A volcano science experiment uses baking soda and vinegar to demonstrate what happens when these two ingredients interact. Because vinegar is an acid and baking soda is a base, when the two are combined, they bubble up and produce a reaction. If this reaction occurs inside of a homemade volcano, the eruption can help to teach children what a real volcano may look like when discharging lava. As a part of your lesson plan, after the children see the volcano erupt, you can talk to them about famous real volcanoes, including the one that buried Pompeii in 79 AD.
When you do a volcano science experiment, the volcano is generally made out of clay. To make the clay, mix eight cups of flour with 2-2/3 cups of salt and five tablespoons of cooking oil in a large bowl. Add water slowly while kneading with your hands, until it forms a firm ball of clay. The clay should be dry but not brittle and should be easy to mold.
To form your volcano from your clay, place a twelve ounce water bottle in the center of a large cookie sheet and anchor the bottle with tape or tacky glue. Starting at the bottom of the bottle, arrange and shape your clay around it, creating a cone-like volcano. Place a plug in the opening of the bottle with a paper towel or tissue to avoid dropping clay into the hole. Let the formed volcano dry for approximately three hours.
After the volcano is completely dry, use acrylic paints or permanent markers to decorate the volcano. The children can use their imaginations to create a one of a kind volcano or design an authentic looking volcano.
Cover the area where the science experiment will be performed with a thick layer of newspaper to absorb the flow of the volcano. This experiment will be messy after the volcano erupts. Place the cookie sheet with the volcano on the newspaper.
Remove the paper plug in the hole on the volcano. Place a funnel in the top of the volcano and add the baking soda. Add eight drops of dish-washing detergent, six drops of food coloring and a sprinkle of silver glitter. Using the second funnel, carefully add the vinegar, quickly remove the funnel and stand back. The volcano will erupt.