Making bubbles in Antrim Castle Gardens

Tri-String Bubble Wand × 5

Create Magical Giant Bubbles!

Celebrate summer with this 5-Wand Bundle – only £20 (was £24.95)!
While stocks last, bring the wonder of science and the joy of play to life with Scientific Sue’s Tri-String Bubble Wands– your ultimate tools for creating giant, glistening bubbles that float, twist, and dance through the air.

Why Parents & Teachers Love It

• Endless outdoor fun – Watch as huge shimmering bubbles mesmerise children and adults alike.

• STEM through play – Explore surface tension, air flow, and bubble chemistry while having fun.

• Perfect for all settings – Great for gardens, parks, science shows, school activities, parties, and sensory play sessions.

• Engaging for all ages – Simple enough for children, yet magical enough to captivate everyone.

What’s Included

• 5× Tri-String Bubble Wands (choose Yellow, Purple, or a mix!)

• Step-by-step instructions for using your wands effectively

• One of Scientific Sue’s bubble recipes using easy-to-find supermarket ingredients (bubble solution not included)

Educational Benefits

• Encourages hands-on science learning about air, forces, and surface tension.

• Builds observation and measurement skills by testing bubble size and duration.

• Introduces STEM concepts naturally through outdoor play.

• Inspires curiosity and creativity while blending learning with fun.

A STEM Twist:

How to build your trip-string wand

These wands aren’t just for fun – they’re also a great way to explore surface tension, air flow, and the chemistry of bubbles. Learn as you play!

Activity Ideas

1. Bubble Size Challenge

• Dip the string section into the bubble solution – ensure the entire string is soaked.

• Walk backwards slowly on calm days, or stand with your back to the breeze on windy days.

• Measure how long your bubbles stretch before popping using a tape measure, strides, or chalk marks.

2. Compare Bubble Recipes

Try different bubble solutions and record your results:

3. Bubble Races

Release bubbles at the same time and see whose bubble travels furthest or lasts longest.

4. STEM Storytelling

Ask children:

“Why do some bubbles burst in strong winds?”
“How does the wand ‘trap’ air to make such huge bubbles?”

Science Note

The tri-string wand works by trapping air inside a soapy film stretched between three pieces of string. The absorbed bubble mix strengthens the film, allowing it to stretch into supersized bubbles.

Top Tip:
Close the wands gently after inflating a bubble – this seals off the film and lets the bubble float away rather than collapsing. It’s like tying off a balloon, locking the air safely inside.

Live Show & Virtual Experience Links

For the full bubble science experience, explore Scientific Sue’s Science of Bubbles Show:

• Live Shows – Watch giant bubbles, colour-changing experiments, and STEM magic in person

• Virtual Experience – Perfect for schools, groups, and at-home learners

Parenting & Classroom Tips

• Use bubbles for turn-taking – set a sand timer so everyone gets a fair go.

• Combine measurement skills with fun – compare bubble length, height, and float time.

• Great for sensory regulation – calming for children who benefit from visual, slow-flowing activities.

Bubbles by the se

Sparks of imagination are at the heart of creativity!
– Scientific Sue     

The post TRI-STRING BUBBLE WAND x 5 appeared first on Science2Life.

Unleash your inner scientist! This set of 10 durable, hand-held magnifying glasses is perfect for young explorers, budding scientists, and curious minds. Each plastic magnifier offers 5× magnification—ideal for studying insects, plants, rocks, or reading fine print.

These brightly coloured tools (random selection of colours in each set) are fantastic for outdoor discovery, classroom STEM experiments, party bags, treasure hunts, and nature walks.

Perfect for:

• Science experiments at home or school

• Nature trails and bug hunting

• Kids’ party bags and activity packs

• Classroom sets or group activities

Lightweight, safe, and easy for small hands to hold
5× magnification
10 bright, colourful magnifiers per pack
Random colours – each set is a surprise!

Magnifying Flowers

 Mini Explorer Challenge!

Use your magnifying glass to explore the world around you! Complete the fun tasks below and become a true nature detective.

