Lighten up your lesson: Matter, optics, and bubbles

This article discusses how soap bubbles can be used to teach scientific principles such as phases of matter and the reflection of light. The study of soap bubbles addresses the National Science Education Standards for grades 5-8 related to the properties and changes of properties in matter. The exercises suggested here can be flexible in terms of time and complexity. For example, additional time can be devoted to teaching about the molecular structure of liquid crystals, electromagnetic radiation and the visible spectrum. This activity may also be incorporated into review sessions concerning the different states of matter or the fundamentals of optics. Additionally, instead of purchasing a commercial brand of bubble solution, one can easily and inexpensively be made. This is especially useful if these exercises are combined with additional bubble activities or human-sized bubbles are generated. (Contains 5 online resources.)