Splish Splash I Was Taking a Bath

Need

Back story:

Mrs Griffin’s grandson, Clayton, loves having a bath. He plays with his bath toys and splashes about. When it is time for him to wash himself, he gets grumpy and cries. He just wants to play with his toys.

How can we help Clayton wash himself with soap?

How can we help other toddlers enjoy washing themselves at bathtime?

Research

The students discussed their own bath time experiences. They talked about different types of soap they used and toys they played with in the water. They talked about making soap into different shapes and colours, as well as hiding a little toy in the centre.

Using soap seemed slow and boring. How can we make it fun?

It’s a slimy rectangle

It’s boring. It just slides around

While searching for more soap designs and ideas, the students found a video about making bath bombs. A discussion immediately began. Students excitedly shared their experiences and knowledge about bath bombs. It was unanimously agreed to make bath bombs instead of soap.

Plan

It was decided the bath bombs needed to be fun if they wanted children to wash themselves at bathtime. The bath bombs had to be:

1. Colourful and glittery

2. Smell really nice

3. Include a toy

We should make rainbow bath bombs to go with the unicorn toy

I have some perfume at home we could use to make them smell nice

Let’s add lots of glitter to make the water sparkle

The toys were Capsule Creatures. When in water, these capsules would dissolve then a foam animal would emerge and grow into a fun foam creature.

Special food colouring, fine glitter and essential oils were used.

A recipe was found, ingredients purchased, and equipment collected.

Create

Making bath bombs took lots of time. Each morning before school, the students made different coloured and scented bath bombs with a variety of foam toys hidden in the centre

When adding the cornstarch, the students noticed it stuck to the measuring cup. They had to tap the cup hard so the cornstarch would fall out.

When stirring the mixture, Abel observed clouds of fine powder in the air.

Students had to press the mixture into the mould using their fingertips.

Test

The student’s tested some bath bombs to check they worked properly.

After the bath bomb stopped fizzing, Cameron placed his hand into the container and found the bath bomb was gone. There were only bubbles and glitter left.

It’s so exciting. I can see the bath bomb dissolving

It’s fizzing like a soda

Muskaan watched the bath bomb fizz and dissolve.

Share

It was decided to sell the bath bombs at the Wairakei Primary School Market. Labels were made which included ingredients, instructions and warning tags.

Success

Trying to encourage children to wash themselves at bathtime posed an interesting challenge for the students in Room 17. Their journey took an unexpected turn from their first idea, to make soap, to making bath bombs. Lots of research, planning and creating lead to these students making a successful product.