Your Explorer Tasks

• Find and draw 3 different leaves. Can you spot the veins?
• Look closely at a flower. What colours and shapes do you see?
• Spot a bug or insect. Draw it and describe what it’s doing.
• Examine a rock or pebble. What patterns or textures can you find?
• Use your magnifier to read tiny writing on a label or book.
• Look at your own fingerprints – what do they remind you of?

Explorer Sketch Zone

Can you draw what you see?

Sparks of imagination are at the heart of creativity!
– Scientific Sue      

The post SET OF 10 COLOURFUL MAGNIFYING GLASSES appeared first on Science2Life.

Making bubbles in Antrim Castle Gardens

Bring the wonder of science and play to life with Scientific Sue’s Tri-String Bubble Wand – your ultimate tool for making giant, glistening bubbles that float, twist, and dance through the air!

Product Highlights:

• Vibrant Colours: Choose from cheerful Yellow or Purple wands – or grab both for even more bubbly fun!

• Impressive Reach: Each wand measures 52.5 cm when fully assembled – ideal for crafting spectacular supersized bubbles.

• Science in Action: Includes one of Scientific Sue’s specially formulated bubble recipes, made using easy-to-find ingredients from your local supermarket (bubble solution not included).

• Fun for All Ages: Perfect for outdoor play, science shows, school activities, birthday parties, and family days in the garden or park.

Want More Bubble Magic?

Prefer more fun in one go? Our Tri‑String Bubble Wand × 5 – Summertime Special is now just £20 (down from £24.95)!

Click here to grab the 5‑wand bundle and save →

A STEM Twist:

How to build your trip-string wand

These wands aren’t just for fun – they’re also a great way to explore surface tension, air flow, and the chemistry of bubbles. Learn as you play!

Stretch Test with the Tri-String Wand

Before you start, make sure your tri-string wand is fully soaked in bubble solution. Play with the wand to create bubbles of all sizes and get the string ready!

To measure bubble length, use a measuring tape or mark the ground using foot lengths or strides.

Test Instructions:

• Dip the string section of the wand into the bucket of bubble solution. You have to make sure the whole of the string is covered. DO NOT STIR this will tangle up the string.
• Keeping the sticks of the wand together remove the string from the bubble solution. Lift the sticks high. Open up the sticks. You will see a bubble film stretch between the strings.
• If it isn’t windy you will have to walk backwards (safely!) to catch the air in the bubble film.

To make a bubble:

On a calm day: Walk backwards to let the air fill the film – you will need to practice the speed at which you walk. Too slow and nothing will happen – Too fast the bubble film will burst

On a breezy day: Stand with your back to the wind.

The wind will inflate the bubble for you! You don’t need to move – just open the wand and let the wind do the magic. If it is too windy the pushing forces of the air molecules will burst the delicate bubble film.

1. Measure the length of your longest bubble at the point that it just pops or breaks.
2. Repeat 3 times for each solution.
3. Because wind can affect your results, should you repeat the test more than 3 times?

Bubbles by the sea

Science Note:

The large loop and gentle movement help trap air in the bubble film. The soaked string creates a stable surface that stretches into a giant bubble before breaking away.

 Top Tip: Close the Wands to Make the Bubble Fly!

When you’re ready to release your bubble, gently bring the two wands back together. This pinches the soap film and seals off the bubble, allowing it to float away instead of collapsing.

Why This Works:

• The soap film is like a stretchy curtain between the 3 lengths of string.
• If you don’t close the wands, the film stays openand the bubble won’t break off — it just pops or collapses.
• Closing the wands snaps the film shut, turning the long soap tunnel into a complete bubble.

Think of it like tying the end of a balloon — the air stays inside the bubble because you’ve sealed it off just in time.

Sparks of imagination are at the heart of creativity!
– Scientific Sue     

The post TRI-STRING BUBBLE WAND x 1 appeared first on Science2Life.

Light-up Sound Making Wizards Wand

• 1 Electronic Wizard Wand

An electronic wand which lights up and plays a magical sound when the button is pressed. Perfect for all wizards and witches.

It makes a lovely magic sound and the LED light shines when the side button is pressed.

This is a perfect gift for a birthday, Hallowe’en and Christmas.

The post THE WIZARD MAGIC WAND WITH LIGHT AND SOUND appeared first on Science2Life.

This activity is perfect for the classroom or for a birthday party!

