How To Make A Volcano – A Step-By-Step Guide For Kids

Hi Kids! Here we are with another fun DIY activity that you can enjoy at home but under adult supervision! Today we have a really cool DIY volcano experiment you will all love to create. But before that, let’s learn a little about what volcanoes are.

What Is A Volcano?

An opening in the Earth’s crust is known as a volcano. There are approximately 1,350 potentially active volcanoes in the world today. When a volcano erupts, the hot gases and magma (really hot, dense liquid!) deep within the Earth’s surface are pushed up through the opening with great force.

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How Does A Volcano Erupt?

A volcanic eruption happens when the pressure inside the Earth builds up due to the formation of magma, which is molten rock mixed with gas. This pressure causes gases and rock to shoot up through the opening on the Earth’s surface and spill over with lava fragments. Volcanic eruptions can trigger tsunamis, floods, and earthquakes.

Step By Step Instructions To Make A Volcano For Children

Do you want to know how to make a volcano erupt using simple household items? We have a volcano eruption experiment that you can perform under your parent’s supervision! Are you ready? Let’s jump in!

1. Baking Soda Vinegar Volcano

Materials You Need

• Salt dough
• Small water bottle
• Painting colours
• Baking Soda
• Vinegar
• Food colouring
• Dish soap

Instructions

1. First, whip up a batch of our salt dough.
2. Now shape the salt dough around a small empty water bottle, making the composite or shield in the shape of a  volcano.
3. Let it dry for at least 24 hours.
4. Once it is dry, paint it to make it resemble an actual landform.
5. Next, prepare for the eruption. Add a tablespoon of baking soda, food colouring, and some dish soap from the opening of the bottle.
6. Pour vinegar into the opening and watch the volcano erupt!

What Are The Other Ways To Make A Volcano At Home?

Here are some more fun ways of making a homemade volcano for a great experiment.

1. Soda Bottle Volcano

Materials You Need

• 10 ml – Dish soap
• 100 ml – Warm water
• 400 ml – White vinegar
• Food colouring
• Baking soda slurry (fill a cup with ½ tbsp baking soda + water)
• Empty soda bottle

Instructions

1. Take an empty soda bottle and add vinegar, water, dish soap and two drops of food colouring to it.
2. Prepare the baking soda slurry and mix it until it is all liquid.
3. Pour the baking soda slurry into the empty soda bottle quickly and step back.
4. Enjoy the volcano eruption experiment you just did!

2. Paper Volcano

Material You Need

• Two A3 card sheets
• Plastic bottle
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Tape
• Paint
• Small bowl
• Cup
• 1 tbsp – baking soda
• 1 tbsp- washing up liquid
• 2 tbsp – water
• ½ cup – vinegar
• 1 tbsp – red food colouring

Instructions

1. Making a volcano with paper is very simple. Place the plastic bottle upside down in the centre of a card sheet.
2. Draw a small circle around the neck and cut it out.
3. Overlap the two sides of the card sheet to make a shape of a cone.
4. Add tape to secure it, leaving a hole from where the circle was cut.
5. Cut around the base of the cone. Make sure it’s flat but taller than the bottle.
6. Now, place the cone over the plastic bottle. Tape the top of the paper cone to the neck of the plastic bottle to hold it in place.
7. Tape the base of the cone to the second card sheet.
8. Paint it to make it look like a volcano.
9. In a bowl, mix baking soda and washing-up liquid. Add water to it and mix thoroughly.
10. Pour the above mixture into your volcano.
11. Take a cup and mix together the vinegar and food colouring.
12. Pour the vinegar mix into the bottle and wait for it to erupt.

3. Playdough Volcano

Materials You Need

• Cookie sheet with edges
• Playdough
• Baking soda
• Vinegar
• Red food colouring
• Plastic spoons
• Small measuring cup

Instructions

1. Make a mountain using playdough.
2. Press down your thumb at the top, forming an indentation for the volcano’s opening.
3. Using a spoon, pour one teaspoon of baking soda into the top of the volcano.
4. Using a measuring cup, very slowly pour a small amount of vinegar onto the baking soda.
5. Observe the volcano erupt and enjoy!

4. Sand Volcano

Material You Need

• Sand
• Tray
• A sand bucket
• Baking soda
• Vinegar
• Food colouring
• Washing up liquid

Instructions

1. Place the sand bucket in the middle of a tray and cover it with sand in the shape of a mountain.
2. Make sure to leave a hole at the top for the eruption.
3. Fill the sand bucket just over half full with water.
4. Add three teaspoons of baking soda and food colouring and give it a good stir until baking soda dissolves.
5. Add a good squirt of washing-up liquid into it and give it a stir.
6. Quickly pour a quarter of a cup of vinegar.
7. Enjoy your very own volcanic eruption experiment!

What Will Your Child Learn From These Volcano-Making Experiments?

Volcano-making experiments are so much fun for kids. They will learn about how different ingredients are combined to create chemical reactions. This experiment is also ideal for introducing children to volcanoes, how they are formed, what causes their eruption, etc.

Precautions To Take While Performing This Experiment

The DIY volcano is a great, fun experiment. But the following precautions must be taken while performing the volcano experiment for kids.

• Make sure that your child does not ingest any material required for conducting the experiment.
• Make sure to wear an apron as the food colouring may cause spillage and stain your clothes.
• Make sure your child does not touch their eyes and nose after touching the chemicals like washing up liquid or baking soda.
• Do check the experiment materials before going ahead and check for materials your child is allergic to, like sand, dish soap, etc.
• The experiment will generate a large amount of foam, so it is recommended to perform the experiment in an open space.
• Remember to wash your hand properly after the experiment is complete. That’s it! Have fun together!

Also Read:

How to Make a Japanese Flying Carp for Kids
How to Make Paper Crows for Children
Step By Step Guide to Make A Paper Chain Octopus for Kids