How To Make Your Own Volcano

{An easy volcano "science experiment"}

So, my little Grace has been really interested in lava lately.  I think she heard something about it on a Disney show called "Little Einsteins".  I remember the show being on while we were getting ready to go somewhere, just kind of in the background, but, as little kids do, Grace picked up on all that was happening in the show even while we were all packing up to leave.  

With whatever she saw on the show in the back of her mind, she asked me in the car, "Mom, what's lava?"  I explained how a volcano works, talked about the magma underneath the earth's surface and all of the details about how pressure forms inside the volcano until it erupts.  She asked tons of questions, and that evening when we got home she asked to watch videos of lava.

Thanks to Youtube, we were able to see all kinds of lava flows.  This was one of my favorite ones (if your kiddo is into volcanoes too).

After several days on the lava bandwagon, I had the idea to actually make a volcano with her.  Why not right?

Here is what we made, followed by some instructions on how to make your own:

Materials to gather:

Cardboard

Plastic (disposable) cup, cut down to half it's original height

2 teaspoons baking soda

4-5 drops of red food coloring

1/4 - 1/2 cup vinegar (any kind)

Large surface to catch the flowing "lava"

Directions:

First, build a "volcano".   

We used a cardboard box, (rolled up and taped together), but you could mold one out of play-dough, use paper maché, or even a mound of real dirt.

Next, place a small cup inside the top hole.  The cup should sit snugly in the opening at the top of the volcano.  I used a plastic cup that I cut to be shorter (about the size of a cup measurement).  The cup is where your explosion ingredients are mixed.

Add 2 teaspoons of baking soda.

Next, add 4-5 drops of red food coloring.

Finally, take about 1/4 cup of vinegar and slowly pour into cup over the baking soda.  

The explosion fizzes out and runs all the way down the volcano.

The "lava" is red because the food coloring mixes with the baking soda as the eruption happens so no need to mix the food coloring all the way through.

Fun, eh?

Tell me what some of your favorite "experiments" or learning activities are for the kiddos.  I know you all have great ideas!  Feel free to link to a post you wrote about it in your comment.  I'd love to check it out!

Have a wonderful day!