The kit contains:

• 30 Dragon Templates
• 300 Paperclips
• Magic Wand
• 3 Neodymium Magnets
• a balancing stick

Method

1. Cut out the Dragon.
2. Add more decoration using coloured pencils or crayons.
3. Balance the Dragon on a finger. Where is this balancing point?
4. Add one paperclip to each of the Dragon’s wings.
5. Balance the Dragon again. Where is the balancing point this time?You will notice the point – we call this point the Centre of Mass – will have moved closer to the dragons’ nose.
6. Repeat this process until the Dragon can balance horizontally on a fingertip.
7. Encourage the children to explore balancing the dragon on other objects around the room

Using Magic to get your Dragon to spin

In your kit there would also have been a kebab stick, a Magic Wand and 3 neodymium magnets

One magnet is attached the end of the wand with a sticky dot.

The other magnets are placed on each of the wings of your balancing dragon.

When you bring the magnet on the wand close to the magnets of the wings of the dragon the magnetic fields will interact and the Dragon will either be pushed away or pulled towards the wand.

• Abracadabra
• Alakazin
• Locomotor Magic
• Make my Dragon Spin!

Science in a Nutshell

All objects have a balancing point, called the centre of gravity. The lower you make the centre of gravity the more stable the object is.

The centre of gravity is also often called the centre of mass.

This balancing dragon is a toy that has its centre of gravity located at the tip of its nose. The centre of gravity is a special point on an object. It’s the point at which the weight of the body Is perfectly balanced.

To engineer it so that the centre of gravity is at the tip of the nose, the wings have been designed to extend in front of the nose far enough, and made heavy enough (with the addition of the paper clips or other masses), to balance the weight of the bird at its nose.

In most objects it is not clear where the centre of gravity is. If an object has a strange shape, then you cannot know by looking at it where the centre of gravity is.

If an object has a uniform shape, like a pencil, or a square, then the centre of gravity is easy to determine. It’s in the centre of the object. But for objects with non-uniform shapes this is not known ahead of time. To find the centre of gravity for these objects you need to use trial and error. You must try balancing the object on different points until you find where the object is perfectly balanced, and doesn’t fall over.

This point, once found, is the centre of gravity.

The post ACROBATIC DRAGON ACTIVITY appeared first on Science2Life.

Slime fosters curiosity, imagination and exploration, and promotes physical development. A hugely popular product.

What you have:

1 x 7g packet of slime powder

1 instruction sheet.

What you need:

• 150 ml COLD water
• stirring spoon
• mixing bowl
• scissors
• patience!

Using the scissors cut off the top of the slime powder packaging. Leave to the side.

Pour 150 ml cold water (the colder the better) into your mixing bowl / beaker.

Lift up your slime powder and the stirring spoon.

Start stirring then add the powder – continue stirring for 30 seconds.

Leave for 5 minutes – you will notice only half of the water has been absorbed. Lift your slime blob out – stretch it, then put it back again.

Leave for 10 minutes – you will notice the amount of water in the bowl/beaker has decreased. Lift the slime blob out – you will notice it will have a different feel to it than before. Stretch it a little then place it back into the bowl.

Repeat until nearly all of the liquid has been absorbed.

Mould it, stretch it, let it flow through your fingers.

Why not try adding glitter to your slime creation.

This activity should be carried out in the kitchen or outside. If slime does end up on a surface such as a carpet – it must be cleaned up immediately; Slime like chewing gum will flow in-between all of the fibres and if allowed to dry it will be difficult to remove.

However if slime does end up on fabric or carpet, just know that vinegar is the key to its removal.  Plain old white vinegar will get slime out of most everything. Mix the vinegar in with some warm water and washing up liquid. Using a gentle brush – such as a tooth brush gentle work at the slime – the vinegar will break the polymer bonds allowing you to remove the polymer mess!

The post STRETCHY SLIME KIT appeared first on Science2Life.

Red cabbage – which is purple! – is a natural acid/base indicator

Pronunciation: /AH-mor-TEN-see-ah

Description: Causes target to be strongly attracted to a particular witch or wizard.

