Volcano Fun ;-)

Want to wow your kiddos?

Here's a fun project perfect for you then and even goes right along with a current event too- the eruption of the Iceland Volcano.

so here goes...

How to Make Your Very Own Erupting Volcano!

Start off with a batch of homemade playdough. The kids loved helping make this. Hint: Grape and Orange Koolaid make the PERFECT brown color for your volcano. ;-)

Perfect Play Dough

2 c flour
1/2 c salt
2 pkgs unsweetened Kool-Aid
2 T cream of tarter
2 T vegetable oil
2 c water
Food coloring (I don't add any because the kool-aid colors it enough...)

In a large pot, combine all dry ingredients. Mix well and add oil, water, and food coloring. Stir over medium heat until the mixture is almost too hard to stir. Allow to cool for a few minutes, then knead until smooth and pliable. Refrigerate in airtight container between uses.

Check out real volcano's online so you know just how to make one. The kids loved watching video clips of the Iceland volcano erupting and several other volcanos... including underwater ones. We talked all about how they happen and the lava and ash and smell etc... and it was fascinating for the kids to learn about. We drove to Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument this past fall and the kids thought all the black lava everywhere was amazing and it was neat to experience that first hand!

Next Step: Make your mountain volcano out of playdough around a canning jar or whatever else you have that would do the trick. The kiddos could have used a little more playdough but had fun creating their volcanos still!
Gather these few simple ingredients for your "hot lava." Baking Soda, Vinegar, and Food Coloring. (We used White Wine Vinegar since I was out of regular vinegar!)

Let the kiddos fill the container half full with the vinegar. Add food coloring. The kids LOVED getting to decide what color their lava would be. Then pour in about 2 TBS of baking soda and watch eruption! Mia was the first to do it and she couldn't believe it! I love her facial expressions!

All the kids didn't even know what to expect and were totally amazed. So fun to see their reactions!

Colby was thrilled with his blue green lava eruption...

And Sydney opted just for a bright blue and was in awe. So fun! The kiddos can't wait to do this project again sometime and learned a lot.

Then they decided they didn't get enough playdough time so we had to make a whole new batch... and they played with it for hours! They opened a restaurant and created all sorts of yummy creations... and even had a menu for what they could make. Fun! Gotta love Sundays. ;-)