How to Make Your Own Erupting Volcano With Paper Mache

Design your paper mache volcano after a real volcano.

Entertain and educate your children by making your own volcano that erupts. Paper mache is an enjoyable, easy hobby, and is a fun way to build your own volcano. Using items and ingredients found around your home, you will soon have an erupting volcano. A child could follow these simple instructions for a school project, or just for fun.

Things You'll Need

• 2-foot-square piece of cardboard
• 8-inch tall bottle
• 3/4-inch-wides strip of newspaper
• large bowl
• flour and water
• masking tape
• brown, green, and red paint
• 1 cup vinegar
• 4 tbsp. baking soda
• red food coloring

Instructions

1. Place the bottle upright in the center of the cardboard piece, and attach several strips of masking tape from the top of the bottle the edge.

2. Put three parts water and one part flour in the bowl, and stir until you get a smooth, creamy mixture.

3. Dip the newspaper strips in the mixture, remove the excess by running the strips between your fingers, and drape them over the strips of masking tape.

4. After applying all of the strips of newspaper, allow to dry overnight, then paint the volcano.

5. Pour the vinegar into the top of the volcano, put in about 10 drops of food coloring, and pour in all the baking soda at once. Then watch your volcano "erupt."

References

• Education UVIC: How to Build Your Own Volcano
• Kids Fun and Games: Paper Mache Recipe