Around the end of the summer, I did some research, invested in some bubbles, and dove in to bubble play during story time! We pull them out about once every other month (sometimes more often) and they are just so much fun!
I posed a question about using bubbles in story time to the Storytime Underground group on Facebook (Are you in this group? Such a great resource!), and the overwhelming response was to use Gymboree's Bubble Oodles Bubble Blower.
I headed straight to our local Gymboree store and picked up this small set for about $6.00.
They are MAGICAL!! The blower makes these teeny tiny bubbles that float and hang in the air for the longest time. When they finally land, they don't pop! We've found them resting on bookshelves hours after story time has finished!
There are only two negatives: you have to put your mouth to the blower, so A) it's harder to sing a song while blowing the bubbles, and B) you wouldn't want to share the blower with your fellow librarians! (We're close, but not THAT close!)
So you've got some bubbles, now what?
Bubbles go great with themes like "Bathtime" or "Playtime" or just any time you feel like using them!
I went to YouTube in search of bubble songs and what do you know? Gymboree to the rescue, once again! They use bubbles in their classes and have posted some of the songs they use - check them out here and here!
Here are a few easy ones:
(Tune of "If You're Happy and You Know It")
There are bubbles in the air, in the air. (blow, blow)
There are bubbles in the air, in the air. (blow, blow)
There are bubbles in the air, there are bubbles everywhere,
There are bubbles in the air, in the air. (blow, blow)
There are bubbles way up high, way up high. (blow, blow)
There are bubbles way up high, way up high. (blow, blow)
There are bubbles way up high, there are bubbles in the sky,
There are bubbles way up high, way up high. (blow, blow)
There are bubbles way down low, way down low. (blow, blow)
There are bubbles way down low, way down low. (blow, blow)
There are bubbles way down low, there are bubbles on your toes,
There are bubbles way down low, way down low. (blow, blow)
(Tune of "Ten Little Indians")
One little, two little, three little bubbles,
Four little, five little, six little bubbles,
Seven little, eight little, nine little bubbles,
Ten little bubbles go POP! POP! POP!
(Tune of "Frere Jacques")
Bubbles for ______, bubbles for ______
Bubbles for ______, bubbles for ______
(just continue with the tune until you've done each child, ad lib to finish the tune)
I end every baby and toddler story time with bubbles! My favorite is the Gazillion bubble machine, and I buy it from Toys R Us, but Amazon lists it... I love it when I see my early toddlers outside of storytime and they smile at me and say bubbles?!.
ReplyDeleteAndrea at Everett Public Library
Such a great resource for activities that don't guarantee children running directly into each other during the blowing of bubbles!Thank you!
ReplyDeleteWe invested in a heavy duty Bubble King machine that blows a million bubbles for the end of every baby time program and it's amazing. I play Raffi's "Bathtime" and we all dance in the bubble shower!
ReplyDelete