If your kids are looking for a simple science project, or if they are little mad scientist who just want to experiment, let them make a bubbling volcano. A bubbling volcano is a fun project that starts with a fizz, then erupts in a bubbling flow of colorful lava. It requires only a few ingredients that you already have in your kitchen. Let the lava begin!
To make a bubbling volcano, you will need 2 paper cups, 1/4 cup of baking soda, 1/4 cup of vinegar, and food coloring in the color of your choice. Start by putting the baking soda in the bottom of one of the paper cups. Then put that cup on a plate or a cookie sheet (you need something under the cup to catch the overflow of lava). Place about 5 drops of food coloring on top of the baking soda.
Poke a hole in the bottom of the second paper cup. The hole should not be too big. A hole about the size of a dime is good. Place the paper cup with the hole in it upside down over the paper cup that is filled with baking soda. You can tape the cup down by adding a piece of scotch tape to each side of the paper cups.
Carefully pour the vinegar into the hole in the top paper cup. The volcano will quickly begin to erupt. The more vinegar you add, the more lava you will get!
You can experiment with different colors of lava. You can try putting multiple colors in one cup and see if the lava comes out in multiple colors. You can also add some glitter to the baking soda to make a glittery lava.
If you plan on making a bubbling volcano for a science project, you can decorate the cups to make them look like a real volcano. Then you could put the volcano on a bed of grass or leaves and you can put little toy dinosaurs around the base of the volcano.
If you like crafts and activities for kids, you must check out some of my other articles. Here are just a few of my favorites:
How to Make a Tornado in a Bottle
Crafts for Kids – Easy Homemade Stickers
Activity for Kids – Homemade Creepy Crawlers
Arts and Crafts for Kids – Homemade Lava Bottle
