Make a working volcano in your home.
A working volcano model is a great way to instruct children on the inner workings of the geological wonders. Building a volcano at home can be done fairly easily and mostly with things that are probably lying around your house. With some papier-mâch and a few common kitchen products, you'll have a working volcano in no time. And best of all, building and operating your volcano is completely safe for your children, making it great for rainy days and science projects.
Prepare the Base
Construct the base of your volcano using a vase or wide-mouth bottle. Your volcano needs to be constructed around a watertight container with a mouth large enough to add vinegar and baking soda later. If you are attaching the volcano to a surface, make sure it has a large surface area, ideally with a lipped edge to contain the flow.
Construct Your Volcano
Papier-mâch the sides of the container, adding layer upon layer until the sides of your volcano appear mountainous and slope-like. Add grooves and channels to the slopes to simulate the craggy surface of an actual volcano. Once it is dry, you can paint the papier-mâch to match the color of rock.
Plan for the Cleanup
Start preparing for the mess that will come when you mix the chemicals. Your volcano will make quite a mess when it is activated, so be prepared. Make sure your volcano is placed on a surface with a lip to stop the lava from spilling onto the ground. You might want to consider conducting the actual experiment outside or in a place that can be easily cleaned.
Start the Eruption
Add vinegar, liquid dish washing soap and baking soda to make your volcano erupt. Place about two spoonfuls of baking soda in the bottom of the volcano and one spoonful of dish soap to give your lava a thicker consistency. You can also add red and yellow food coloring to give it the proper look. Add about 1 oz. of vinegar and the chemical reaction will make your volcano erupt.
Tags: your volcano, baking soda, working volcano, make your, make your volcano
