Pop the bubbles
In Pop the bubbles a rule appears at the top and bubbles float up, each carrying a number or a word. Pop only the ones that match the rule by throwing the ball or tapping the bubble. Between a third and a half of the bubbles match, and the rule changes every four hits, so children have to read and think again each time.
What children practise
- Sorting numbers by a rule: odd, even, greater than or less than a number.
- Recognising multiples of 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10.
- Placing numbers within a range, from A to B.
- Sorting words into groups: animals, fruit, vehicles, colours, things at home and clothes.
- Keeping focus when the rule changes (cognitive flexibility).
Levels and settings
Year 1
Numbers and words mixed up to 10 or 20, with 6 or 8 bubbles.
Year 2
Up to 20, numbers only or mixed; on Hard, up to 50 with 10 bubbles.
Years 3 and 4
Mostly numbers up to 50 or 100, with 8 to 12 bubbles.
Years 5 and 6
Up to 100 with 10 or 12 bubbles; on Hard, numbers and words.
Settings
What appears, up to 10, 20, 50 or 100, 6 to 12 bubbles, speed (including still), whether mistakes cost a point, and points to win.
How to play it in class
- Open Pop the bubbles, choose the year and difficulty and, if you like, what appears: numbers, words or both.
- Choose teams, each on its own half with the same rule, or one child alone.
- Read the rule and drag from the ball towards a bubble, or tap the bubble directly. A yellow ring shows which one the shot will hit.
- Each hit scores a point and each wrong bubble costs one, unless you switch that penalty off in the settings.
Ways to play
In teams, at the same time
The screen splits in two and each team plays on its own half at the same time.
For one player
One child plays on the whole screen at their own pace: on the whiteboard, a computer or a tablet.
Frequently asked questions
Do children need to aim precisely?
No. The ball always flies with the same force and only the direction counts. Tapping the bubble also works: the ball goes to it on its own.
Which number rules appear?
Even, odd, greater than, less than, multiples of a number and numbers from one value to another. Multiples and ranges appear when the limit is 20 or more.
Can mistakes stop costing points?
Yes. In the settings you can choose that popping a wrong bubble does not take a point away.
Is it free?
You can play 5 free games without signing up. After that, a one-off payment of €9.99 unlocks all 78 games for ever, on all your devices. There is no subscription.
Do I need to install anything?
No. It opens in the browser of the interactive whiteboard, panel, computer, tablet or iPad. Once loaded, it also works offline.
More Maths games
Maths crosswordMaths crossword is a grid of crossed calculations with one number missing from each.
Hundreds, tens and onesAn educational place value game for the interactive whiteboard.
Greater, less or equalAn educational game for comparing numbers on the interactive whiteboard.
Make tenAn educational number bonds game for the interactive whiteboard.Pop the bubbles
Play now