How to Make a Clay Volcano With Poster Board & Clay

Make a volcano project using basic materials.

When you are planning on making a volcano for a school project or for a science fair, you may think you need to use traditional materials like paper mache or salt dough in order to construct the form of the volcano. However, you can also construct a volcano using other materials, like poster board and air-drying clay. Your poster board and clay volcano will be able to function just like one created with more traditional materials.

Things You'll Need

• Scissors
• Paper towel tube
• Cardboard
• Masking tape
• Acrylic paint, colored
• Acrylic glaze, clear
• 2 paintbrushes
• Funnel
• Baking soda
• White vinegar

Instructions

1. Cut out an 18-inch circle from poster board with scissors. Cut out one-fourth of the circle, and then fold the circle over into a cone shape. Relax the cone shape to create a 2-inch hole in the center, and then tape the cone with masking tape to secure it in place.

2. Insert a paper towel tube into the hole of the cone, and tape it in place. Place the volcano form onto a sheet of cardboard, and tape it onto the center of the cardboard.

3. Cover the entire form with air-drying clay, excluding the hole of the paper towel tube. Allow the clay to dry for four hours.

4. Paint the outside of the volcano with acrylic paints, and let the paint dry for 30 minutes. Cover the paint with a layer of clear acrylic glaze. Let the glaze dry for another 30 minutes.

5. Place a funnel into the opening of the paper towel tube, and pour in 1 cup of baking soda.

6. Pour 1 cup of white vinegar into the tube through the funnel; then, quickly remove the funnel to watch the volcano erupt.

References

• Storm the Castle: How To Make a Volcano