How to Make a Volcano

If your kid needs to make an erupting volcano for a science fair, I'll teach you how to make one. You only need a couple of ingredients to make this volcano. Also, after you finish your volcano, you can go ahead and decorate it with miniature trees and animals, Lego figurines or whatever else your imagination can think up. This article was written by my 10-year old daughter Gabriela.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• AIR MODELING CLAY 10LB (terracota color)
• 15" ROUND PLASTIC SERVING TRAY
• GREEN, RED, BROWN ACRYLIC PAINT(WATER BASED)
• DIXIE PLASTIC 16OZ. CUP
• 1/2 CUP WHITE VINEGAR
• 1 TBSP RED FOOD COLORING
• 2 TBSP DISH SOAP
• 4 TBSP BAKING SODA

1. Use a serving tray as a base for your volcano First, place the block of clay in the center of your tray. Using a spoon, make a hole in the middle of the clay block, big enough to fit the plastic cup inside. Then, mold the clay in a volcano shape all around the cup. Cover the edge of the cup with clay, so the cup is hidden. Make sure to pack the clay tightly, so no air bubbles are formed or the clay will crack when dried. Don't make any parts too thin or it will crack. Some cracks are ok because it makes the volcano look real.
2. Depending on the weather, it could take up to 2 days to dry the clay. You'll know when it's dry because it wont feel cold when you touch it, and it changes color a little bit. Use Elmer' glue for the cracked pieces.
3. Green and Red paint. When the clay is dry, paint the volcano all around with a thick coating of the brown color, so you won't have to do a second coat of paint. After the brown paint is dry, paint the tray and the edges of the volcano with the green color. When that's dry, paint the inside of the plastic cup with the red paint, as well as the edge of the cup and create some "lava channels" flowing down on the sides of your volcano, see the photo below..
4. The more details you add, the greater it will look. After everything is dry, it's time to decorate!!!! Glue all the trees and animals of your liking on the tray with Elmer's glue. Before exploding your volcano, test it a few times with a same size plastic cup on another tray to make sure it works. Pour the baking soda, red food coloring, water and dish soap into the cup and mix it up, then pour in the vinegar slowly and watch it foam up.

Tips & Warnings

• Be generous with the red food coloring for a very bright lava result.
• Use a lasagna pan and newspaper for the "lava" overflow.
• Don't drink any of the materials, always work with an adult.