How to Make a 3D Paper Mache Volcano

You can use paper mache to make a volcano model.

If you are teaching your children about plate tectonics and volcanic activity on Earth, you can make their instruction more exciting by showing them what a volcanic eruption looks like. One way to do this is to make a 3D volcano model out of a few basic materials, like baking soda and vinegar, which will replicate a volcano erupting. It is helpful to place the volcano into a glass baking dish, which will prevent the erupted fluids from staining your flooring and furniture.

Things You'll Need

• Glass baking dish
• Paper towel tube
• Masking tape
• Bowl
• 3 cups flour
• 1 cup water
• Newspaper
• Scissors
• Acrylic paint
• Paintbrush
• Baking soda
• White vinegar
• Red food coloring

Instructions

1. Tape a paper-towel tube upright in the center of a glass baking dish.

2. Combine the flour and the water in a bowl. Mix well.

3. Crumple newspaper into mounds, and tape the mounds around the paper towel tube.

4. Cut newspaper into strips measuring two inches wide by six inches long.

5. Dip the strips into the flour mixture, then drape the strips over the newspaper form. Cover the mountain with five to six layers of paper mache strips. Do not cover over the opening of the tube.

6. Allow the volcanic mountain to dry completely.

7. Paint the volcano using acrylic paint. Allow the paint to dry.

8. Pour one cup of baking soda into the paper towel tube.

9. Combine one-half cup of white vinegar and five drops of red food coloring into a bowl, and mix well.

10. Pour the red vinegar into the paper towel tube, and watch the volcanic explosion.

References

• DLTK Kids: How to Paper Mache