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How to Make a Baking Soda & Vinegar Volcano Sculpture

Choose among sculpting materials, such as aluminum foil, modeling clay or Play-Doh, to create the base of the volcano. Use a solution of baking soda and vinegar to enable the volcano sculpture to erupt and form lava, which will spill over the side of the sculpture. The project will allow children to observe the interaction between vinegar, an acid, and baking soda, a base or alkali. They'll also understand that the "lava," or bubbles, is filled with carbon dioxide. Because this project causes a mess, you may want to do build it outside or on a floor covered with newspapers.

Things You'll Need

Paper plate
3-ounce plastic cup
Aluminum foil
Tape
Scissors
1 tbsp. baking soda
2 tbsp. vinegar
Tray
Glitter
Red food coloring

Instructions

- 1
  Tape the bottom of the plastic cup to the center of the paper plate.
- 2
  Cover the cup and plate with a large sheet of aluminum foil. Fold the edges of the foil under the plate to form the volcano's shape. Tape the foil down to secure it.
- 3
  Make a hole through the foil directly above the cup. Cut slits in the foil from the middle to the inside edge of the cup. Push the foil down against the inside of the cup and secure it with tape.
- 4
  Put your volcano on a tray.
- 5
  Pour 2 tbsp. of water into the cup. Mix in 1 tbsp. of baking soda until it dissolves. Add 1/2 tsp. of glitter.
- 6
  Pour 2 tbsp. of vinegar into a separate cup. Add a few drops of red food coloring. Empty the vinegar into your volcano and watch the lava bubble and spout.

Nature