The Bubble-Verse

We live in a galaxy that is full of hundreds of billions of stars. Our own Milky Way Galaxy is just one of at least several hundred billion galaxies in the Universe. But even more intriguing, many scientists now think that our universe is just one of many; a floating bubble with galaxies inside that floats around amidst many other Universes. You can demonstrate this principle to children in group time. Blow a set of bubbles and watch how they each float about and bump into each other. Have them pretend each bubble is its own universe, filled with galaxies and stars and planets just like this one.

• Related activity (sensory/science): Fill either your sensory tub or several bowls at a table with soap and water to make a bubble mixture. Next add an assortment of glitter to serve as stars, and provide the children with straws. Have them mix the water to stir up the glitter, then blow bubbles into the liquid, which will bubble up trapping glitter as stars. Encourage them to think about what happens as the bubbles expand and then pop.

 

Imagining Other Universes

Since each universe could have its own separate laws of physics, an alternate universe could be stranger than anything we could ever imagine. This makes a fun brain-storming subject for a group time discussion. Have the children brainstorm about silly things or “laws” they think an alternate universe might have. Here are a few ideas to get you started: Maybe fish fly through the sky instead of water…perhaps there are giant space monsters that gobble up entire planets…maybe suns are purple…maybe instead of black holes, there are green holes, and anybody who falls into one gets slimed. Let the imaginations of the kids take it from there. You can also…

 

• Provide the children with paper and art supplies and have them draw what they imagine another universe could be like (Art). Afterwards, have them dictate a story about their picture. (Creative language)
• Do the same as a class on a giant piece of butcher paper with each child adding their own little creation to the universe. Have them dictate a blurb about their contribution. Write it on the paper, and display it for the class. (Art/Group/Language)