pan. Dip the bubble blower into the solution and blow. You’ll make nice thick bubbles that float for longer than the store bought kind.
Try making your own bubble blower:
Chenille sticks (pipe cleaners) easily bend and twist into a hoop. Make heart shapes, moon shapes, experiment and find out what works and what doesn’t. Be resourceful and recycle objects. Cut a circle out of the container of a margarine lid, glue a stick to it for a handle and see how that Try the plastic ring from a canned soda six-pack.
Take it to the Next Level
These bubbles are so strong you can make them bounce. Yup, bounce.
What you need:
White cotton gloves available at most art or craft stores, 4 straws and a piece of sting (about 4 feet long). Thread the straws with the string end to end, and tie a knot where the stings meet, creating a square. Dip that square into the bubble solution and gently lift out. Hold it up and have a partner blow bubbles toward the trampoline and watch them bounce. Then try putting on the white cotton glove and let the bubble bounce off of your gloved hand. It may take a little practice like the trampoline, but it works!
Magic Railroad
Little kids seem to be fascinated by trains, as evidenced by the popularity of such characters as Thomas the Tank Engine.
What you need:
Sidewalk chalk and a side walk.
What to do:
Bring your bucket of chalk outside and get everyone involved making a railroad. Map out a railroad complete with stations, water towers, cities, villages, what ever your imagination wants to visit on this railroad. Add lakes, crossings, bridges, tunnels. Draw trees and flowers along side, roads for autos to cross.. Then when you’re finished, get everyone on board and ride the Magic Railroad. Let them get off at their stations and let them play.
Paper Mural Kids
What you need:
Roll of large paper (48inches high by 50 feet wide) Try Fadeless Paper Rolls available at Michaels and any online craft shop for about $16, Crayons and or Markers (broad tips work best), masking tape
What to do:
Take the kids out to the park or to the backyard, with the roll of paper and the broad tip markers and crayons. Tape it up against the building or lay it out on the hard ground. Have everyone pose in a very dramatic way against the paper. The kids working with partners, take turns tracing each other. Then everyone fills in the details of their own faces, clothing, shoes, etc. The rough gritty cement of the building or ground creates most interesting textures. They can turn it into a mural by adding images, words and whatever their imaginations come up with.
Note:
The papers come in white and colors and even prints like clouds and landscapes. Make sure you choose a lighter background that will easily be covered by markers or crayons.
Soda Fountains
Want something more explosive and messy?
Try this in your backyard.
What you need:
A 2 liter bottle of soda (not diet), Funnel, Tablespoon, and Salt.