Contents:

• Pop-up Wand
• Red Cabbage Magic
• 3 x small clear measuring cups
• 1 x 60 ml measuring up
• 2 x 50 ml bottles with flip top cap
• 2 Pipettes
• Tub of Baking Soda – 40 g
• Tub of Citric Acid – 40 g
• 4 x wooden stirring spoons
• Liquified Ogre’s Bogeys label
• Dragons drool Label

In this video Scientific Sue will show you how you can use the red cabbage powder in a very magical spell.

From the Latin amor (love) tentamen (attempt or effort), Amortentia is a powerful love enchantment. The spell doesn’t actually create love, but causes the target to be strongly attracted to a particular witch or wizard. Both muggles and wizards can fall under the spell of AMORTENTIA!

This video will take you through the steps you need to take to wow  your audience – Science Magic – Fun Guaranteed!

Secrets for Success:

Potions and Explosions Spell Book Click on this link for the full version of this and other spells!

Add a spoonful of the dried cabbage powder into the 60 ml cup. Top up with 40 ml warm water. Leave for 10 minutes. Use a sieve to remove the rehydrated cabbage leaves. You now have some “Dragon’s Drool’ to use in your AMORTENTIA Spell!

Prepare the cups before your audience arrives: place a spoonful of Dried Skin of Basilisk (Citric Acid) into one clear cup and Horn of Bicorn (Baking Soda) in to another.

Watch the video to give you an idea of a possible story line. Don’t forget this is your spell so you can make up any story to go with the colour changes.

Test other powders and liquid in the kitchen and bathroom, with adult supervision. Can you get any other colours? Use the Red cabbage card to give you some ideas.

Science2Life’s Science iT! activities and programmes

Children love to be engaged in learning, especially through interactive projects that they can really get involved and be hands on with.

Science2Life’s Science iT! activities and programmes are part of our STEAM Academy. The activities use everyday life objects, toys and knick-knacks and turns them into fun, innovative, hands-on experiences designed to encourage children to:

• discover the amazing world of science and engineering
• to perform engaging activities that show how science and engineering is at work in their everyday lives
• to foster a lifelong love of science and engineering
• to give a basic grounding in scientific concepts and scientific thinking
• to increase children’s motivation to learn and
• enhance their perception, creativity and logic.

Hands-on learning is learning by doing.

Children involved in our ‘Science iT!’ activities and programmes are introduced to various STEAM learning methods and activities. Our creative programmes involve learning activities that require active thinking and experimenting to find out how things work. We all know how curious children are about the world around them and how they love using the word ‘why?’

The aim of our activities is to provide optimal learning opportunities that strategically help children grasp mathematics, engineering and science concepts.

With the inclusion of the arts component into STEM it makes it more fun to learn, and more approachable to children.

Art education allows children to learn things in a more open-ended way and make them applicable to real life.

Links to the curriculum

All of Science2Life activities can be used to entertain children – however they have been created with the curriculum in mind, so are perfect activities to generate mesmerizing examples of the topics they can be used to explore.

Plus our Science iT! activities can up scaled-up to be used in workshops within the classroom, for festival and birthday celebrations, which provide opportunities for children to collaborate on initiatives, explorations and creations.

The idea behind our Science iT! activities is to ignite children’s natural innate curiosity about the world around them (and the items in it) and to channel their enthusiasm for scientific discovery as early as possible.

Currently Science2Life have the following Science iT! activities:

1. The Magical EVANESCO Spell
2. The Magical AMORTENTIA Spell
3. The Super Bouncing Bubble Kit
4. Make your own Fossil Kit
5. Colour Changing Bracelet Kit
6. Pneumatic Monsters Activity
7. Creative Circuits
8. The Magical Wandarama
9. Gone Fishing
10. The Jitter Bug

Each of the above activities can be turned into a workshop programme! Interested? Give us a call!

Scientificsue@science2life.com

+447970884728

Note: All of Science2Life’s STEAM ACADEMY shows and workshops are designed to not only motivate and fire the spirit of discovery within your children but also ignite curiosity in their minds.

For more information on our shows visit our website: https://www.science2life.com

The post 2 THE MAGICAL AMORTENTIA SPELL – A Science iT! Activity appeared first on Science2Life.

