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What kid doesn’t like making bubbles!?
This fun Montessori Practical Life extension will surely be a hit!
There are SO many benefits to Children practicing and engaging in Practical Life exercises. Really any manual task could be viewed and turned in to a Practical Life activity, giving children the ability to learn real life practical skills that will be needed and used throughout their lives!
Montessori Practical Life exercises
For those who are unaware, the Practical Life area of a Montessori classroom is where children do the most of their hands on, in depth learning, communicating, and exploring! It is an area of the classroom bustling where you can hear children talking, laughing and developing conversation skills. It is also an area where children are so engrossed in activities and sheer concentration can be witnessed.
Related post: 5 key tips on on implementing Montessori at home
In the Practical Life area, you will find children pouring, spooning, scooping and using tongs and tweezers with dry items. You will also find children pouring, sponging, ladling, and using a baster and eyedropper to transfer water. In my classroom, you will also find children engaging in fresh orange juicing, banana slicing, and spreading jam on bread. It is an area that is always changing, and always the center of all the action…it’s an amazing area, to say the least!
Here are some other common Montessori Practical Life exercises. Banana Slicing and Bread & Jam
Over the years I was a classroom teacher, I had added and replaced many different types of Practical Life exercises; all that followed the natural development and interests of the children in my classroom at the time. I had also introduced many Practical Life Extensions; that is; an expansion of or an addition to already existing traditional Montessori activities. The Practical Life exercise of Bubble making is an extension of washing. Washing activities include hand washing, baby washing, table washing, window cleaning, and dish washing; just to name a few.
So yes, that’s right, bubble making! What kid, young or old, do you know that does not like making bubbles, chasing bubbles, catching bubbles…all things BUBBLES!!! Think about it! This extension is one that I had used in my classroom for years, and quite frankly, it had always been a fan favorite!
Practical Life Extension: Bubble Making
All of the materials can be purchased very inexpensively, I constructed this activity and spent less than $20 total!
Materials:
- -a bowl
- -a whisk
- -a sponge
- -a towel
- -some sort of measuring cup (with a line drawn on it to show the water limit)
- -an eye dropper with a glass bottle (for the soap) SIDE NOTE: add water to dish soap so that it is not so concentrated
- -a washing bin to hold all of the materials
- – an apron (optional) I used aprons for all of my water work activities
Related post: 10 benefits to children doing chores-with age appropriate chore list ideas & chore charts
Instructions for bubble making:
Step one: Get your apron on (if you’re choosing to use them)
These Montessori aprons are easy for children to put on by themselves. Providing activities that allow children to be independent is an important element in a Montessori environment. They come in a few different colors, and are even waterproof…score!
Explain to children why an apron is used. This is a common item that is used in many traditional Montessori environments, and I personally think it is an important aspect of Practical Life exercise.
Step two: Get the bubble making work bin from and take it to your work space.
- Take the towel, sponge, and measuring cup out of the washing bin.
- Take the measuring cup to the sink, and fill it with water up to the limit line.
- Carefully pour the water in the bowl.
Step three: Add two drops of soap solution.
- Demonstrate how to use a whipping motion with your wrist to whisk the soap around.
Start whisking!
And whisk some more!!!!
Step four: Pour out bubbles in the sink and use the towel to dry out the bowl.
- Use the sponge to clean the table if needed.
- Dry off the table with the towel.
Step five: Return all of the bubble making materials to the bin, and replace the work. Have your child take off their apron.
That’s it! Easy as pie, and just as good! Haha! This was always such a favorite work in my classroom, that I would have to limit it to a one time use per morning work time. The children could do it once a day, and then were not able to do it again until the next day! I also had to put a time restriction on the work as well; I used a mini sand timer that is set and used each time a child began the work, to limit their time using it. The timer would startss once the soap solution had been added to the bowl. If I didn’t set limits on this work, I would have ONE child doing this exercise for the entire morning work period!
The benefits of the bubble making Practical Life extension activity
As with most of the Practical Life exercises, Bubble making aids in the development of critical thinking skills; by having to recall multiple steps and instructions in order. It also aids in developing motor skills with using the eyedropper and using twisting wrist motions when using the whisk.
In the end
In the end, adding something as simple as bubble making to your Practical Life area; whether it be in a classroom, home school, or for your child’s individual usage; can add quite a bit of fun and necessary motor development to their day! There is no limit as to what types of activities you can make as a Practical Life activity. The main thing is to consider your child’s developmental level, as well as their abilities. Have fun with it, and even ask for your child’s input as to what they would like to learn to do!
Have any practical life skills ideas or activities you’ve tried with your children that were a huge hit or a big miss? Share them in the comments!
