Art & Creativity6-12 years
Easy
30 Minutes
Giggle Lantern
Bilal Şentürk
Maker
What You'll Need
- Clear 300 ml plastic cup
- Bubble wand / straw
- 2 sticky wiggly eyes (Ø 15 mm)
- 30-40 holographic or phosphorescent sequins (Ø 5 mm)
- 10 × 10 cm cling film square
- Elastic band (≈ Ø 7 cm)
- Invisible tape + markers / stickers (optional)
Safety First!
- !Keep the straw on a paper napkin until gluing is finished.
- !Rinse cup & straw after play; don’t drink the soap mix.
- !Replace cling film if it tears; stretch without over-tightening.
Let's Make It! Step-by-Step Guide
1
Decorate
Step 1 of 5
• While the cup is standing upright, glue a pair of googly eyes near the rim.
• Draw a big smile or add a mouth-shaped sticker underneath.
The Science Behind It
- Sound & Air Pressure – Laughter pushes air to form soap bubbles.
- Optical Reflection – Sequins’ metallic surface scatters incoming light; bursting bubbles trigger micro-flashes.
- Cause & Effect – Kids visualise the chain: voice → air → bubble → light.
Helpful Tips
- For brighter flashes, use two sequin colours and compare luminosity.
- Record slow-motion video in a dark room to watch each sparkle.
- Cut tiny discs from holographic gift wrap if you’re out of sequins.
Try These Variations!
- 1Colour Race – Which sequin colour glows brightest?
- 2Firefly Story – Rename it “Firefly Lantern” and invent a bedtime tale.
- 3Glow Powder – Add a pinch of glow pigment inside the bubbles for neon pops.