Crazy Foam’s colour changing bubble bath: Kids go crazy for magically changing bubble bath. Pour, mix and watch the ‘magical’  colour changes from: red to green then blue!

Contents:

Teaching notes for colour changing bubble bath

• 200 ml Colour changing bubble bath
• Teaching notes
• 30 ml Measuring cup
• 3 ml Pipette.

Buying for a special occasion? Then we recommend our safety glasses and Primary Science Kit as additional purchases to make this an amazing science gift!

Make your bath-time magical with our colour changing bubble bath. Watch the mild & gentle bubble bath change from orange to blue in front of your very eyes!

How the bubble bath works

Colour changing bubble bath that can change from orange to green pH balanced formula to gently cleanse and moisturise delicate skin SLES and Paraben free. Fabulous fruity scent in Red to Blue bubble bath.

Teaching notes for colour changing bubble bath

This product is:

• Mild & Gentle
• Hypo-Allergenic
• Dermatologically Tested
• Paraben Free

Check out Science2Life’s teaching notes to find out how to make a bubble solution that bounces and a colour changing bath bomb!

A snippet from our teaching notes

Bromocresol green is a dye used as a pH indicator for many biological experiments.

Bromocresol green colour chart

A pH indicator is a chemical compound added in small amounts to a solution so that the pH (acidity or alkalinity) of the solution can be seen. The pH indicator is a chemical detector for hydronium ions (H3O+) or hydrogen ions (H+). The indicators change the colour of the solution depending on the pH. Some indicators only have 2 colour changes; Litmus (a solution of different dyes made from lichen)  is red in acid or blue in alkaline solutions.

Typical indicators are phenolphthalein, methyl orange, methyl red, bromothymol blue, and thymol blue. They each change colour at different points on the pH scale, and can be used together as a universal indicator.

Bromocresol green is yellow in solutions with pH values less than 3.8; green for pH values between 3.8 and 5.4 and blue for solutions with a pH value above 5.4.

Why does the bath water always turn the bubble bath blue?

The pH of pure water is 7, any solution with a pH less than 7 is considered to be acidic, and with a pH above 7 considered alkaline. However, tap water can have a pH value between 6.5 and 8.5. For all liquids which have a pH value greater that 5.4 the bromocresol green indicator in the soap will always turn a blue colour.

The post COLOUR CHANGING BUBBLE BATH – RED TO BLUE appeared first on Science2Life.

Pronunciation: /EV–ə–NES-koh

Description: Makes the target vanish.

Seen/mentioned: Used in Order of the Phoenix  by Snape to make Harry’s potions disappear from his cauldron.

Contents:

• 3 Opaque cups
  

  Magically appearing pop-up wands

• Death Eater Crystals  (Ooze Baff Crystals)
• Bottle of Unicorns Urine (Coloured water)
• Small spoon
• Pipette
• Stirrer
• 2 Small mixing cups
• Mixing bowl
• Labels

In this video Scientific Sue will show you how you can use Ooze Baff crystals in a very magical spell. A similar spell used by the Death Eaters in the Mr Potters Magical World. The death eaters suck up the souls of their victims – our ‘Death Eater Crystals (Ooze Baff crystals) suck up liquids! Use a little bit of science to find out how much the crystals suck up and still stay in a sticky solid format – then use that science in the Evanesco Spell. This video will take you through the steps you need to take to wow and confuse your audience – Science Magic – Fun Guaranteed!

The Science

Ooze baff crystals are an example of  water absorbing polymers.

A polymer is a molecule, made from joining together many small molecules called monomers. The word “polymer” can be broken down into “poly” (meaning “many” in Greek) and “mer” (meaning “unit”).

Sodium polyacrylate are the water absorbing polymers found in babies nappies – the crystals Scientific Sue uses in her first EVANESCO Spell in the video below.

Water absorbing polymers soak up water through a process called osmosis and they swell up. Some, like Ooze Baff, just absorb a small amount of water. Others, like the crystals in nappies absorb huge amounts of water.

The polymer chains have an elastic quality. The amount they stretch depends on the polymer. Ooze Baff makes a wonderful slime like substance, whilst the nappy powder makes a substance like slushy snow.

