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Science Lesson
Before you embark on a homemade volcano project with your preschooler, build a simple academic foundation by explaining what a volcano is and why it erupts. Explain that a volcano is a large mountain that contains an opening that reaches down below the earth's surface. Pressure builds up inside the volcano and the liquid rock inside it, called magma, has to escape, so it erupts out of the volcano's top opening and spills out. Once the magma escapes the volcano, it is called lava. Next, explain that you are about to build a homemade volcano and that baking soda and vinegar will work together to create pressure inside the volcano, so the water and/or vinegar you put inside it can act like magma and erupt to create "lava."
Baby Food Jar Volcano
Empty baby food jars are the perfect material to build a mini volcano that is just the right size for little ones to work with and observe. First, discard the baby food jar's lid. Place the empty, clean jar on a piece of foam or cardboard to contain the mess. Use brown clay to mold a volcano shape around the jar, leaving an opening at the top. Put a drop of red food coloring and a tablespoon of baking soda into the volcano's opening. Finally, pour vinegar into the opening to make the volcano erupt with oozing red "lava."
Soup Can Volcano
Next time you have soup, keep the can for a future homemade volcano experiment. A soup can volcano is a great outside experiment as it involves messy natural materials and creates a decent amount of "lava." Mold dirt, clay or wet sand around the sides of an empty, clean soup can to form a volcano shape. Leave the opening of the can exposed and avoid getting dirt inside the can, as it may impede the volcano's eruption. Dump 1/4 cup of baking soda into the can. To make the volcano erupt, pour in a 1/2 cup of water and a 1/2 cup of vinegar into the can. For a more dramatic and bubbly eruption, add 1/4 cup of dishwashing liquid to the can when you add the water and vinegar. Adding red or orange food coloring also makes the eruption fluid look more lava-like.
Paper Plate Volcano
If you want to avoid the messy hands that come from playing with dirt or clay, a paper plate volcano is a relatively cleaner option. Place a paper plate onto a cookie sheet or tray to contain the "lava" once it erupts. Tape the bottom of a small disposable cup to the center of the plate. Completely cover the plate and cup with a layer of aluminum foil, tucking the edges underneath the bottom of the plate and taping them in place. Poke a hole through the foil at the cup's center, cut slits from the center of the cup to the cup's outer edge and tape the resultant foil flaps to the cup's inside. Finally, place two tablespoons of water and one tablespoon of baking soda into the cup. Quickly pour one tablespoon of vinegar into the cup for an eruption.