Build Your Own Realistic Erupting Volcano

Volcanoes are always a popular choice for elementary and high school science fairs. Children are fascinated by volcanoes, especially when they see the volcano erupting and the lava spewing. Creating a volcano is actually very simple. Below is the step by step guide on how to create a volcano:

Things You Will Need

Two cups of salt, six cups of flour, four tablespoons of oil, a ¼ cup of vinegar, a couple of tablespoons of water , two cups of red, blue and yellow food coloring, newspaper, one liter soda bottle, one tablespoon of baking soda, one tablespoon of dish soap, a large bowl, a sheet of cardboard and quality microscopes (optional).

Step One

The first step in this process is to make the outside of the volcano. You will need to mix the flour, the salt, water and cooking oil in a large bowl. The mixture should be firm and smooth. After that, you will want to add a little bit of food coloring to the dough. The next step is to place the dough onto a sheet and roll it out using a rolling pin. You will need to make the dough large enough to cover the volcano parts and the soda bottle.

Step Two

The next step is put the volcano together. You will need to cut two feet of cardboard from a box. The soda bottle will need to be attached to the center of the cardboard with glue. After that, you will need to roll the newspaper up into large balls and glue or tape them together. You should put the newspaper balls on the outside of the bubble so that you can form the cone shape of the volcano. The sheet of dough should be placed over the newspaper balls and bottle. The next step is to put a hole in the dough over the top of the bottle spout. You should use a metal fork to tease the wet dough’s surface. This will make the surface look like volcanic rock. Allow the dough to dry before moving to the next step.

Step Three

You will need to decorate the volcano. Be as creative as you like

Step Four

The final step in this process is to make the volcano erupt. You will need one tablespoon of baking soda, one tablespoon of dish soap, food coloring a couple of tablespoons of water. These ingredients will need to be poured into the spout of the water. You should then pour about one forth cup of vinegar into the spout. This will cause the volcano to erupt.

Author Bio:

Hayley is an amateur scientist, author and blogger residing in Portland Oregon. Interested in fun and interesting science projects you can perform at home? Visit chemistry.about.com.

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