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How to Make a Science Project of an Erupting Volcano Without a Bottle

Making a homemade volcano model is a classic project for many earth science and chemistry projects. Nearly all instructional guides call for you to use an empty bottle when creating your erupting volcano model, but sometimes you will not have a bottle available. Or, you might want to improvise and put a new slant on this classic project by using a different container. Make your volcano model as realistic as possible by building your model using soil, rocks and clumps of dirt from your back yard or the outdoor area your school playground.

Things You'll Need

  • Shoebox
  • Plastic wrap
  • Soil and clumps of dirt
  • Spoon
  • Small rocks
  • Grass, shrubs and greenery
  • 35-mm film canister
  • Tablespoon
  • Bicarbonate of soda
  • Medicine dropper
  • Red and yellow food coloring
  • Vinegar
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Instructions

    • 1

      Line your shoebox with a couple of sheets of plastic wrap. Cover all of the interior of the box so that your box is relatively waterproofed.

    • 2

      Fill the shoebox with a plentiful supply of soil. Pile the soil up into a classic conical volcano shape. Form a small crater at the top your volcano by planting your 35-mm film canister down into the soil's surface. Build the soil up around the edge of the canister so it is not visible when you are standing a few feet away, but try to prevent any soil from getting inside the canister. Scoop away any excess soil using a spoon.

    • 3

      Embed small rocks in the side of your volcano to make it look mountainous and authentic. Add small bits of grass, shrubs and greenery to represent trees on the mountainside, which will be roughly in scale compared to the overall size of your volcano.

    • 4

      Present your volcano to your family, friends, classmates or science fair judges and inform them about the chemical, acid/base reaction, that you will be utilizing to create your volcanic eruption without using a bottle. Place your volcano flat on a table's surface and heap a tbsp. of bicarbonate of soda into the film canister. Add 10 or so drops of red and yellow food coloring into the canister using a medicine dropper before adding a tbsp. of vinegar.

    • 5

      Stand back and explain the chemical reaction occurring to your watching audience as your model volcano erupts dramatically.

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