Blowing Bubbles

Using Blowing Bubbles in The Classroom and in Counseling!

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Relationships change or feel as though they have changed when a family member experiences an illness.

Blowing Bubbles can be by counsellors and classroom teachers. The book aims to be fun while discussing a serious subject. (As with any activity, one needs to be sensitive to any class members who may be sensitive to the subject.)

Below are suggestions for follow-up activities (I think Blowing Bubbles can be used with quite a wide age range so I have provided activities for various ages)

  1. Stop before the last scene. Brainstorm Josh’s feelings and possible solutions.

  2. Role-play an alternate ending or change an aspect of the story.

  3. Similar/Different

    Children can identify similarities and differences in the relationship before and after Grandpa’s stroke through the use of Venn diagrams – see example below). The idea is to recognize that the core relationship continues!

  4. Continue the story in the future.

  5. Color-Your-Feelings

    This can be used with any book (or no book at all) to explore feelings. Children are encouraged to assign colors to feelings. They can draw these colored feelings in shapes , faces etc.In individual work, this technique can encourage children to discuss their feelings or, in the context of Blowing Bubbles, how Josh and Grandpa George feel.

  6. I love bubbles (and play dough)

    Gum usually isn’t allowed in schools but soap bubbles are. Bubbles can be used to discuss feelings. One can explain that feelings are like bubbles. Some pop quickly and some last a long time. Some are big and some are small.

  7. Relaxing Bubble Blowing!
    This can be used individually or as a whole class activity (for the brave at heart)!

    • Step 1: Take a slow breath

    • Step 2: Breathe out threw your mouth very gently so that a big bubble forms. You don’t break it. Slow and smooth. Empty your lungs.

    • Most children take fast breaths which doesn’t help. Bubble blowing is a wonderful (and fun) way to teach them to take deep, slow breaths!

  8. Make Puppets
    Use:

    • Mittens or socks

    • eyes

    • yarn for hair

    • cotton balls for beard

    • Other creative touches—for instance, felt for tongues, white plastic cut into “teeth,”

    • Glue

Again, these can be used to explore other activities for Josh and Grandpa George and feelings.