Most common synthetic polymers are said to be hydrophobic (water-fearing), which means that they do not absorb water. Examples of these polymers might include products such as plastic cups, bags, and plastic toys. There are also hydrophilic, or water-loving polymers. Many natural polymers such as cotton fibres are hydrophilic.

If you like this product you will love our Magic Snow!

Science2Life’s Science iT! activities and programmes

Children love to be engaged in learning, especially through interactive projects that they can really get involved and be hands on with.

Science2Life’s Science iT! activities and programmes are part of our STEAM Academy. The activities use everyday life objects, toys and knick-knacks and turns them into fun, innovative, hands-on experiences designed to encourage children to:

• discover the amazing world of science and engineering
• to perform engaging activities that show how science and engineering is at work in their everyday lives
• to foster a lifelong love of science and engineering
• to give a basic grounding in scientific concepts and scientific thinking
• to increase children’s motivation to learn and
• enhance their perception, creativity and logic.

Hands-on learning is learning by doing.

Children involved in our ‘Science iT!’ activities and programmes are introduced to various STEAM learning methods and activities. Our creative programmes involve learning activities that require active thinking and experimenting to find out how things work. We all know how curious children are about the world around them and how they love using the word ‘why?’

The aim of our activities is to provide optimal learning opportunities that strategically help children grasp mathematics, engineering and science concepts.

With the inclusion of the arts component into STEM it makes it more fun to learn, and more approachable to children.

Art education allows children to learn things in a more open-ended way and make them applicable to real life.

Links to the curriculum

All of Science2Life activities can be used to entertain children – however they have been created with the curriculum in mind, so are perfect activities to generate mesmerizing examples of the topics they can be used to explore.

Plus our Science iT! activities can up scaled-up to be used in workshops within the classroom, for festival and birthday celebrations, which provide opportunities for children to collaborate on initiatives, explorations and creations.

The idea behind our Science iT! activities is to ignite children’s natural innate curiosity about the world around them (and the items in it) and to channel their enthusiasm for scientific discovery as early as possible.

Currently Science2Life have the following Science iT! activities:

1. The Magical EVANESCO Spell
2. The Magical AMORTENTIA Spell
3. The Super Bouncing Bubble Kit
4. Make your own Fossil Kit
5. Colour Changing Bracelet Kit
6. Pneumatic Monsters Activity
7. Creative Circuits
8. The Magical Wandarama
9. Gone Fishing
10. The Jitter Bug

Each of the above activities can be turned into a workshop programme! Interested? Give us a call!

Scientificsue@science2life.com

+447970884728

Note: All of Science2Life’s STEAM ACADEMY shows and workshops are designed to not only motivate and fire the spirit of discovery within your children but also ignite curiosity in their minds.

For more information on our shows visit our website: https://www.science2life.com

The post 1 THE MAGICAL EVANESCO SPELL – A Science iT! Activity appeared first on Science2Life.

These magically appearing wands allow for a very easy to perform magic trick. Just roll the foil wand up and then throw it into the air – it will pop up into a full sized magic wand!

The only hard thing is catching it! Once you have mastered this task you can then surprise your friends and family with this amazing magic trick

Package includes:

• 20 x Magic Wands
• 20 x Spare elastic bands

If you don’t plan to use it for a while, remove the band and store your wand fully formed.

Show your audience your hand clenched in a fist. Whilst lifting your hand skywards and opening your hand shout the words ABRACADABRA! A 50 cm wand will appear out of no where – your task is to catch it  .. stylishly!

This is a very easy trick to perform anywhere, anytime.

Scientific Sue uses these wands in her Magical Science it Programmes, perfect gifts for anyone who loves magic!

• Science It!: The magical EVANESCO (a vanishing) Spell

Magic words are often used by magicians whilst performing magic tricks on stage. One of the most common of these incantations is ‘Abracadabra’. Although this word is known to many, it is likely that fewer people are aware of its origins. Apart from ‘Abracadabra’ there are several other magic words that are popularly used by stage magicians. Like ‘Abracadabra’, however, the origins of these words are also a mystery to most people.

Do you know any other magical incantations?

Click on this link above for the full version of this and other spells: Potions and Explosions Spell Book 

The post MAGICALLY APPEARING WANDS x 20 appeared first on Science2Life.