The Bubble Show for Chemistry Week

As part of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Chemistry Week the East Anglia RSC Local Section offered Primary Schools throughout Norfolk the chance to participate in a “Bubble Show”, soley sponsored by the RSC.  The Bubble Show aimed to inspire Years 2 and 3 primary school children (6-7 year olds) from the Norwich area to become a future generation of scientists.  The event was designed to be entertaining and educational, exciting and inspiring.

The Bubble Show was performed by Pockets Pete aka Peter Wilson.  Children of all ages love bubbles and Pockets Pete performed his magic making bubbles of all shapes and sizes including one huge bubble that encapsulated one of the children!  

The shows were held at the University of East Anglia on Monday 5 and Tuesday 6 November 2007.  Over three hundred children attended from six local schools: St John's RC First School, Notre Dame Prep School, Bluebell Primary, Cringleford CE VA Primary School, Town Close and Larkman Primary.

The children's faces showed that the event was a huge success and that they had a great time.  Feedback from the teachers who attended tells how much the children were inspired and that secret “bubble recipes” for future bubble making competitions have been traded in the staff rooms.  Not only did the show receive coverage in local papers but a group of photo journalism students was also able to use one of the shows as part of their training.

In addition to the main bubble show an evening talk was arranged for PGCE science students at the university.  Here the emphasis was how to put a trick or demonstration to best use in a science class.  From the amount of note taking that was going on the audience were certainly being inspired.  

Forever blowing bubbles © Louise Grisedale 2007

 

Acknowledgements

The event was organised by the Local Section Young Person representative Louise Grisedale with assistance from the Outreach Coordinator for the School of Chemical Sciences and Pharmacy, Vanessa Tarling.