Bubble Printing Micro Worlds

In this lesson students will learn about bacteria and what they look like. Students will create bubble prints and then draw over them using fineliners. They will analyse the shapes and lines in the bacteria and draw these over their bubble print shapes.

Step 1

Students explore bacteria and where they come from. Look at different bacteria through images or through a microscope. Discuss where bacteria can be found? What shapes and patterns can they see in the bacteria? Do certain bacteria look different from others? Students draw out some of the bacteria that they have seen.

Students create bubble prints as a base for their micro worlds. Students mix colours using acrylic paint and add water and dish soap into a small container or cup. Students use a straw to blow bubbles into the cup and then press a piece of paper on to the bubbles to create a print.
Students continue making prints with one or two colours until most of the space on their page is full.

Step 2

Students draw over their bubble prints using their previous drawings as a reference. Students draw over their work using fineliners considering some of the shapes that have been created with the bubbles. They incorporate these bubble shapes into the designs of their bacterial forms.

Extension:

Students can mix different colours to use for their bubble prints. They can also layer their bubble prints using different colours or create a large scale group work.

Reflection:

How does this lesson link to art and science? What have you learned about bacteria? Describe some of the shapes you have drawn to create this look of bacteria.

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