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Afterschool Lesson Plan Database

Lesson Plan

Physical Science: Family Science Night
Subject: Science
Grade span: K to 2
Duration: 1-2 hours
This lesson was excerpted from the Afterschool Training Toolkit under the promising practice: Engaging Families and Communities

Description:

This sample lesson is one example of how you can implement the Engaging Families and Communities practice and involve parents in inquiry-based learning. In this activity, students and parents work together with different materials to investigate what makes a good bubble blower.

Learning Goals:

Materials:

  1. A gallon of bubble solution (1 gallon of water with 1 cup of water removed, 1 cup of dishwashing liquid, 50 to 60 drops of glycerin)
  2. Plastic table cloths or large trash bags
  3. Newspapers (to cover floor and tables)
  4. Bucket, squeegees, sponges, paper towels, and vinegar (for clean-up)
  5. Bubble blower materials such as straws, wire mesh, strainers, scissors, spools, plastic/styrofoam cups, funnels, slotted spoons, spatulas, paper towel and tissue rolls, wire of different gauges, pipe cleaners, different-sized washers, rubber bands, rubber rings for glass jars, and turkey basters
  6. Aluminum pie pans or flat plastic containers (for bubble solution, 1/table)
  7. Signs posted "Objects that work" and "Objects that don't work"

Preparation:

2-3 weeks before the event Day of the event: Safety Considerations Safety Considerations:
  • Participants may wear safety goggles or glasses to protect their eyes.
  • Participants should wear clothing that can get wet and slip-resistant shoes.
  • If solution gets in a participant's eyes, instructors should wash the eyes with clear water.
  • Instructors should have a bottle of vinegar and a mop or towel handy to clean up any spills on the floor. Newspapers can also be used to clean up.
  • After the investigations, participants should wash their hands to remove any soap solution.

What to Do:

Evaluate (Outcomes to look for):

Standards:
Click this link to see additional learning goals, grade-level benchmarks, and standards covered in this lesson.

Learn More:

Learn more about the 5Es.

Online Training for Afterschool Staff
The Afterschool Training Toolkit is available online free of charge.

The following resources can be used with the online Afterschool Training Toolkit to give you the resources you need to build fun, innovative, and academically enriching afterschool activities.