Summer Fun Day 32 - Bubble Gum Blowing Contest

I read Meghan McCarthy's biography of Walter Diemer, the inventor of bubble gum, to the children, as they finished up lunch yesterday.

It's is a short, colorfully illustrated, picture book, with lots of fun facts at the back for older children and adults.

It is also the perfect lead in to a bubble gum blowing contest (especially if you pair it with a quick viewing of How It's Made - Bubble Gum).

Ideally, after reading the book, you would pass out pieces of Double Bubble, the brand Diemer invented. I had just grabbed a selection of what was available in the grocery store check out, though.  Not that my children cared - between the girls' long hair, and too many instances of scraping chewed gum off of floors and furniture, gum has been all but banned from our house, and is a rare treat at best.

Having more than one brand of gum proved interesting, as we discovered some types are sticky, with a gritty sugary texture, while others are hard and rubbery, but better for blowing bubbles with less chewing, and some have a texture similar to silly putty (not my favorite).

Regardless of flavor, or texture...

...all of the brands we tried...

...were adequate for blowing bubbles.

Although, we're clearly going to need more practice before we're ready to enter any serious competition.

Still, I think Walter Diemer would be proud.

It's great to be a homeschooler.